How much does a adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor make?
The median adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor in the United States earns $61,540 per year, about $29.59 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-3011.
Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor salary range
Pay for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $41,810 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $98,030. The average (mean) wage of $65,860 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,810 | $20.10 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $49,100 | $23.61 | |
| Median (50th) | $61,540 | $29.59 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $77,690 | $37.35 | |
| 90th percentile | $98,030 | $47.13 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors (SOC 25-3011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors earn the most in California at $102,030 a year, and the least in South Dakota at $35,760. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Wisconsin | $64,980 | 1,050 |
| Virginia | $64,540 | 700 |
| New Hampshire | $64,440 | 50 |
| North Dakota | $63,820 | 180 |
| District of Columbia | $62,940 | 570 |
| South Carolina | $62,940 | 480 |
| Vermont | $62,500 | 70 |
| Illinois | $62,370 | 1,970 |
| Massachusetts | $62,290 | 1,420 |
| Arizona | $61,750 | 570 |
| Tennessee | $60,340 | 240 |
| Maryland | $59,950 | 450 |
| Michigan | $59,900 | 560 |
| Florida | $58,920 | 3,670 |
| Maine | $58,880 | 330 |
| Indiana | $58,660 | 650 |
| Rhode Island | $57,690 | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $57,230 | 790 |
| Montana | $56,500 | 110 |
| Wyoming | $52,060 | 100 |
| Kansas | $52,030 | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $51,840 | 300 |
| North Carolina | $51,810 | 3,720 |
| Missouri | $51,770 | 620 |
| Colorado | $51,170 | 820 |
| Idaho | $50,040 | 270 |
| Mississippi | $49,900 | 240 |
| Utah | $49,680 | 60 |
| Texas | $49,490 | 1,830 |
| New Mexico | $49,170 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $49,040 | 130 |
| Nevada | $48,930 | 40 |
| Alabama | $48,870 | 470 |
| Iowa | $48,010 | 370 |
| Georgia | $47,540 | 470 |
| Ohio | $47,190 | 750 |
| Kentucky | $44,990 | 350 |
| Hawaii | $44,600 | 300 |
| Arkansas | $43,240 | 230 |
| South Dakota | $35,760 | 100 |
State median wages for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors (SOC 25-3011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
The BLS projects employment of adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 13.9%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 41,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 35,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,800 openings a year for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor
The typical entry-level education for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $102,030) and the lowest (South Dakota, $35,760) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 37,310 people work as adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors in the United States. At $61,540 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor salary FAQ
How much does an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor is $29.59. The middle half of adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors earn between $23.61 and $37.35 per hour.
What is the highest adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors earn more than $98,030 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor make a year?
The median annual salary for an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor is $61,540. The average (mean) wage of $65,860 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor a well paid job?
At $61,540 a year, an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 37,310 people work as adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors in the United States.
Which state pays adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors the most?
California has the highest median salary for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors at $102,030 a year. New Jersey ($81,100) and Delaware ($78,600) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor a good career?
Employment of adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors is projected to shrink 13.9% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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