Career comparison
Postsecondary CTE Instructor vs. Welder
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Postsecondary CTE instructors earn more at the median ($63,820 vs. $53,750), while welders usually get to work faster (3–18 months of training). Postsecondary CTE instructors teach adults a trade or technical skill at a community or technical college. Welders join and cut metal with MIG, TIG and stick welding for construction and manufacturing.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Postsecondary CTE Instructor | Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $63,820 ($30.68/hr) | $53,750 ($25.84/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $41,960 – $108,620 | $39,240 – $77,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.3% (little or no change) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 8,000 | 40,300 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Several years of field experience | 3–18 months |
| Key credential | Industry certification | AWS Certified Welder |
| Work setting | Instructors work in shops, labs and classrooms at community colleges and technical schools.. | Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, shipyards, construction sites and refineries, sometimes outdoors or at heights. |
What each job does
Postsecondary CTE Instructor
- Teach technical courses
- Run hands-on labs and shops
- Prepare students for certifications
- Maintain tools and equipment
- Work with employer advisory boards
Welder
- Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols
- Prepare, clean and fit metal parts
- Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings
- Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
- Cut metal with oxy-fuel or plasma torches
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, steady routines, and indoor work. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and skilled trades & construction, but share transferable skills such as patience and steady hands and focus.
Which should you choose?
Choose postsecondary CTE instructor if…
- I’m skilled in a trade
- I like showing others how
- I’m patient
Choose welder if…
- I like making things with my hands
- I have a steady hand and patience for precise work
- Heat, sparks and noise don’t bother me
Still torn? Take the Postsecondary CTE Instructor fit quiz and the Welder fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, postsecondary CTE instructor or welder?
Postsecondary CTE Instructors earn more at the median: $63,820 versus $53,750 for welders, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Welders typically train faster (3–18 months) than postsecondary CTE instructors (Several years of field experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects welders to grow +2.4% from 2025–35, compared with -0.3% for postsecondary CTE instructors.