How to Become a CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) in South Carolina: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median career and technical education teacher salary in South Carolina is $72,120 per year - 9% above the national median of $66,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in career & technical education or your trade field + teacher certification.
How to Become a CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) in South Carolina
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.
Requirements in South Carolina
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in career & technical education or your trade field + teacher certification - while licensing runs through the South Carolina state teacher certification office: State teaching certificate; many states offer alternative CTE routes crediting trade experience. Verify current requirements with the South Carolina state teacher certification office before enrolling, as details change.
CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) Salary in South Carolina
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| South Carolina entry level (10th percentile) | $50,620 |
| South Carolina 25th-75th percentile | $59,240 - $91,740 |
| South Carolina median | $72,120 |
| South Carolina top earners (90th percentile) | $98,060 |
| U.S. median | $66,270 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 1,150.
The South Carolina Job Market: CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in South Carolina | 1,150 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.50 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.70 |
| Mean annual wage in South Carolina | $73,760 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.70, South Carolina employs CTE teachers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Salary Nationwide
| 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% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a career and technical education teacher make in South Carolina?
The median annual wage for career/technical education teachers, secondary school in South Carolina is $72,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 9% above the national median of $66,270.
How to become a career and technical education teacher in South Carolina?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in career & technical education or your trade field + teacher certification - with licensing through the South Carolina state teacher certification office: State teaching certificate; many states offer alternative CTE routes crediting trade experience. See the steps on this page.
How many CTE teachers work in South Carolina?
BLS counts about 1,150 career/technical education teachers, secondary school employed in South Carolina (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) in Nearby States
- CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) in Pennsylvania
- CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) in Rhode Island
- CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) in South Dakota
- CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) in Tennessee
Related
- How to Become a CTE Teacher (Shop Teacher) (national guide)
- All Trade Careers That Require a 4-Year Degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School (SOC 25-2032), South Carolina and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
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) |