The United States employed 114,110 Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary in May 2025, and the national annual median wage was $63,820, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. BLS counts technical college instructors within that title. Texas (12,620) and California (11,040) hold the largest wage-and-salary pools; Alaska has the highest location quotient at 4.7.
| Key fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. employment | 114,110 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| U.S. annual median wage | $63,820 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Largest state pool | Texas, 12,620 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Highest state location quotient | Alaska, 4.7 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
Where to find technical college instructors: the short answer
Start with the states that employ the most postsecondary CTE teachers, then check metros where the occupation is denser than the national mix. A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that area's employment than nationally. North Carolina (6,510 employed; location quotient 1.8) and Washington (3,610; 1.39) combine a sizable pool with above-average concentration. Oklahoma City, OK (1,350 employed; location quotient 2.71) is the densest large metro in the BLS list.
Name the program of study, the lab or shop, and the career pathway in the posting so welding, HVAC-R, automotive, and cosmetology instructors recognize the work. Pair this map with a practical how to hire a technical college instructor sequence before you go live.
States with the most technical college instructors
BLS state counts are wage-and-salary employment only. Texas, California, Florida, North Carolina, and New York are the five largest pools. Use the annual median as the market reference when you set a range for a candidate who would relocate from that state.
| Rank | State | Employment | Location quotient | Annual median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 12,620 | 1.22 | $65,180 |
| 2 | California | 11,040 | 0.83 | $76,630 |
| 3 | Florida | 7,600 | 1.04 | $59,990 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 6,510 | 1.8 | $62,390 |
| 5 | New York | 5,250 | 0.74 | $75,170 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4,780 | 1.07 | $63,160 |
| 7 | Illinois | 4,420 | 0.99 | $62,480 |
| 8 | Georgia | 3,920 | 1.09 | $60,320 |
| 9 | Washington | 3,610 | 1.39 | $77,530 |
| 10 | Michigan | 3,480 | 1.08 | $63,440 |
A large count means more people already teaching below the baccalaureate level in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education. A thin count means you will compete for a smaller local list and should advertise in neighboring high-count states. If your campus sits in Texas or California, a statewide posting can reach thousands of incumbents; if it sits in a smaller pool such as Wyoming (360) or South Dakota (350), plan a multi-state search from day one.
Where the role is most concentrated
Employment volume and concentration are not the same map. California's 11,040 jobs come with a location quotient of 0.83, below the national mix. Alaska's 1,120 jobs come with a location quotient of 4.7. High concentration can mean more people who already know lab instruction, work-based learning, and advisory committee work—and more colleges bidding for the same faculty.
| Rank | State | Location quotient | Employment | Annual median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 4.7 | 1,120 | $77,310 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | 2.43 | 3,040 | $67,060 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 1.8 | 6,510 | $62,390 |
| 4 | Utah | 1.79 | 2,280 | $50,740 |
| 5 | Wyoming | 1.74 | 360 | $74,210 |
| 6 | New Mexico | 1.68 | 1,070 | $60,490 |
| 7 | Arkansas | 1.62 | 1,550 | $50,120 |
| 8 | Alabama | 1.51 | 2,350 | $62,580 |
| 9 | Washington | 1.39 | 3,610 | $77,530 |
| 10 | North Dakota | 1.36 | 430 | $73,570 |
Oklahoma is the rare case with both a large count (3,040) and a high location quotient (2.43). Wyoming and North Dakota are concentrated but small. For an offer, read the BLS annual median next to the count: Utah's median is $50,740; Washington's is $77,530. Set your range against the market you are recruiting from, not only the campus ZIP code. The same supply logic appears in where to find CTE teachers by state and metro for secondary programs of study.
