Teacher Education
Quick Facts: Teacher Education Training
Where it's offered
Teacher Education programs are offered at 129 schools across 33 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $25,977/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 5 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Teacher Education — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 129 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 50/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Teacher Education Graduates Do
Your journey will likely begin in the classroom, where your days are a dynamic mix of planning and direct interaction. As an elementary teacher, you might use a smartboard to lead a math lesson, then transition to guiding small reading groups. In a secondary school, you’ll focus on your subject specialty, preparing students for exams, managing online assignments through a learning management system, and communicating with parents.
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With experience, you’ll move from a new teacher to a seasoned educator, perhaps leading a department or mentoring colleagues. From there, your path can branch significantly. You might pursue a master’s degree to become a school administrator, an instructional coach, or move into the rapidly growing field of corporate training, developing learning programs for adults.
While K-12 teaching sees many annual openings due to turnover, paths like corporate training and development are expanding quickly. This career progression is reflected in earnings, with specialists and administrators earning significantly more than entry-level teachers. AI tools may help you draft lesson plans or personalize learning, but the core of your work—managing group dynamics, mentoring, and adapting to student needs in real-time—remains a fundamentally human skill.
You may also want to compare Teacher Education with Bilingual & Multicultural Education, TESOL, and Instructional Design on earnings and ROI.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 5 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Teacher Education. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Apprenticeship And Training Representative (Gov Only)
RAPIDS 2037HY |
4000-6000 hrs | Hybrid | $49K – $65,850 – $92K | 10.8% |
|
Education And Training (Military Only)
RAPIDS 1079CB |
Competency | Competency | $49K – $65,850 – $92K | 10.8% |
|
Fire Department Training Officer
RAPIDS 1087 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $65,850 – $92K | 10.8% |
|
Workforce Development Analyst
RAPIDS 2043 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $65,850 – $92K | 10.8% |
|
Workforce Development Specialist
RAPIDS 2042 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $49K – $65,850 – $92K | 10.8% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Teacher Education Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Teacher Education is offered at 129 schools across 33 states. Pick your state to see a local comparison (states with fewer programs link to the state hub).
Top Teacher Education Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Teacher Education programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
Top 20 of 129 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
Highest Earning Teacher Education Programs
Schools where Teacher Education graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Central Washington University | $50,340/yr | 78 |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion | $48,807/yr | 72 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | $46,599/yr | 74 |
| Austin Community College District | $46,430/yr | 81 |
| Northern Arizona University | $45,247/yr | 70 |
| San Juan College | $44,618/yr | 85 |
| Urban College of Boston | $39,213/yr | 71 |
| Roxbury Community College | $34,086/yr | 62 |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | $33,869/yr | 63 |
| Durham Technical Community College | $33,260/yr | 78 |
Best ROI for Teacher Education
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Teacher Education.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan College | 248.3x | $44,618/yr | 85 |
| Durham Technical Community College | 166.5x | $33,260/yr | 78 |
| Tarrant County College District | 157.5x | $24,507/yr | 69 |
| South Piedmont Community College | 152.9x | $31,111/yr | 76 |
| San Jacinto Community College | 137.1x | $19,581/yr | 63 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | 135.8x | $30,867/yr | 76 |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | 126.3x | $25,176/yr | 71 |
| Wake Technical Community College | 124.9x | $28,498/yr | 73 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | 117.7x | $24,497/yr | 70 |
| Lenoir Community College | 106.2x | $27,534/yr | 71 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Teacher Education degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.