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Middle School Vocation Teachers Job Overview

Middle school vocation teachers teach basic education, self-improvement courses or occupational training skills to the middle school students. They combine academic and vocational courses with a practical approach to teach students "real world" skills. They prepare students for specific vocational or technical careers and help them develop the skills they need to get started in the field. They teach with the help of lectures, assignments, demonstrations and laboratory work. Vocational teachers plan programs or training sessions, evaluate and select materials and give demonstrations to classes. Finally, they talk to students about their work and discuss how to learn from mistakes.

Middle School Vocation Teachers Schools and Degrees

Middle school vocation teachers should have a high school diploma or GED, complete at least two years of college courses and have work experience in the area of teaching. Most vocation teachers have a bachelor's or master’s degree. Having a teaching license is also required. The exact length and type of training required varies by state and by the subject or trade being taught.

Job Requirements

Public speaking is required as they have to regularly speak in front of groups of people and work as part of a group or team of other teachers and educators. They should have proper communication skills as they have to communicate regularly by telephone, e-mail and in person with students, teachers and supervisors. They may also be required to write letters and memos. They must speak clearly so students can understand and see details of objects that are less than a few feet away. They should possess knowledge of teaching and the methods involved in learning and instruction. They should also have knowledge of people, their actions and mental processes, which may include understanding how to treat emotional and behavioral problems.

Nature of Work

Middle school vocation teachers mostly work indoors in classrooms, laboratories or at worksites. They may need to monitor students closely, especially when helping them learn a specific task. Many work part time and some work more than one part-time job. They may have to make decisions that affect students and co-workers on weekly basis. They rarely consult a supervisor before deciding a course of action. They must meet daily and weekly deadlines and be very accurate while performing their job.

Middle School Vocation Teachers Jobs and Outlook

According to research in 2006, middle school vocation teachers held about 16,000 jobs in the U.S. Employment is the highest in the Elementary and Secondary Schools.

The mean annual salary for middle school vocation teachers in the US is about $48,460.

Job Numbers and Growth

How many middle school vocation teachers are there? About 16,000 in all. Workers can most likely expect a very low rate of unemployment. Note that 2% of employees were without work in 2008.

Area Job Conditions

Greensboro (North Carolina), Winston-Salem (North Carolina), and Brownsville (Texas) boast the most workers for their size population. Portland (Oregon), Chicago (Illinois), and Boston (Massachusetts) have the fewest.

The highest salaries for employees are in and around Akron (Ohio), Hartford (Connecticut), and Green Bay (Wisconsin). The lowest-paying areas are Hickory (North Carolina), Tucson (Arizona), and Salt Lake City (Utah).

Training and Education

Expect to get a bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience for this occupation. The share of employees with a bachelor's degree or higher is 95%. About 5% of middle school vocation teachers got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

It is estimated that 10% of middle school vocation teachers work less than full time.

Middle School Vocation Teachers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Arizona

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Flagstaff	$46,000	40	+1448%
Prescott	$30,000	40	+1520%

Arkansas

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Fayetteville	$51,000	40	+291%
Little Rock	$49,000	80	+351%

Connecticut

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Hartford	$69,000	130	+337%
New Haven	$76,000	40	+189%

District of Columbia

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Washington	$82,000	280	+121%

Florida

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Orlando		50	-5%
Tampa	$57,000	170	+186%

Georgia

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Atlanta	$54,000	350	+190%
Augusta	$57,000	80	+675%

Illinois

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Chicago	$42,000	100	-49%

Indiana

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Fort Wayne	$48,000	30	+192%
Gary	$53,000	50	+265%
Indianapolis	$59,000	70	+50%

Maryland

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Bethesda	$73,000	120	+301%

Massachusetts

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Boston	$66,000	30	-67%

Michigan

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Warren	$61,000	300	+434%

Minnesota

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Minneapolis	$44,000	30	-68%

Missouri

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
St Louis	$56,000	150	+115%

New York

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Albany	$70,000	80	+244%
Binghamton	$55,000	30	+446%
Buffalo	$61,000	170	+494%
Nassau	$78,000	290	+339%
New York	$57,000	360	+32%
Poughkeepsie	$71,000	80	+539%
Rochester	$62,000	90	+244%
Syracuse	$54,000	80	+400%

North Carolina

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Asheville	$48,000	40	+351%
Charlotte	$46,000	170	+282%
Greensboro	$44,000	140	+666%
Winston Salem	$44,000	90	+746%

Ohio

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Toledo	$48,000	30	+100%

Oklahoma

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Oklahoma City	$41,000	90	+201%

Pennsylvania

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Allentown	$54,000	30	+69%
Philadelphia	$62,000	290	+191%
Pittsburgh	$58,000	100	+67%

Rhode Island

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Providence	$51,000	50	+73%

South Carolina

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Columbia	$62,000	240	+1234%

Tennessee

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Nashville	$43,000	60	+56%

Texas

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Austin	$48,000	50	+22%
Dallas	$51,000	140	+28%
El Paso	$53,000	80	+476%
Fort Worth	$59,000	80	+78%
Houston	$57,000	310	+125%
Mcallen	$54,000	50	+330%
San Antonio	$50,000	90	+98%

Virginia

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Richmond	$57,000	80	+151%
Virginia Beach	$58,000	120	+205%

Washington

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Tacoma	$62,000	50	+271%

Wisconsin

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Green Bay	$69,000	60	+614%