Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors: Career Overview
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.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors Do?
Typical responsibilities of adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors include:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Academic Specialist
- Adult Basic Education Instructor (ABE Instructor)
- Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher)
- Adult Basic Studies Teacher
- Adult ESL Instructor (Adult English as a Second Language Instructor)
- Adult ESL Teacher (Adult English as a Second Language Teacher)
- Adult Education Coordinator
- Adult Education Instructor
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 215,147 adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.9% over the projection horizon.
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $62,634 |
| Hourly median | $30.11 |
| 10th percentile | $39,583 |
| 25th percentile | $51,108 |
| 75th percentile | $74,159 |
| 90th percentile | $85,684 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $97,000 |
| District of Columbia | $78,550 |
| New Jersey | $75,900 |
| New York | $75,080 |
| Delaware | $74,110 |
| Missouri | $70,020 |
| Connecticut | $69,050 |
| Minnesota | $68,730 |
| Washington | $67,770 |
| Colorado | $64,080 |
| Oregon | $63,130 |
| Louisiana | $63,110 |
| North Dakota | $62,740 |
| Ohio | $62,680 |
| Virginia | $62,400 |
| Maryland | $61,420 |
| Wisconsin | $61,170 |
| Idaho | $61,110 |
| South Carolina | $61,060 |
| Arizona | $60,250 |
| Massachusetts | $59,950 |
| Illinois | $59,890 |
| Michigan | $59,260 |
| New Hampshire | $59,160 |
| Maine | $58,820 |
| West Virginia | $57,720 |
| Alaska | $57,230 |
| Indiana | $57,060 |
| Montana | $55,700 |
| Rhode Island | $55,290 |
| Tennessee | $55,270 |
| New Mexico | $53,980 |
| Florida | $52,900 |
| North Carolina | $52,240 |
| Texas | $50,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,770 |
| Mississippi | $50,430 |
| Wyoming | $50,420 |
| Oklahoma | $49,750 |
| Utah | $49,060 |
| Alabama | $48,790 |
| Arkansas | $47,760 |
| Vermont | $47,690 |
| Nebraska | $47,200 |
| Kansas | $46,580 |
| Georgia | $45,760 |
| Hawaii | $45,720 |
| Nevada | $45,540 |
| Iowa | $40,240 |
| Kentucky | $39,580 |
| South Dakota | $35,080 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $80,018 | 10.3% | 0.96 |
| Middle Atlantic | $70,248 | 17.5% | 1.27 |
| Plains States | $64,223 | 11.3% | 2.34 |
| New England | $61,148 | 7.1% | 1.71 |
| Rocky Mountains | $60,091 | 3.7% | 1.03 |
| Great Lakes | $60,003 | 12.1% | 1.02 |
| Southwest | $52,931 | 8.4% | 0.67 |
| Southeast | $52,789 | 29.5% | 1.74 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $116,330 | 110 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $111,780 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $103,080 | 180 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $99,500 | 50 |
| Salem, OR | OR | $98,450 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $96,900 | 380 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $96,200 | 470 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $92,670 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
Most adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 29,560 | $60,460 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,730 | $53,370 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 450 | n/a |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 360 | $57,240 |
| Information | 150 | $81,770 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
- Contact With Others
Getting Started in This Career
Most adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Supplemental)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (Supplemental)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Long)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Short)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors often complete programs in:
Education
8 programs across 4 majors
- Teaching English or French
- Multilingual Education
- Teacher Education Grade Specific
- Teaching Assistant/Aide
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-3011.00 (Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.