by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Technology Education explores Technology Teacher Education/industrial Arts Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Technology Education/industrial Arts Programs At Various Educational Levels. Read on to learn the essential details every technology education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering technology education programs.
Across the country, technology education draws strong interest, with 406 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Technology Education Schools ranking analyzes these 36 schools to determine the best overall colleges for technology education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of technology education programs later in this article.
Programs in Technology Education emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations technology education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a technology education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a technology education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several technology education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 39 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 168 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 199 |
People currently working in careers related to technology education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.6% |
| Master’s degree | 12.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in technology education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in technology education prepares you for a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to technology education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to technology education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | 1,384,848 | 9.0% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | 474,592 | 2.1% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 202,912 | 0.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of technology education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for technology education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers technology education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,398 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | $48,506 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $46,297 |
With 36 different technology education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased technology education school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in technology education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
