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Vocational instructor salary
Average vocational instructor salary
$41,610
Understanding Vocational Instructor Salaries
As of October 2025, vocational instructors in the United States earn an average salary of $41,610 annually. Salary figures can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field in which the instructor specializes. For instance, instructors in states like California and New York may command higher salaries due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled trainers.
Salary Insights by State
To help job seekers make informed decisions, we provide a breakdown of average salaries by state. Understanding these dynamics can guide your career path. Additionally, vocational instructors can increase their earnings by specializing in high-demand fields such as healthcare, technology, or skilled trades.
Industry Influence on Salaries
The industry you work in also plays a critical role in determining salary. For example, vocational instructors in technical fields typically earn higher wages compared to those teaching in non-technical areas. Exploring various vocational instructor job listings can provide insight into specific opportunities that align with your expertise and earning goals.
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Where can a Vocational Instructor earn more?
Vocational instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average vocational instructor salary by state
The average vocational instructor salary in California, Washington, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average vocational instructor salary states are Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for vocational instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $45,497 | $21.87 |
| 3 | Alaska | $47,928 | $23.04 |
| 4 | Texas | $45,942 | $22.09 |
| 5 | Oregon | $44,456 | $21.37 |
| 6 | Iowa | $43,735 | $21.03 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $50,031 | $24.05 |
| 8 | Washington | $51,313 | $24.67 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $48,743 | $23.43 |
| 10 | Colorado | $42,118 | $20.25 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $44,130 | $21.22 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $42,910 | $20.63 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $44,563 | $21.42 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $44,102 | $21.20 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $39,940 | $19.20 |
| 16 | New York | $43,697 | $21.01 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $38,928 | $18.72 |
| 18 | Michigan | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| 19 | Arizona | $41,041 | $19.73 |
| 20 | Ohio | $40,149 | $19.30 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $40,219 | $19.34 |
| 22 | Delaware | $39,269 | $18.88 |
| 23 | Vermont | $39,099 | $18.80 |
| 24 | Alabama | $39,529 | $19.00 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $38,454 | $18.49 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $37,046 | $17.81 |
| 28 | Virginia | $36,574 | $17.58 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $42,525 | $20.44 |
| 30 | Indiana | $38,158 | $18.35 |
| 31 | Montana | $35,249 | $16.95 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $37,185 | $17.88 |
| 33 | Utah | $36,344 | $17.47 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $37,542 | $18.05 |
| 35 | Florida | $36,206 | $17.41 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $36,521 | $17.56 |
| 38 | Nevada | $34,574 | $16.62 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $35,532 | $17.08 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $34,737 | $16.70 |
| 41 | Maine | $36,557 | $17.58 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,787 | $14.80 |
| 43 | Maryland | $34,103 | $16.40 |
| 44 | Georgia | $31,052 | $14.93 |
| 45 | Missouri | $35,939 | $17.28 |
| 46 | Kansas | $33,995 | $16.34 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| 48 | Connecticut | $36,079 | $17.35 |
| 49 | Illinois | $32,875 | $15.81 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $33,039 | $15.88 |
| 51 | Idaho | $30,767 | $14.79 |
Highest paying cities for vocational instructors
The highest-paying cities for vocational instructors are Springfield, MA, Eugene, OR, and Marana, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $50,201 | $24.14 |
| 2 | Eugene, OR | $44,612 | $21.45 |
| 3 | Marana, AZ | $41,065 | $19.74 |
| 4 | Omaha, NE | $40,223 | $19.34 |
| 5 | Gallatin, TN | $38,384 | $18.45 |
| 6 | Frankfort, KY | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| 7 | Panama City, FL | $36,308 | $17.46 |
| 8 | Lawton, OK | $35,167 | $16.91 |
| 9 | Albany, GA | $31,378 | $15.09 |
Vocational instructor salary details
A vocational instructor's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $55,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a vocational instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| Average | $41,610 | $3,468 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying vocational instructor jobs
The highest paying types of vocational instructors are adjunct faculty, instructional supervisor, and technical instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $6,922 | $39.94 | 26,791 |
| Teacher-In-Training | $37,214 | $3,101 | $17.89 | 132,725 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| Instructor, Faculty | $57,553 | $4,796 | $27.67 | 38,774 |
| Flight Instructor | $51,324 | $4,277 | $24.68 | 25,735 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
Top companies hiring vocational instructors now:
Which companies pay vocational instructors the most?
Vocational instructor salaries at New York State Restaurant Association and Pearl Buck Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average vocational instructor salary at companies like Pico de Gallo and Easter Seals South Florida are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York State Restaurant Association | $42,989 | $20.67 |
| 2 | Pearl Buck Center | $42,751 | $20.55 |
| 3 | Pico de Gallo | $41,936 | $20.16 |
| 4 | Easter Seals South Florida | $41,926 | $20.16 |
| 5 | Beacon Group, Inc. | $41,824 | $20.11 |
| 6 | Virtual Employee | $41,790 | $20.09 |
| 7 | The GEO Group | $41,191 | $19.80 |
| 8 | Woods Services | $39,408 | $18.95 |
| 9 | Management & Training | $38,912 | $18.71 |
| 10 | North Central Texas College | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| 11 | The Evergreens | $38,844 | $18.68 |
| 12 | My Florida Regional Mls | $38,744 | $18.63 |
| 13 | Volunteers of America-Greater New York | $38,166 | $18.35 |
| 14 | The Home For Little Wanderers | $38,117 | $18.33 |
| 15 | State Of Florida | $35,105 | $16.88 |
| 16 | Maine | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| 17 | Florida Department of Transportation | $34,475 | $16.57 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $33,922 | $16.31 |
| 19 | State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia | $33,799 | $16.25 |
| 20 | S.C. Department of Commerce | $32,629 | $15.69 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Vocational Instructor salary by industry
The average vocational instructor salary varies across industries:
- The average vocational instructor salary in the utilities industry is $41,669, the highest of any industry.
- The average vocational instructor salary in the finance industry is $41,367.
- Vocational instructors in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $35,622, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for vocational instructors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utilities | $41,669 | $20.03 |
| 2 | Education | $41,367 | $19.89 |
| 3 | Professional | $40,057 | $19.26 |
| 4 | Health Care | $39,686 | $19.08 |
| 5 | Government | $39,503 | $18.99 |
| 6 | Non Profits | $35,622 | $17.13 |
High paying vocational instructor jobs
Vocational instructor salary trends
The average vocational instructor salary has risen by $5,109 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average vocational instructor earned $36,501 annually, but today, they earn $41,610 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for vocational instructors over the last decade.
Compare vocational instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average vocational instructor salary over time
Compare vocational instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Vocational instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $41,600 | $20.00 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $40,900 | $19.65 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $39,700 | $19.11 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $38,600 | $18.56 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $37,900 | $18.22 | +2.3% |
Recently added vocational instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corecivic | Vocational Instructor | Shelby, MT | 06/28/2025 | $54,909 |
| Corecivic | Vocational Instructor-Electrical-Saguaro | Eloy, AZ | 06/21/2025 | $56,099 |
| State of Kentucky | Corrections Vocational Instructor | La Grange, KY | 06/05/2025 | $61,025 |
| Corecivic | Vocational Instructor-Hvac | Whiteville, TN | 06/04/2025 | $58,019 |
| State of New York | Vocational Instructor (NY Helps) | Lloyd, NY | 06/03/2025 | $48,047 |
| State of Florida | Vocational Instructor II-F/C-67055949 Pathways | Marianna, FL | 05/28/2025 | $36,157 |
| State of Kentucky | Corrections Vocational Instructor | Wheelwright, KY | 05/24/2025 | $61,025 |
| State of Georgia | Vocational Instructor | Cave Spring, GA | 05/16/2025 | $50,350 |
| State of New York | Vocational Instructor-Summer Session | Rome, NY | 05/16/2025 | $57,768 |
| Corecivic | Vocational Instructor-Electrical-Saguaro Correctional Center | Eloy, AZ | 05/09/2025 | $56,099 |
Vocational instructor salary FAQs
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