SOC 25-3011.00

    Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors

    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.

    Median pay
    $61,540
    Growth
    -13.9%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    3,800
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $41,810
    Median
    $61,540
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $98,030
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    37,310 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    These instructors teach out-of-school youths and adults in basic literacy, English as a second language, or high school equivalency preparation. The career offers a median annual pay of $61,540.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    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.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    These educators focus on teaching and training adults and out-of-school youth. Their daily tasks involve interpreting information for learners, coaching students, and thinking creatively to design lessons. They must organize, plan, and prioritize their classroom work while establishing positive interpersonal relationships. Strong communication skills are essential, as instructors regularly speak, write, and practice active listening to understand student needs. They use learning strategies and social perceptiveness to help students from diverse backgrounds.

    Successful instructors draw on knowledge of the English language, education, training, and psychology. They must also understand sociology, anthropology, and basic mathematics. Because they work closely with people, a strong social interest is key. Important work styles for this role include empathy, optimism, sincerity, and cooperation. Instructors must also show dependability, self-control, and adaptability when managing classrooms and solving problems.

    How to get there

    To enter this field, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree. Most positions require considerable preparation, which includes several years of related work experience. Students preparing for this career often major in teacher education and professional development, teaching English or French as a second or foreign language, bilingual education, or multicultural education. Some also start as teaching assistants or aides.

    While a bachelor's degree is the standard educational path, specific requirements can vary by location. Some states list a license for this work, so candidates should check local guidelines. Additionally, certifications such as the Citrix Certified Sales Professional are associated with the field.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these instructors is $61,540. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and location, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $41,810 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $98,030. There are 37,310 people currently employed in this field. Opportunities are projected to decline by -13.9 percent from 2025 to 2035. Despite this projected decrease in total employment, about 3,800 openings are still expected to become available each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    22 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    36 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    49 / 100
    Social (S) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    31 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    40 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code SAC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Thinking Creatively
    78
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    75
    Coaching and Developing Others
    71
    Training and Teaching Others
    71
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    70
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    69
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    68
    Developing Objectives and Strategies
    67
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    67
    Working with Computers
    66
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Instructing
    • Active Listening
    • Learning Strategies
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Monitoring
    • Writing
    • Active Learning
    • Critical Thinking
    • Social Perceptiveness

    Knowledge

    • English Language
    • Education and Training
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Administrative
    • Administration and Management
    • Mathematics
    • Psychology
    • Sociology and Anthropology
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Communications and Media

    Abilities

    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Speech Clarity
    • Speech Recognition
    • Near Vision
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Fluency of Ideas

    Work styles

    • Optimism
    • Dependability
    • Empathy
    • Cooperation
    • Social Orientation
    • Adaptability
    • Sincerity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Self-Control
    • Attention to Detail

    Also called

    Academic Specialist · Adult Basic Education Instructor (ABE Instructor) · Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher) · Adult Basic Studies Teacher · Adult Education Coordinator · Adult Education Instructor · Adult Education Specialist · Adult Education Teacher · Adult Educator · Adult ESL Instructor (Adult English as a Second Language Instructor)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$61,540 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      College of Staten Island CUNY

      Staten Island, NY · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $46,195
      4 yrs after
      $75,637
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2
      CUNY Hunter College

      New York, NY · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $46,784
      4 yrs after
      $73,857
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3Monroe College logo
      Monroe College

      Bronx, NY · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $63,150
      4 yrs after
      $73,537
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4St. John's University-New York logo
      St. John's University-New York

      Queens, NY · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $69,439
      Median debt
      $27,000
    5. 5University of the Pacific logo
      University of the Pacific

      Stockton, CA · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $44,998
      4 yrs after
      $69,342
      Median debt
      Not reported
    6. 6
      CUNY City College

      New York, NY · Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $56,145
      4 yrs after
      $68,614
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7CUNY York College logo
      CUNY York College

      Jamaica, NY · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $60,692
      4 yrs after
      $67,862
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8Hofstra University logo
      Hofstra University

      Hempstead, NY · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $67,847
      Median debt
      $22,750

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
    • Adult Literacy Tutor/Instructor
    • Bilingual and Multilingual Education
    • Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other
    • Multicultural Education
    • Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
    • Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other
    • Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    45 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common job titles for this career?

    Professionals in this field are often called Adult Basic Education Instructors, Adult Education Teachers, or Adult ESL Instructors. They may also work under titles such as Academic Specialists or Adult Education Coordinators.

    What subjects do these instructors teach?

    These educators teach basic literacy, English as a Second Language classes, and remedial mathematics. They also help students prepare for high school equivalency credentials.

    What is the job outlook for this field?

    Employment in this field is projected to decline by -13.9 percent between 2025 and 2035. However, there are still 3,800 job openings projected each year to help replace workers who leave the occupation.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.