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K-12 Public School Districts
New York City Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, Chicago Public Schools
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
These teachers help middle schoolers build practical skills through hands-on lessons in areas like workplace readiness, technology, or applied academics. The work stands out because it mixes teaching with constant behavior management, parent communication, and coordination with other staff. The main tradeoff is that you get real day-to-day variety, but you also spend a lot of time adapting lessons and dealing with students who are still learning how to function in a school setting.
Also known as Middle School CTE TeacherCareer and Technical Education TeacherCTE TeacherMiddle School Vocational TeacherVocational Education Teacher
Median Salary
$63,620
Mean $68,690
U.S. Workforce
~14K
0.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-2%
14K to 13.8K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~14K workers, with a median annual pay of $63,620 and roughly 0.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 14 K in 2024 to 13.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's Degree in Education or a Subject Area, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Teacher Assistant or Paraprofessional and can progress toward CTE Coordinator or Instructional Coach. High-value skills usually include Google Classroom, Canvas & LMS Platforms, Curriculum Planning, Lesson Design & Assessment Tools, and Classroom Management, Gradebook & SIS Platforms, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Active Listening, and Instructing.
Core Responsibilities
- Adjust lessons and materials so students with different interests, skill levels, and support needs can keep up.
- Grade classwork and homework and give students feedback on what they need to improve.
- Work with other teachers and administrators to plan lessons and update the middle school program.
- Talk with parents, counselors, and other staff to deal with behavior problems and academic struggles.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Adjust lessons and materials so students with different interests, skill levels, and support needs can keep up.
02 Grade classwork and homework and give students feedback on what they need to improve.
03 Work with other teachers and administrators to plan lessons and update the middle school program.
04 Talk with parents, counselors, and other staff to deal with behavior problems and academic struggles.
05 Attend workshops, conferences, and staff meetings to keep skills current and help with school committees.
06 Enforce school rules and manage student behavior during class, hall transitions, and other school activities.
Industries That Hire
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Charter School Networks
KIPP, Success Academy, IDEA Public Schools
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Education Publishing
Pearson, McGraw Hill, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
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Career and Technical Education Providers
Project Lead The Way, Edmentum, NAF
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Nonprofit Youth Programs
Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Junior Achievement, Communities In Schools
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is respectable for a school job, with mean annual pay at $68,690 and a median of $63,620.
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You can enter the role with a bachelor's degree and no formal on-the-job training, so the path is fairly clear.
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The work is practical and visible: you help students learn skills they can use in real life, not just memorize facts.
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No two days are the same because the job mixes teaching, grading, family communication, planning, and teamwork.
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There are still about 0.9K annual openings, so retirements and turnover create some chances in a small field.
Challenges
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The occupation is tiny and projected to decline 2% by 2034, so it is not a growth market.
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A bachelor's degree is typical, but many school systems also expect licensure or a CTE endorsement, which adds extra steps.
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The median pay of $63,620 is decent, but the ceiling is limited compared with many other jobs that also require a four-year degree.
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Middle school behavior can be unpredictable, so a lot of energy goes into classroom management instead of teaching content.
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Much of the week can disappear into grading, meetings, paperwork, and enforcing school rules rather than the hands-on teaching that draws people to the job.
Career Progression
Teacher Assistant or Paraprofessional
0-2 years
$32K-$42K
Supports classroom routines, helps supervise students, and learns how middle school classrooms run before moving into a licensed teaching role.
Middle School Career/Technical Education Teacher
2-8 years
$58K-$76K
Plans and teaches hands-on lessons, grades student work, manages behavior, and works closely with families and school staff.
Lead Teacher or Department Chair THIS ROLE
8-15 years
$77K-$92K
Mentors newer teachers, helps shape curriculum, and takes on more scheduling, program, and coordination responsibilities.
CTE Coordinator or Instructional Coach
12+ years
$93K-$112K
Oversees multiple teachers or programs, aligns coursework to standards, and builds partnerships with administrators and community employers.
Education Paths
Bachelor's Degree in Education or a Subject Area
This is the most common entry point, held by 64.92% of workers in this role.
Master's Degree in Education or Curriculum and Instruction
A sizable alternative path, held by 18.82% of workers, often used to strengthen classroom practice or move up later.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate or Teacher Preparation Program
Used by 15.7% of workers, often to add teaching credentials or a career and technical education endorsement.
State Teaching License with CTE Endorsement
A licensure route can work for people who already have a bachelor's degree and need the teaching credential plus a CTE specialty.
Key Skills
Technical
Google Classroom, Canvas & LMS Platforms 82%
Curriculum Planning, Lesson Design & Assessment Tools 81%
Classroom Management, Gradebook & SIS Platforms 79%
Microsoft Office, Google Workspace & Presentation Software 77%
Project-Based Learning & Career Pathway Curriculum 76%
Lab Safety, Equipment Setup & Hands-On Demonstrations 74%
Soft Skills
SpeakingActive ListeningInstructingLearning StrategiesCritical ThinkingSocial Perceptiveness Job Outlook and Trends
+-2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 14K to 13.8 K over the next decade, representing -2% growth. Around 0.9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.