Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors in the U.S. is $61,540 ($29.59 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $61,540
- Mean annual wage
- $65,860
- Median hourly wage
- $29.59
- Employment
- 37,310
37,310 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,810 | $20.10 |
| 25th percentile | $49,100 | $23.61 |
| Median (50th) | $61,540 | $29.59 |
| 75th percentile | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| 90th percentile | $98,030 | $47.13 |
Highest-paying states for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $102,030 | 1,660 |
| New Jersey | $81,100 | 1,350 |
| Delaware | $78,600 | 200 |
| New York | $78,010 | 2,810 |
| Minnesota | $76,800 | 2,880 |
| Connecticut | $72,180 | 410 |
| Washington | $69,990 | 1,310 |
| Louisiana | $66,870 | 100 |
| Oregon | $65,700 | 510 |
| West Virginia | $65,050 | 250 |
Lowest-paying states
- South Dakota: $35,760 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $43,240 median annual wage
- Hawaii: $44,600 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $44,990 median annual wage
- Ohio: $47,190 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
- Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
- Select, order, and issue books, materials, and supplies for courses or projects.
- Train and assist tutors and community literacy volunteers.
- Prepare and administer written, oral, and performance tests and issue grades in accordance with performance.
- Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 11.2% |
| Some college, no degree | 16.4% |
| Associate's degree | 8.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 35.1% |
| Master's degree | 21.5% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 4.8% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.