Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Educational Instruction and Library

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary

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 called: Automotive Instructor, Automotive Technology Instructor, Cosmetology Instructor, Flight Instructor, HVAC-R Instructor (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, And Refrigeration Instructor), Instructor

Median pay in Greater Boston
$82,420
$39.63/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
850
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+3.8%
130 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree
Less than 5 years of related work experience

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$53,670$64,960$82,420$99,330$122,820

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure60 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 51
  • Language-model AIOE 57
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 72

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure is moderate for career and technical teachers, and observed AI use is substantial. AI tools can help with lecture visuals, tests, and extra practice materials. Watching students use tools and equipment, giving hands-on feedback, and working one-on-one remain in-person work.

Likely to change

  • Making lecture visuals and practice tests
  • Preparing tutoring and remedial materials

Still relies on people

  • Supervising students' use of tools and equipment
  • Watching work and giving hands-on feedback

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

    Hands-on tool and equipment knowledge carries over; this trade has very low AI exposure and a Boston median pay of $96,760, learned through apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$14,340 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.5%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent
  • Structural Iron and Steel Workers

    Reading blueprints and checking work carry over; this trade has very low AI exposure and a Boston median pay of $120,840, learned through apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$38,420 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent
  • Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

    Technical know-how from shop-based teaching carries over, with projected Massachusetts growth of 15.5% and moderate on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$3,140 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +15.5%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

12 programs near Boston (plus 6 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach