TRADE INSTRUCTOR SALARIES
The salaries listed in the table below represent approximate average annual earnings for postsecondary career and technical education instructors (such as those teaching specialized maintenance, trade, and vocational subjects) across the United States. These are 2026 national projections, based on the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary (May 2024: median $62,910; mean ~$68,710), with a conservative 3% uplift applied across the board to reflect ongoing wage growth. This adjustment aligns with the BLS Employment Cost Index (ECI), which showed wages and salaries for civilian workers rising 3.3% over the 12 months ending December 2025. Actual pay can vary by 10–30% depending on location, experience, certifications, institution type (e.g., community colleges vs. trade schools), and demand—particularly higher in in-demand fields like HVAC, electrical, welding, robotics, and renewables due to industry shortages. These nationwide benchmarks are for illustrative purposes; for the most current local insights, check BLS updates.
AGRICULTURE
- Agricultural Equipment Maintenance Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Agricultural Mechanics Instructor: $59,000–$72,000 (avg ~$65,500)
- Farm Irrigation Systems Instructor: $58,000–$70,000 (avg ~$64,000)
- Farm Operations Maintenance Instructor: $57,000–$69,000 (avg ~$63,000)
- Precision Agriculture Technology Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
AVIATION
- Aviation Maintenance Instructor (A&P): $67,000–$88,000 (avg ~$77,500)
- Avionics Instructor: $70,000–$91,000 (avg ~$80,500)
BUILDING & FACILITIES MAINTENANCE
- Apartment Maintenance Instructor: $57,000–$70,000 (avg ~$63,500)
- Building Automation Systems Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
- Commercial Facilities Maintenance Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Elevator & Escalator Technician Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Fire Alarm & Sprinkler Systems Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- General Building Maintenance Instructor: $57,000–$72,000 (avg ~$64,500)
- Groundskeeping & Landscaping Instructor: $56,000–$68,000 (avg ~$62,000)
- Janitorial & Custodial Instructor: $54,000–$67,000 (avg ~$60,500)
- Low Voltage / Security Systems Instructor: $62,000–$76,000 (avg ~$69,000)
CONSTRUCTION TRADES
- Carpentry Instructor: $58,000–$72,000 (avg ~$65,000)
- Concrete Finishing Instructor: $57,000–$70,000 (avg ~$63,500)
- Drywall & Plaster Instructor: $56,000–$69,000 (avg ~$62,500)
- Glazing Instructor: $57,000–$71,000 (avg ~$64,000)
- Insulation Installation Instructor: $56,000–$68,000 (avg ~$62,000)
- Masonry Instructor: $57,000–$70,000 (avg ~$63,500)
- Painting & Coatings Instructor: $56,000–$69,000 (avg ~$62,500)
- Roofing Instructor: $58,000–$72,000 (avg ~$65,000)
- Welding & Metal Fabrication Instructor: $64,000–$82,000 (avg ~$73,000)
ELECTRICAL & ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Commercial Electrical Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
- Electrical Instructor (General): $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- Generator Technician Instructor: $65,000–$82,000 (avg ~$73,500)
- Industrial Electrical Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Power Plant Maintenance Instructor: $70,000–$88,000 (avg ~$79,000)
- Residential Electrical Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Solar PV Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Wind Turbine Technician Instructor: $72,000–$93,000 (avg ~$82,500)
FARM
- Farm Equipment Repair Instructor: $59,000–$72,000 (avg ~$65,500)
- Farm Maintenance Instructor: $57,000–$70,000 (avg ~$63,500)
- Livestock Facility Maintenance Instructor: $56,000–$69,000 (avg ~$62,500)
FLEET / TRANSPORTATION
- Fleet Maintenance Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- Fleet Management Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
- Transit Bus Maintenance Instructor: $64,000–$79,000 (avg ~$71,500)
- Truck & Trailer Maintenance Instructor: $65,000–$82,000 (avg ~$73,500)
FOOD & BEVERAGE
- Beverage Systems Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Food Processing Equipment Instructor: $62,000–$76,000 (avg ~$69,000)
- Packaging Equipment Maintenance Instructor: $61,000–$75,000 (avg ~$68,000)
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
- Healthcare Facilities Maintenance Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
- Medical Gas Systems Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Senior Living Maintenance Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
HOSPITAL FACILITIES
