How to Become a CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) in 2026
Quick answer: Becoming a career and technical education teacher requires a 4-year degree - typically a Bachelor’s in career & technical education or your trade field + teacher certification. The national median pay is $66,270 per year, and BLS projects -1.8% employment change from 2024 to 2034 (BLS OEWS, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) at a Glance
| Metric | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $66,270 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Typical wage range | $50,040 (10th pct) - $101,340 (90th pct) | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected growth (2024-34) | -1.8% | BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 |
| Typical education | Bachelor’s in career & technical education or your trade field + teacher certification | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| License / certification | State teaching certificate; many states offer alternative CTE routes crediting trade experience | State licensing boards |
What Does a CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) Do?
Career and technical education teachers teach the trades - welding, auto, construction, HVAC, health sciences - in high schools and technical centers. It is the career where 20 years on the tools becomes the qualification, not the past.
Skills That Make a Great CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher)
- Deep mastery of your trade
- Lesson planning and curriculum building
- Classroom and shop management
- Mentoring and coaching
- Safety instruction and documentation
How to Become a CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher)
1. Bank your trade experience
States typically require documented years in the trade you’ll teach - you likely already qualify.
2. Earn the bachelor’s (or start an alternative route)
CTE or workforce education degrees online; several states let you teach on a provisional license while completing it.
3. Get your state teaching certificate
CTE certification usually combines trade experience, exams, and pedagogy coursework.
4. Start in a high school or technical center
District CTE programs and regional career centers hire trade-experienced teachers directly.
5. Advance
Program director, CTE administrator, or apprenticeship coordination.
Why an Online Degree Works for This Career
This is the one degree path open to every trade on this site. Most states offer CTE-specific certification routes that credit years of trade experience toward licensure, and online bachelor’s programs in career & technical education are built for tradespeople teaching part-time while they finish the credential.
CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) Salary
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $50,040 |
| 25th | $60,590 |
| 50th (median) | $66,270 |
| 75th | $80,060 |
| 90th | $101,340 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 103,400 |
| 2034 projected | 101,500 |
| Percent change | -1.8% |
Cost and Time to Complete the Degree
For CTE teachers, the credential is: Bachelor’s in career & technical education or your trade field + teacher certification. Several states issue provisional CTE certificates on trade experience alone, letting you teach and earn while finishing the bachelor’s; check your state board before assuming you need the degree first. Transfer credit is the other lever: prior college, military training, apprenticeship coursework, and industry certifications can be worth a year or more at transfer-friendly schools, so get a written transfer evaluation before enrolling anywhere. Costs vary widely by school type; in-state public online programs are usually the value benchmark, and employer tuition assistance is common for working adults in this field.
Pros and Cons of Becoming a CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher)
Pros
- Median pay of $66,270 nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Field experience from the trades is a genuine hiring advantage
- Accredited online and hybrid degree paths exist for working adults
Cons
- Requires a 4-year degree (typically 120 credit hours)
- Entry-level pay starts near $50,040 at the 10th percentile
- Licensing hurdle: State teaching certificate; many states offer alternative CTE routes crediting trade experience
- BLS projects a -1.8% employment change through 2034; plan around replacement demand
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I teach my trade without a degree?
Some states issue provisional CTE certificates on trade experience alone, but a bachelor's is required for full licensure and pay-scale placement in most - BLS lists it as the typical entry-level education, and BLS projects a small employment decline for the occupation overall.
How much do CTE teachers make?
The national median annual wage for career/technical education teachers, secondary school is $66,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The top 10% earn $101,340 or more, while entry-level pay starts around $50,040.
What is the job outlook for CTE teachers?
BLS projects employment of career/technical education teachers, secondary school to change by -1.8% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) Salary and Requirements by State
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Related Trade Careers
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School (SOC 25-2032)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Cte Teacher Salary by State
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |