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Vocational teacher salary
Average vocational teacher salary
$46,546
Understanding Vocational Teacher Salaries
The salary for a vocational teacher varies based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry focus. On average, vocational teachers earn about $46,546 per year, translating to roughly $22 per hour. In states like California and New York, salaries can exceed this average, reflecting higher demand and living costs.
In addition to state variations, vocational teachers in specialized fields, such as technology or healthcare, often command higher salaries due to the specific skills required. For instance, instructors teaching advanced manufacturing may earn significantly more than those in general education roles.
Job Market Insights
As the job market evolves, the demand for vocational teachers remains strong, particularly in trade and technical education. Institutions are increasingly focusing on equipping students with practical skills that are directly applicable in the workforce. This trend not only enhances job security for vocational teachers but also opens pathways to higher salaries and advancement opportunities.
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Where can a Vocational Teacher earn more?
Vocational teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average vocational teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for vocational teachers are Alaska, Massachusetts, and Washington. The lowest average vocational teacher salary states are Montana, Louisiana, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for vocational teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $63,490 | $30.52 |
| 2 | Texas | $54,546 | $26.22 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $55,712 | $26.78 |
| 4 | Washington | $59,587 | $28.65 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $51,877 | $24.94 |
| 6 | Alaska | $63,623 | $30.59 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $53,234 | $25.59 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $49,270 | $23.69 |
| 9 | Michigan | $47,506 | $22.84 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $52,904 | $25.43 |
| 12 | Iowa | $50,229 | $24.15 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $47,198 | $22.69 |
| 14 | Delaware | $49,716 | $23.90 |
| 15 | New York | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $54,063 | $25.99 |
| 17 | California | $53,617 | $25.78 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $49,458 | $23.78 |
| 19 | Oregon | $50,984 | $24.51 |
| 20 | Vermont | $49,820 | $23.95 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $45,537 | $21.89 |
| 22 | Colorado | $46,323 | $22.27 |
| 23 | Indiana | $45,148 | $21.71 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $44,513 | $21.40 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $43,489 | $20.91 |
| 26 | Alabama | $46,073 | $22.15 |
| 27 | Florida | $44,354 | $21.32 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $45,114 | $21.69 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $47,094 | $22.64 |
| 30 | Maine | $47,142 | $22.66 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $53,870 | $25.90 |
| 32 | Maryland | $43,215 | $20.78 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $47,624 | $22.90 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $44,471 | $21.38 |
| 35 | Arizona | $45,677 | $21.96 |
| 36 | Ohio | $42,758 | $20.56 |
| 37 | Georgia | $43,325 | $20.83 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $41,325 | $19.87 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $41,790 | $20.09 |
| 40 | Illinois | $41,941 | $20.16 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $43,043 | $20.69 |
| 42 | Utah | $43,473 | $20.90 |
| 43 | Montana | $40,715 | $19.57 |
| 44 | Missouri | $42,216 | $20.30 |
| 45 | Virginia | $41,729 | $20.06 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $42,874 | $20.61 |
| 47 | Kansas | $39,349 | $18.92 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $36,787 | $17.69 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $39,548 | $19.01 |
| 50 | Nevada | $38,820 | $18.66 |
| 51 | Idaho | $35,024 | $16.84 |
Highest paying cities for vocational teachers
The highest-paying cities for vocational teachers are Boston, MA, El Paso, TX, and Trenton, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $63,536 | $30.55 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | $55,445 | $26.66 |
| 3 | Trenton, NJ | $55,416 | $26.64 |
| 4 | Arcadia, CA | $53,024 | $25.49 |
| 5 | Ocala, FL | $45,364 | $21.81 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $43,413 | $20.87 |
| 7 | Columbia, SC | $36,883 | $17.73 |
Vocational teacher salary details
A vocational teacher's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a vocational teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $46,546 | $3,879 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying vocational teacher jobs
The highest paying types of vocational teachers are middle school teacher, middle school art teacher, and middle school english teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Internship | $48,398 | $4,033 | $23.27 | 105,496 |
| English Language Arts Teacher | $48,483 | $4,040 | $23.31 | 88,793 |
| Language Arts Teacher | $51,969 | $4,331 | $24.99 | 88,551 |
| Resource Center Teacher | $33,110 | $2,759 | $15.92 | 103,454 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
Top companies hiring vocational teachers now:
Which companies pay vocational teachers the most?
Vocational teacher salaries at Boston Public Schools and Baltimore City Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average vocational teacher salary at companies like Universal Health Services and Southern California Seminary are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Public Schools | $67,406 | $32.41 |
| 2 | Baltimore City Public Schools | $57,590 | $27.69 |
| 3 | Universal Health Services | $51,665 | $24.84 |
| 4 | Southern California Seminary | $45,399 | $21.83 |
| 5 | The Camphill School | $45,187 | $21.72 |
| 6 | My Florida Regional Mls | $43,233 | $20.79 |
| 7 | Florida Dept. of Health | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| 8 | State Of Florida | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 9 | Florida Department of Transportation | $35,845 | $17.23 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Vocational Teacher salary by industry
The average vocational teacher salary varies across industries:
- The average vocational teacher salary in the health care industry is $50,110, the highest of any industry.
- The average vocational teacher salary in the finance industry is $46,711.
- Vocational teachers in the government industry earn an average salary of $36,355, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for vocational teachers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| 2 | Education | $46,711 | $22.46 |
| 3 | Finance | $42,026 | $20.20 |
| 4 | Government | $36,355 | $17.48 |
High paying vocational teacher jobs
Vocational teacher salary trends
The average vocational teacher salary has risen by $5,716 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average vocational teacher earned $40,830 annually, but today, they earn $46,546 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for vocational teachers over the last decade.
Compare vocational teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average vocational teacher salary over time
Compare vocational teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Vocational teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,500 | $22.38 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $45,700 | $21.98 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $44,500 | $21.37 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $43,200 | $20.76 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $42,400 | $20.38 | +2.3% |
Recently added vocational teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Children Services | Vocational Teacher | Plainfield, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $51,000 |
| State of North Carolina | Vocational Teacher | Morganton, NC | 06/26/2025 | $42,000 |
| Gallup-McKinley County Schools | SY-Teacher-Vocational-Media; Signing Incentive ; Relocation Expense | Gallup, NM | 06/24/2025 | $59,984 |
| Indiana Public Schools | Vocational Teacher-Welding Instructor SY | Indianapolis, IN | 06/18/2025 | $53,460 |
| Gallup-McKinley County Schools | Teacher-Vocational-Business; Signing Incentive ; Relocation Expense | Gallup, NM | 04/26/2025 | $57,678 |
| Indiana Public Schools | Vocational Teacher-Graphic Imaging Instructor SY | Indianapolis, IN | 04/04/2025 | $53,460 |
| State of Florida | Fdc-Vocational Teacher-Ejt(Barbering70031450-Dade Correctional Institution | Florida City, FL | 03/25/2025 | $51,500 |
| Filminflorida | Fdc-Vocational Teacher-Ejt (Multi Trade)-70047642-Apalachee Correctional Institution | Panama City, FL | 02/17/2025 | $51,500 |
| Indiana Public Schools | Vocational Teacher-Culinary Arts SY | Indianapolis, IN | 02/11/2025 | $53,460 |
| Goodwin Recruiting | Vocational Teacher | Sonoma, CA | 01/31/2025 | $75,000 |
Vocational teacher salary FAQs
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