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Career and technical education programs, and the jobs they lead to

Career and technical education — still called vocational education in plenty of places — is classroom instruction tied directly to an occupation. A CTE pathway usually runs from a high school program of study into a certificate, apprenticeship or two-year degree, and ends with a credential an employer or licensing board recognises.

The pathways below are grouped the way most states organise their programs of study. Each one lists real occupations with the federal median pay attached, so you can see what a given program actually leads to before enrolling.

This site sits on the domain that once hosted the ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, so the subject is close to home. The difference now is that every figure on the page traces back to current federal data rather than a printed digest.

Program areas and where they lead

Health science

Certificate and associate-degree programs that lead to licensed clinical work, usually in under two years.

Dental HygienistsMedium preparation needed · 222,740 employed$98,100median / yrDental AssistantsMedium preparation needed · 387,790 employed$48,070median / yrMedical AssistantsMedium preparation needed · 817,870 employed$45,690median / yrPhlebotomistsMedium preparation needed · 143,540 employed$45,230median / yrSurgical TechnologistsMedium preparation needed · 117,460 employed$64,650median / yrRadiologic Technologists and TechniciansMedium preparation needed · 230,490 employed$80,110median / yrRespiratory TherapistsMedium preparation needed · 139,790 employed$82,280median / yrLicensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesMedium preparation needed · 648,410 employed$64,400median / yr

Construction and the building trades

Apprenticeship-heavy paths where you earn while you learn and licensing follows experience.

ElectriciansMedium preparation needed · 757,220 employed$63,190median / yrPlumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersMedium preparation needed · 465,840 employed$63,800median / yrCarpentersLittle to some preparation needed · 670,090 employed$60,580median / yrHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersMedium preparation needed · 409,670 employed$61,010median / yrElevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersMedium preparation needed · 23,790 employed$109,910median / yrElectrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersLittle to some preparation needed · 131,070 employed$95,320median / yr

Manufacturing, welding and machining

Short technical programs plus on-the-job training, often with employer-paid certification.

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersLittle to some preparation needed · 416,210 employed$53,750median / yrMachinistsMedium preparation needed · 287,050 employed$58,750median / yrIndustrial Machinery MechanicsMedium preparation needed · 439,640 employed$64,520median / yrComputer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 169,450 employed$50,690median / yr

Transportation and logistics

Licence-led routes: a commercial licence or FAA certificate is the qualification that matters.

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversLittle to some preparation needed · 2,062,040 employed$58,640median / yrAircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansMedium preparation needed · 138,090 employed$79,870median / yrBus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsMedium preparation needed · 289,960 employed$61,770median / yrAutomotive Service Technicians and MechanicsMedium preparation needed · 704,640 employed$50,620median / yr

Business, legal and administrative support

Two-year and certificate programs that plug directly into offices, law firms and clinics.

Paralegals and Legal AssistantsMedium preparation needed · 392,880 employed$62,890median / yrBookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksMedium preparation needed · 1,373,680 employed$50,670median / yrMedical Records SpecialistsMedium preparation needed · 194,720 employed$51,140median / yrHuman Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingMedium preparation needed · 90,220 employed$50,610median / yr

Information technology

Certification-first routes where vendor credentials often substitute for a four-year degree.

Computer User Support SpecialistsMedium preparation needed · 717,190 employed$61,860median / yrComputer Network Support SpecialistsConsiderable preparation needed · 146,190 employed$76,220median / yrWeb DevelopersMedium preparation needed · 70,190 employed$92,650median / yrNetwork and Computer Systems AdministratorsMedium preparation needed · 314,340 employed$99,130median / yr

Highest paying occupations reached through CTE-style training

Median annual wage, national, BLS May 2025. Top figure here: $148,080.

Air Traffic ControllersMedium preparation needed · 22,510 employed$148,080median / yrWind Energy Operations ManagersGrowingMedium preparation needed · 622,190 employed$141,900median / yrTelecommunications Engineering SpecialistsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 179,740 employed$134,050median / yrGeothermal Production ManagersMedium preparation needed · 246,250 employed$126,060median / yrHydroelectric Production ManagersMedium preparation needed · 246,250 employed$126,060median / yrCommercial PilotsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 47,630 employed$123,220median / yrNuclear Power Reactor OperatorsMedium preparation needed · 5,150 employed$122,890median / yrComputer Systems Engineers/ArchitectsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 435,370 employed$116,580median / yrAdministrative Services ManagersGrowingMedium preparation needed · 263,960 employed$114,130median / yrNuclear TechniciansMedium preparation needed · 6,470 employed$110,240median / yrNuclear Monitoring TechniciansMedium preparation needed · 6,470 employed$110,240median / yrElevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersGrowingMedium preparation needed · 23,790 employed$109,910median / yrShip EngineersMedium preparation needed · 8,400 employed$109,530median / yrPower Distributors and DispatchersMedium preparation needed · 8,520 employed$106,730median / yrFacilities ManagersMedium preparation needed · 156,180 employed$106,660median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesLittle to some preparation needed · 154,610 employed$106,040median / yrRadiation TherapistsMedium preparation needed · 17,070 employed$105,310median / yrSolar Sales Representatives and AssessorsMedium preparation needed · 284,800 employed$104,920median / yrElectrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayGrowingMedium preparation needed · 20,720 employed$103,020median / yrPower Plant OperatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 29,320 employed$102,040median / yr

How CTE programs are structured

Most states organise CTE into career clusters, each with several programs of study. A program of study sequences courses from introductory to occupation-specific, and typically includes work-based learning — an internship, co-op placement or registered apprenticeship. Many high school programs are articulated with a community college, so completed coursework carries over as college credit.

What the credential at the end actually is

Depending on the pathway, you finish with an industry certification (welding, IT, automotive), a state licence (cosmetology, practical nursing, commercial driving), a postsecondary certificate, or an associate degree. For licensed occupations the licence, not the diploma, is what lets you work — so check your state board's approved-program list before you enrol.

How to judge a program before enrolling

Ask for completion rates, credential pass rates and placement rates in writing. Check that the program is accredited and, for licensed fields, on the state board's approved list. Compare total cost against the median pay for the occupation it feeds — the pages linked below give you the pay range, not just a single number.

Funding

Federal Perkins V funding supports CTE in secondary and postsecondary institutions, and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds can cover training for eligible adults through your local American Job Center. Registered apprenticeships pay you a progressive wage while you train.

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