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Vocational training instructor salary
Average vocational training instructor salary
$56,294
Understanding Vocational Training Instructor Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Vocational Training Instructor in the United States stands at $56,294 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field of instruction.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, vocational instructors tend to earn more, with annual salaries exceeding the national average. For instance, instructors in California report salaries around $63,000, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for skilled educators.
Career Opportunities
Vocational training instructors can find numerous opportunities across various sectors, including healthcare, technology, and skilled trades. These positions not only offer competitive salaries but also the chance to make a significant impact by shaping the future workforce.
Salary Trends Over Time
Over the past few years, the demand for vocational instructors has increased, resulting in a steady rise in salary levels. Job seekers in this field should consider ongoing education and specialization to enhance their earning potential further.
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Where can a Vocational Training Instructor earn more?
Vocational training instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average vocational training instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for vocational training instructors are New York, New Jersey, and Vermont. The lowest average vocational training instructor salary states are Kansas, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for vocational training instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $65,810 | $31.64 |
| 2 | Michigan | $71,701 | $34.47 |
| 3 | Vermont | $74,184 | $35.67 |
| 4 | Virginia | $65,537 | $31.51 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $77,411 | $37.22 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $65,562 | $31.52 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $67,267 | $32.34 |
| 8 | New York | $77,412 | $37.22 |
| 9 | Delaware | $64,123 | $30.83 |
| 10 | Iowa | $59,555 | $28.63 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $66,764 | $32.10 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $68,582 | $32.97 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $67,306 | $32.36 |
| 14 | Maine | $54,900 | $26.39 |
| 15 | Alabama | $53,916 | $25.92 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $64,833 | $31.17 |
| 17 | Georgia | $54,147 | $26.03 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $61,943 | $29.78 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $52,903 | $25.43 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $53,502 | $25.72 |
| 21 | Ohio | $58,777 | $28.26 |
| 22 | Missouri | $60,069 | $28.88 |
| 23 | California | $59,699 | $28.70 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $49,668 | $23.88 |
| 25 | Colorado | $53,079 | $25.52 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $57,991 | $27.88 |
| 27 | Texas | $53,056 | $25.51 |
| 28 | Idaho | $54,606 | $26.25 |
| 29 | Maryland | $58,994 | $28.36 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $49,329 | $23.72 |
| 31 | Indiana | $54,830 | $26.36 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $56,141 | $26.99 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $47,398 | $22.79 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $51,497 | $24.76 |
| 35 | Nevada | $50,717 | $24.38 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $48,245 | $23.19 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $49,143 | $23.63 |
| 38 | Montana | $47,271 | $22.73 |
| 39 | Utah | $48,600 | $23.37 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $45,413 | $21.83 |
| 41 | Oregon | $49,662 | $23.88 |
| 42 | Arizona | $49,376 | $23.74 |
| 43 | Illinois | $49,301 | $23.70 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $48,669 | $23.40 |
| 45 | Florida | $47,464 | $22.82 |
| 46 | Kansas | $46,868 | $22.53 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $43,799 | $21.06 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $45,875 | $22.06 |
| 49 | Alaska | $42,115 | $20.25 |
| 50 | Washington | $49,235 | $23.67 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $44,817 | $21.55 |
Highest paying cities for vocational training instructors
The highest-paying cities for vocational training instructors are Albany, NY, Washington, DC, and Amherst, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany, NY | $76,823 | $36.93 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $68,602 | $32.98 |
| 3 | Amherst, MA | $66,819 | $32.12 |
| 4 | Norfolk, VA | $65,195 | $31.34 |
| 5 | Charleston, WV | $64,309 | $30.92 |
| 6 | Dover, DE | $63,911 | $30.73 |
| 7 | Chesterfield, MO | $60,946 | $29.30 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA | $60,897 | $29.28 |
| 9 | Troy, OH | $57,152 | $27.48 |
| 10 | Goshen, IN | $57,088 | $27.45 |
| 11 | Mobile, AL | $55,421 | $26.64 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $53,604 | $25.77 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $53,528 | $25.73 |
| 14 | Grand Forks, ND | $52,317 | $25.15 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $49,688 | $23.89 |
| 16 | North Little Rock, AR | $49,346 | $23.72 |
| 17 | Lincoln, NE | $48,528 | $23.33 |
| 18 | Pensacola, FL | $47,993 | $23.07 |
| 19 | Knoxville, TN | $47,094 | $22.64 |
Vocational training instructor salary details
A vocational training instructor's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $86,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a vocational training instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| Average | $56,294 | $4,691 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying vocational training instructor jobs
The highest paying types of vocational training instructors are senior instructional designer, instructional designer and trainer, and senior instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Developer | $53,226 | $4,435 | $25.59 | 73,274 |
| Presenter | $42,989 | $3,582 | $20.67 | 6,431 |
| Guest Teacher | $32,547 | $2,712 | $15.65 | 84,930 |
| Substitute Teacher | $32,904 | $2,742 | $15.82 | 69,292 |
| Mentor | $35,581 | $2,965 | $17.11 | 3,625 |
| Teacher/Tutor | $42,955 | $3,580 | $20.65 | 68,441 |
Top companies hiring vocational training instructors now:
Which companies pay vocational training instructors the most?
