The median pay for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors is $61,540 a year ($29.59/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 13.9% through 2035, with about 3,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 25-3011
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor in four numbers
- Median pay
- $61,540a year, or $29.59/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $42KTop 10% $98K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -13.9%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−13.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −13.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3,80041,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202541.1K
- Projected 203535.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 41.1K Projected 2035 35.4K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school11.4%
- Some college3.3%
- Associate's11.4%
- Bachelor's40.8%
- Post-bacc certificate11.4%
- Master's19.8%
Highest education held by adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors Segment Value High school 11.4% Some college 3.3% Associate's 11.4% Bachelor's 40.8% Post-bacc certificate 11.4% Master's 19.8%
Also advertised as: 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).
Pay
How much do Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors make?
Every adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$61,540
Middle half earn $49,100 to $77,690
- 10th
- $41,810
- 25th
- $49,100
- 75th
- $77,690
- 90th
- $98,030
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $41,810 |
| 25th | $49,100 |
| Median | $61,540 |
| 75th | $77,690 |
| 90th | $98,030 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $61,540
- Median hourly wage
- $29.59/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $65,860
- People employed
- 37,310
Versus all US occupations
At $61,540, Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors earn 21% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,560 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 10% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $98,030 or more while the bottom 10% earn $41,810, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 34% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $102,030, and still leads at $92,151 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $102,030 | $92,151 | 1,660 |
| 2New Jersey | $81,100 | $74,537 | 1,350 |
| 3Delaware | $78,600 | $78,751 | 200 |
| 4New York | $78,010 | $72,284 | 2,810 |
| 5Minnesota | $76,800 | $77,874 | 2,880 |
| 6Connecticut | $72,180 | $69,665 | 410 |
| 7Washington | $69,990 | $65,403 | 1,310 |
| 8Louisiana | $66,870 | $75,810 | 100 |
| 9Oregon | $65,700 | $63,564 | 510 |
| 10West Virginia | $65,050 | $72,684 | 250 |
Job outlook
Is Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -13.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | −13.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors to change -13.9% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 5,700 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 3,800 openings are projected each year, 9.2% of the 41,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Enrollment in adult education and ESL programs has declined in recent years. As high school graduation rates are expected to remain high, the number of adults seeking to obtain high school equivalency credentials is estimated to fall. Demand for adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers is projected to decline.
Changes in government funding for adult education and ESL programs also may impact the demand for these workers.
Getting in
How to become an Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor
Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers who work in public schools typically need at least a bachelor’s degree and a license or certification.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors.
- Bachelor's Degree40.8%
- Master's Degree19.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)11.4%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree11.4%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate11.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 40.8% |
| Master's Degree | 19.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 11.4% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 11.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 11.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor do?
Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in basic education, literacy, or English as a Second Language classes, or in classes for earning a high school equivalency credential.
Adult basic and secondary education and ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers instruct adults in fundamental skills, such as reading, writing, and speaking English. They also help students earn their high school equivalency credential.
Day-to-day tasks
- Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Observe students to determine qualifications, limitations, abilities, interests, and other individual characteristics.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs, abilities, and interests.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Attend professional meetings, conferences, and workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
These teachers often work in the mornings and evenings, because classes are held at times when students are not at work. Part-time work is common.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Elementary and secondary schools; local31%
- Educational services; private17%
- Junior colleges; local13%
- Junior colleges; state12%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 31% |
| Educational services; private | 17% |
| Junior colleges; local | 13% |
| Junior colleges; state | 12% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Learning Strategies3.8
- Writing3.6
- Monitoring3.6
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Active Learning3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Instructing4.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.5
- Service Orientation3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Time Management3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Negotiation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.5 |
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer based training software
- Desktop communications software
- Desktop publishing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 7 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Social7.0
- Artistic3.9
- Conventional3.4
- Investigative3.1
- Enterprising2.9
- Realistic2.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
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$67,170median a year
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More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor$61,540
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor | $61,540 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor appears on
Questions
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor: frequently asked questions
How much do Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors make?
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors earn a median of $61,540 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 21% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.59/hr. The middle half earn between $49,100 and $77,690. The top 10% earn $98,030 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 40.8% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 13.9% over 2025–2035, a loss of 5,700 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 3,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor do?
Adult basic and secondary education and ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers instruct adults in fundamental skills, such as reading, writing, and speaking English. A core O*NET task: observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Graphics or photo imaging software.
Which states pay Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors the most?
The highest state medians for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors are California ($102,030), New Jersey ($81,100), Delaware ($78,600) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor?
O*NET scores Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors highest on the Social, Artistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFJ, ESFP, ENFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.