- Healthcare Compliance & Life Safety Instructor: $70,000–$88,000 (avg ~$79,000)
- Hospital Facilities Maintenance Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Hospital Plant Operations Instructor: $69,000–$87,000 (avg ~$78,000)
HVAC & REFRIGERATION
- Commercial Kitchen Equipment Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- HVAC Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Ice Machine & Beverage Systems Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Refrigeration Instructor: $66,000–$82,000 (avg ~$74,000)
LAWN & GARDEN
- Landscape Equipment Repair Instructor: $57,000–$70,000 (avg ~$63,500)
- Lawn Equipment Technician Instructor: $56,000–$69,000 (avg ~$62,500)
- Turf Management Instructor: $58,000–$72,000 (avg ~$65,000)
MECHANICAL & INDUSTRIAL
- Hydraulics & Pneumatics Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
- Industrial Machinery Maintenance Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Millwright Instructor: $70,000–$88,000 (avg ~$79,000)
- Plant Maintenance Instructor: $65,000–$82,000 (avg ~$73,500)
- Process Control & Instrumentation Instructor: $72,000–$91,000 (avg ~$81,500)
- Rigging & Crane Operation Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
MARINE
- Marine Engine Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
- Marine Maintenance Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- Marina Operations & Dock Maintenance Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
OIL & GAS
- Drilling Equipment Instructor: $72,000–$93,000 (avg ~$82,500)
- Oilfield Equipment Maintenance Instructor: $70,000–$91,000 (avg ~$80,500)
- Pipeline Maintenance Instructor: $67,000–$88,000 (avg ~$77,500)
- Refinery Maintenance Instructor: $74,000–$95,000 (avg ~$84,500)
OTHER SPECIALIZED MAINTENANCE
- Amusement Ride Maintenance Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Locksmithing Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Sign & Billboard Maintenance Instructor: $58,000–$72,000 (avg ~$65,000)
- Stage & Theater Equipment Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
- Apartment Maintenance Instructor: $57,000–$70,000 (avg ~$63,500)
- Community Association Maintenance Instructor: $58,000–$72,000 (avg ~$65,000)
- Property Maintenance Supervisor Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION
- Bridge Construction Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
- Heavy Civil Construction Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Road Construction Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- Utility Infrastructure Construction Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
PUBLIC WORKS MAINTENANCE
- Public Infrastructure Maintenance Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Road & Highway Maintenance Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- Stormwater Systems Maintenance Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Traffic Signal Maintenance Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
ROBOTICS
- Automation Systems Instructor: $72,000–$91,000 (avg ~$81,500)
- Industrial Robotics Instructor: $74,000–$93,000 (avg ~$83,500)
- Mechatronics Instructor: $70,000–$88,000 (avg ~$79,000)
- Robotics Maintenance Instructor: $72,000–$91,000 (avg ~$81,500)
RESTAURANT
- Commercial Kitchen Maintenance Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- Foodservice Equipment Repair Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Restaurant Facilities Maintenance Instructor: $59,000–$72,000 (avg ~$65,500)
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT
- Automotive Technology Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- Diesel Technology Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Heavy Equipment Mechanic Instructor: $70,000–$88,000 (avg ~$79,000)
- Rail Maintenance Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Small Engine Repair Instructor: $57,000–$70,000 (avg ~$63,500)
UTILITIES & WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
- Hydroelectric Plant Maintenance Instructor: $70,000–$88,000 (avg ~$79,000)
- Pump & Pipeline Maintenance Instructor: $67,000–$84,000 (avg ~$75,500)
- Wastewater Treatment Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
- Water Treatment Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
WHOLESALE, RETAIL & FOOD SERVICE FACILITY MAINTENANCE
- Cold Storage Systems Instructor: $64,000–$80,000 (avg ~$72,000)
- Foodservice Equipment Repair Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)
- Supermarket Equipment Instructor: $62,000–$77,000 (avg ~$69,500)
- Warehouse Maintenance Instructor: $60,000–$74,000 (avg ~$67,000)