Metro areas with the most technical college instructors
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro employs 4,820; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA employs 3,670; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN employs 3,160; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX employs 3,110. Among metros with high concentration, Oklahoma City, OK (location quotient 2.71) and San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR (2) stand out; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (1.35) and Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (1.33) combine density with pay medians of $81,010 and $76,810.
| Metropolitan area | Employment | Location quotient | Annual median |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,820 | 0.69 | $78,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,670 | 0.8 | $75,450 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,160 | 0.96 | $63,100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,110 | 1.05 | $61,360 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,490 | 1.2 | $63,420 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,440 | 1.01 | $74,570 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,070 | 1.35 | $81,010 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,900 | 0.89 | $64,530 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,710 | 1.22 | $63,250 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1,350 | 2.71 | $73,410 |
If your campus is outside these metros, still post into them. A welding or automotive instructor already supervising tools, laboratory work, and field placements can move for a shop that names the equipment, the student organization, and the industry partners. Screen with job-related technical college instructor interview questions once applications arrive.
Adjacent talent pools
O*NET OnLine (accessed September 24, 2026) describes the work as teaching vocational courses below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology. Reported titles include Automotive Instructor, Cosmetology Instructor, Flight Instructor, HVAC-R Instructor, and Welding Instructor. Core tasks include observing student work, supervising tools and equipment, administering performance tests, developing curricula, and supervising laboratory work, field placements, or on-the-job training.
Related occupations on that O*NET page are a ready career-changer list: Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School; Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School; Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary; Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary; Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians; Instructional Coordinators; Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians; Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary; Training and Development Specialists; and Tutors. Secondary CTE teachers already run a program of study; engineering technologists already work the processes students must master in the shop.
O*NET places the occupation in Job Zone Three. Among education respondents, 42% reported an associate's degree or other 2-year degree, 20% a bachelor's degree, and 16% a post-secondary certificate. Previous work-related skill is required. That is why experienced practitioners in the trade being taught remain a primary pool. For a welding or automotive opening, also use the hire guides for a welding instructor and an automotive technology instructor. If a candidate lists a state license or professional credential, verify it directly with the issuing board or body before the start date.
Turning supply data into a recruiting plan
Advertise first in your state if BLS shows a large count, then in the nearest high-employment metros on the table. If your location quotient is below 1, widen the radius in the first week to Texas, California, Florida, North Carolina, or New York rather than waiting on a local shortlist. Post where career and technical educators look, including the ACTE Job Bank.
Stress the work the O*NET profile actually lists: lab or shop supervision, performance tests, curriculum for a career pathway, work-based learning, and tools such as a learning management system (Moodle, Google Classroom), Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. Ask industry partners and the program advisory committee to share the opening with journeymen who already train apprentices. Put the BLS median for your state and the sending metro in the same conversation when you set the offer; national annual median is $63,820, with the 10th percentile at $41,960 and the 90th at $108,620.
Keep the advertisement and the screen job-related. Under the laws enforced by the EEOC (accessed September 24, 2026), it is illegal to publish a job advertisement that shows a preference for or discourages someone because of race, color, religion, sex (including transgender status, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. Use a clear technical college instructor job description template so every requirement maps to lab teaching, not to personal traits. This guide is general information as of September 24, 2026, not legal advice.
FAQ
Which states have the most technical college instructors?
BLS OEWS, May 2025, reports the largest wage-and-salary counts in Texas (12,620), California (11,040), Florida (7,600), North Carolina (6,510), and New York (5,250) for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary.
What is location quotient?
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that area's employment than nationally. Alaska (4.7) and Oklahoma (2.43) are the highest state figures in the BLS table.
Where should I advertise a technical college instructor opening?
Post on the ACTE Job Bank, in high-employment states and metros from the BLS tables, and through industry partners and the program advisory committee. Name the lab or shop, the career pathway, and the student organization in the posting.
Can I recruit people from industry for this role?
Yes. O*NET lists related occupations such as secondary CTE teachers, engineering technologists and technicians, and training and development specialists, and it reports that previous work-related skill is required. Experienced practitioners in the field being taught are a core pool for postsecondary CTE labs.
How do I recruit outside the big metros?
Advertise into New York-Newark-Jersey City (4,820 employed), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (3,670), and other high-count metros, and recruit from adjacent occupations. Set the offer against the BLS annual median in the sending market as well as your own.