Vocational training instructor salaries at Oracle and Eversource Energy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average vocational training instructor salary at companies like Change Healthcare and Memorial Hospital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oracle | $92,710 | $44.57 |
| 2 | Eversource Energy | $81,159 | $39.02 |
| 3 | Change Healthcare | $77,020 | $37.03 |
| 4 | Memorial Hospital | $73,195 | $35.19 |
| 5 | Inter-Con Security Systems | $72,482 | $34.85 |
| 6 | Mine Safety Appliances | $71,797 | $34.52 |
| 7 | Kratos Defense & Security Solutions | $69,170 | $33.25 |
| 8 | PGT Trucking | $68,101 | $32.74 |
| 9 | SAIC | $67,909 | $32.65 |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | $64,471 | $31.00 |
| 11 | Emerson | $64,131 | $30.83 |
| 12 | University of North Dakota | $63,636 | $30.59 |
| 13 | Leidos | $62,497 | $30.05 |
| 14 | CACI International | $62,189 | $29.90 |
| 15 | Navy Federal Credit Union | $61,793 | $29.71 |
| 16 | Protective Life | $61,294 | $29.47 |
| 17 | Martin Marietta | $61,105 | $29.38 |
| 18 | Hawthorne Cat | $59,357 | $28.54 |
| 19 | Northern Virginia Community College | $59,166 | $28.45 |
| 20 | Us Army Reserves | $58,920 | $28.33 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Vocational training instructor salary trends
The average vocational training instructor salary has risen by $6,055 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average vocational training instructor earned $50,239 annually, but today, they earn $56,294 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for vocational training instructors over the last decade.
Compare vocational training instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average vocational training instructor salary over time
Compare vocational training instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Vocational training instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,300 | $27.06 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $54,900 | $26.40 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | $54,800 | $26.33 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $53,800 | $25.86 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $52,900 | $25.42 | +3.6% |
Recently added vocational training instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Microsoft Instructor Trainer-Remote | WFH | Manor, TX | 06/29/2025 | $93,915 |
| GE Vernova | Software Training Instructor | Melbourne, FL | 06/21/2025 | $98,040 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Motorcycle Training Instructors | Green, OH | 06/18/2025 | $93,915 |
| Mountainland Technical College | Phlebotomy Instructor In Training | Lehi, UT | 05/26/2025 | $45,705 |
| Via of The Lehigh Valley | Vocational Training Instructor-Disability Services | Bethlehem, PA | 05/16/2025 | $35,479 |
| Nwtc Esl Outreach | Motorcycle Training Instructors | Green Bay, WI | 03/28/2025 | $93,915 |
| Department of Justice | Training Instructor (Vocational Training Instructor-Dog Trainer) | Alderson, WV | 03/28/2025 | $63,148 |
| Department of Justice | Training Instructor (Vocational Training Instructor-Welding) | Big Spring, TX | 03/26/2025 | $63,148 |
| State of Mississippi | Vocational Training Instructor I | Pope, MS | 03/18/2025 | $100,000 |
| Upstate Caring Partners | Career Vocational Training Instructor | Utica, NY | 02/13/2025 | $45,851 |
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