Career Overview
Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.
Also Known As
- Cosmetology Instructor
- HVAC-R Instructor (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, And Refrigeration Instructor)
- Instructor
- Professor
Alternate Job Titles
- Accounting Teacher
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adult Education Instructor
- Adult Education Teacher
- After School Instructor
- Apparel Machinery Instructor
- Apparel Manufacture Instructor
- Architectural Drafting Instructor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Auto Body Repair Teacher
- Auto Mechanics Teacher
- Automotive Instructor
- Automotive Service Management Teacher
- Automotive Technology Instructor
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.
- Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.
- Supervise and monitor students' use of tools and equipment.
- Administer oral, written, or performance tests to measure progress and to evaluate training effectiveness.
- Provide individualized instruction and tutorial or remedial instruction.
- Prepare reports and maintain records, such as student grades, attendance rolls, and training activity details.
- Develop curricula and plan course content and methods of instruction.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Engineering and Technology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Clarity
- Speech Recognition
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Empathy
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Relationships
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Air chisel sets
- Air pressure regulators
- Air ratchets
- Arm board stabilizers
- Autoclave sterilizers
- Automotive stethoscopes
- Ball gauges
- Battery conductance testers
- Blowdryers
- Boot clamp pliers
- Brake bleeders
- Brake disc micrometers
- Brake drum lathes
- Brake drum micrometers
- Brake shoe adjusting gauges
Work Environment
- Contact With Others
- Public Speaking
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $38,680 |
| Median | $61,490 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $106,580 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 111,150
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $63,910
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $63,620
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $106,120
Instructional Coordinators
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $74,720
Training and Development Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $65,850
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.