Education & Childcare career

Middle School CTE Teacher

Also called: Middle School Career Exploration Teacher · Technology Education Teacher · Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher · STEM Elective Teacher

What middle school CTE teachers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a middle school CTE teacher do?

Career and technical education teachers, middle school, teach career exploration and technical skills such as technology, engineering, family and consumer sciences and business. The median pay is $65,030 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4 years plus licensure, and employment is projected to grow -0.5% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $65,030
    Annual salary · May 2025
  • Job growth
    -0.5%
    2025–35, little or no change
  • Openings per year
    1,000
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Bachelor's degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    4 years plus licensure
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    16,600
    Employment, 2025

What middle school CTE teachers do

Middle school CTE teachers help young students explore careers. They teach courses like technology and engineering, robotics, family and consumer sciences, business and computer skills, using hands-on projects that connect school to work.

Most have a bachelor’s degree and a state teaching license in a CTE area; some states allow industry experience as a route in.

Typical duties

  • Teach career exploration classes
  • Run hands-on projects
  • Manage labs and equipment
  • Teach safety
  • Plan lessons
  • Assess student work
  • Lead clubs like robotics

Work environment and schedule

Teachers work in middle school labs, kitchens and classrooms.

Schedule: School-year schedule with after-school clubs.

A day in the life

  1. Set up the tech lab.
  2. Teach a bridge-building project.
  3. Teach cooking basics.
  4. Lunch duty.

See a full day in the life of a middle school CTE teacher →

Middle School CTE Teacher salary

Half of middle school CTE teachers earned more than $65,030 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $49,200 for the lowest 10% to $101,890 for the top 10%.

Full middle school CTE teacher pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a middle school CTE teacher

  1. Earn a bachelor’s
  2. Complete teacher prep
  3. Get licensed
  4. Teach
  5. Lead clubs and programs

A bachelor’s degree and a state teaching license with a CTE endorsement are typical.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a middle school CTE teacher →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • CTE subject knowledge
  • Project-based learning
  • Lab safety
  • Classroom management
  • Lesson planning

People skills

  • Patience
  • Energy
  • Creativity
  • Organization

All middle school CTE teacher skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Hands-on teaching
  • Spark career interest early
  • Creative projects
  • School calendar

Cons

  • Classroom management with young teens
  • Equipment budgets
  • Program cuts
  • Lab cleanup

Certifications and licenses

  • State teaching license: CTE endorsement.
  • Industry credential: In some subjects.
  • CPR and first aid: Common.
  • Robotics program training: Such as VEX or FIRST.

Career path

  1. Middle School CTE Teacher: Teach.
  2. Department Lead: Lead teachers.
  3. CTE Coordinator: District role.
  4. CTE Director: Lead programs.

Learn the job before day one

Our Middle School CTE Teacher training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as run a middle school bridge challenge and teach lab safety to sixth graders, safety and how to land your first job.

View Middle School CTE Teacher trainingIs this career right for me?

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Compare: Middle School CTE Teacher vs. CTE Teacher · Middle School CTE Teacher vs. Middle School Teacher · Middle School CTE Teacher vs. FCS Professor · Middle School CTE Teacher vs. Instructional Coordinator

Middle School CTE Teacher FAQ

What do middle school CTE teachers teach?

Technology, engineering, FCS, business and computer skills.

Do they need a license?

Yes, in public schools.

Is this job growing?

BLS projects little change, but many districts value career exploration.

How much does a middle school CTE teacher make?

The median annual wage for middle school CTE teachers was $65,030 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $49,200 and the highest 10% earned more than $101,890.

How long does it take to become a middle school CTE teacher?

Most people need about 4 years plus licensure of training. A bachelor’s degree and a state teaching license with a CTE endorsement are typical.

Do you need a degree to be a middle school CTE teacher?

Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.

More middle school CTE teacher questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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