Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors Salary
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 37K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$61,540
Median hourly
$30
Average annual
$65,860
Typical range
$41,810–$98,030
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors is $61,540 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $30 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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 earn between $41,810 and $98,030 a year. There are roughly 37K people employed as adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors.
- Hourly
- $29.59
- Daily
- $237
- Weekly
- $1,183
- Bi-weekly
- $2,367
- Monthly
- $5,128
- Annual
- $61,540
$61,540 a year is around the 50th percentile for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructorss. The median is $61,540.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$102,030
- 2New Jersey$81,100
- 3Delaware$78,600
- 4New York$78,010
- 5Minnesota$76,800
- 6Connecticut$72,180
- 7Washington$69,990
- 8Louisiana$66,870
- 9Oregon$65,700
- 10West Virginia$65,050
- 11Wisconsin$64,980
- 12Virginia$64,540
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Modesto, CA$129,080
- 2Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$119,590
- 3San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$107,420
- 4San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$105,820
- 5Bakersfield-Delano, CA$102,920
- 6Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$98,860
- 7San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$96,280
- 8Worcester, MA$90,550
- 9Vineland, NJ$87,810
- 10Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$84,870
- 11New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$83,980
- 12Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$83,500
Related job titles
Employers advertise Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors roles under these titles.
- Academic Specialist
- Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher)
- Adult Basic Studies Teacher
- Adult Educator
- Adult Literacy Instructor
- Adult Literacy Teacher
- Adult Remedial Education Instructor
- Adult School Teacher
- Adult Secondary Education Instructor
- GED Instructor (General Educational Development Instructor)
- GED Teacher (General Educational Development Teacher)
- Literacy Teacher
Related occupations
- Tutors$43,350
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,680
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,350
What a Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors does
- 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.
- 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.
- Assign and grade class work and homework.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws or administrative policies.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors make?
- The median annual wage for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors is $61,540 ($30 per hour). Pay ranges from about $41,810 at the 10th percentile to $98,030 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $65,860, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructorss the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $102,030.
- Is Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 37K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors do?
- 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..