Career and Technical Education Instructors
Overview
Career and Technical Education Instructors teach practical skills like auto repair, cosmetology, culinary arts, and other hands-on trades that lead directly to careers. They create engaging lesson plans, demonstrate proper use of industry tools and equipment, and guide students through real-world projects that build job-ready skills. These instructors work in community colleges, trade schools, and career centers, using modern technology and industry-standard equipment to prepare students for immediate employment. They also monitor student progress, maintain safety standards, and often collaborate with local employers to ensure training matches current industry needs.
Did you know?
Most postsecondary career/technical education positions require several years of hands-on professional experience in the specific trade or technical field being taught.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$61,688.24 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top Skill
Critical Thinking
Key Responsibilities
- Supervise independent or group projects, field placements, laboratory work, or other training.
- Participate in conferences, seminars, and training sessions to keep abreast of developments in the field, and integrate relevant information into training programs.
- Administer oral, written, or performance tests to measure progress and to evaluate training effectiveness.
- Provide individualized instruction and tutorial or remedial instruction.
- Advise students on course selection, career decisions, and other academic and vocational concerns.
- Prepare outlines of instructional programs and training schedules and establish course goals.
- Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.
- Develop teaching aids, such as instructional software, multimedia visual aids, or study materials.
- Integrate academic and vocational curricula so that students can obtain a variety of skills.
- Prepare reports and maintain records, such as student grades, attendance rolls, and training activity details.
- Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.
- Serve on faculty and school committees concerned with budgeting, curriculum revision, and course and diploma requirements.
- Select and assemble books, materials, supplies, and equipment for training, courses, or projects.
- Conduct on-the-job training classes or training sessions to teach and demonstrate principles, techniques, procedures, or methods of designated subjects.
- Supervise and monitor students' use of tools and equipment.
- Develop curricula and plan course content and methods of instruction.
- Acquire, maintain, and repair laboratory equipment and tools.
- Arrange for lectures by experts in designated fields.
- Determine training needs of students or workers.
- Review enrollment applications and correspond with applicants to obtain additional information.
Career Considerations
Industry Experience Requirement
Most postsecondary career/technical education positions require several years of hands-on professional experience in the specific trade or technical field being taught.
Dual Credentialing Needs
Instructors typically need both teaching credentials or education degrees and current industry certifications or licenses relevant to their technical specialty.
Job Market Variability
Employment opportunities and salary ranges vary significantly based on geographic location, institutional type, and the specific technical field of expertise.