Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,810 | $20.10 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $61,540 | $29.59 |
| Mean (average) | $65,860 | $31.66 |
| 90th percentile | $98,030 | $47.13 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,870 | $37,770 | $63,410 | 470 | 0.92 |
| Arizona | $61,750 | $32,570 | $91,670 | 570 | 0.74 |
| Arkansas | $43,240 | $30,250 | $66,870 | 230 | 0.72 |
| California | $102,030 | $55,930 | $131,510 | 1,660 | 0.38 |
| Colorado | $51,170 | $40,030 | $79,200 | 820 | 1.19 |
| Connecticut | $72,180 | $39,680 | $99,470 | 410 | 1 |
| Delaware | $78,600 | $49,360 | $104,630 | 200 | 1.7 |
| District of Columbia | $62,940 | $48,670 | $102,810 | 570 | 3.36 |
| Florida | $58,920 | $47,430 | $77,310 | 3,670 | 1.54 |
| Georgia | $47,540 | $34,460 | $58,880 | 470 | 0.4 |
| Hawaii | $44,600 | $38,390 | $68,270 | 300 | 1.97 |
| Idaho | $50,040 | $43,740 | $77,260 | 270 | 1.31 |
| Illinois | $62,370 | $47,330 | $98,470 | 1,970 | 1.34 |
| Indiana | $58,660 | $41,880 | $78,760 | 650 | 0.85 |
| Iowa | $48,010 | $37,110 | $64,710 | 370 | 0.98 |
| Kansas | $52,030 | $39,290 | $64,080 | 160 | 0.47 |
| Kentucky | $44,990 | $38,790 | $61,360 | 350 | 0.72 |
| Louisiana | $66,870 | $42,860 | $83,250 | 100 | 0.21 |
| Maine | $58,880 | $54,840 | $76,580 | 330 | 2.13 |
| Maryland | $59,950 | $43,140 | $65,540 | 450 | 0.67 |
| Massachusetts | $62,290 | $48,490 | $98,890 | 1,420 | 1.63 |
| Michigan | $59,900 | $39,600 | $78,420 | 560 | 0.53 |
| Minnesota | $76,800 | $50,430 | $100,280 | 2,880 | 4.06 |
| Mississippi | $49,900 | $38,020 | $67,360 | 240 | 0.87 |
| Missouri | $51,770 | $37,720 | $80,840 | 620 | 0.88 |
| Montana | $56,500 | $47,760 | $77,900 | 110 | 0.9 |
| Nebraska | $49,040 | $28,080 | $85,680 | 130 | 0.52 |
| Nevada | $48,930 | $45,300 | $69,750 | 40 | 0.12 |
| New Hampshire | $64,440 | $52,980 | $72,480 | 50 | 0.31 |
| New Jersey | $81,100 | $41,030 | $104,410 | 1,350 | 1.31 |
| New Mexico | $49,170 | $42,070 | $83,490 | 210 | 1 |
| New York | $78,010 | $48,930 | $128,900 | 2,810 | 1.21 |
| North Carolina | $51,810 | $40,440 | $72,130 | 3,720 | 3.14 |
| North Dakota | $63,820 | $47,310 | $85,510 | 180 | 1.75 |
| Ohio | $47,190 | $36,670 | $76,460 | 750 | 0.56 |
| Oklahoma | $51,840 | $39,050 | $71,910 | 300 | 0.72 |
| Oregon | $65,700 | $43,330 | $116,910 | 510 | 1.08 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,230 | $42,990 | $86,320 | 790 | 0.54 |
| Rhode Island | $57,690 | $49,310 | $79,660 | ||
| South Carolina | $62,940 | $41,600 | $79,380 | 480 | 0.88 |
| South Dakota | $35,760 | $34,950 | $63,270 | 100 | 0.91 |
| Tennessee | $60,340 | $48,960 | $97,920 | 240 | 0.3 |
| Texas | $49,490 | $38,640 | $63,790 | 1,830 | 0.54 |
| Utah | $49,680 | $48,140 | $60,690 | 60 | 0.13 |
| Vermont | $62,500 | $42,220 | $94,820 | 70 | 0.89 |
| Virginia | $64,540 | $47,570 | $104,190 | 700 | 0.71 |
| Washington | $69,990 | $48,930 | $98,940 | 1,310 | 1.54 |
| West Virginia | $65,050 | $47,840 | $70,790 | 250 | 1.49 |
| Wisconsin | $64,980 | $44,250 | $96,060 | 1,050 | 1.49 |
| Wyoming | $52,060 | $46,190 | $62,050 | 100 | 1.41 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education CIP 13.0201
- Multicultural Education CIP 13.0202
- Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other CIP 13.0299
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching CIP 13.1201
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor CIP 13.1401
- Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language CIP 13.1402
- Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other CIP 13.1499
- Adult Literacy Tutor/Instructor CIP 13.1502
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.
- Observe students to determine qualifications, limitations, abilities, interests, and other individual characteristics.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs, abilities, and interests.
- Prepare students for further education by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- Blackboard software
- Computerized testing software
- Edmodo
- Edpuzzle
- Educational software
- Google Classroom
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Adult Basic Education Instructor (ABE Instructor), Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher), Adult Education Instructor, Adult Education Teacher, ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor), ESL Teacher (English as a Second Language Teacher), ESOL Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages Teacher), GED Instructor (General Educational Development Instructor), GED Teacher (General Educational Development Teacher), Teacher.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors make?
The national median annual wage for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors was $61,540 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $41,810 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $98,030. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors to change -13.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($102,030), New Jersey ($81,100), Delaware ($78,600). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.