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Career overview · SOC 25-3011

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.

Also called: Adult Basic Education Instructor (ABE Instructor) · Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher) · Adult Education Instructor · Adult Education Teacher · ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor) · ESL Teacher (English as a Second Language Teacher)

Median pay (national)
$59,950
$39,750–$95,750 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
36,260
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-13.7%
~3,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $95,750 versus $39,750 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $59,950 leaves roughly 60% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -13.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 3,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 51 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $97,000, +62% vs the national median), while South Dakota sits lowest at $35,080 — a 177% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Learning Strategies
  • Writing
  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • 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.
  • Conduct classes, workshops, and demonstrations to teach principles, techniques, or methods in subjects, such as basic English language skills, life skills, and workforce entry skills.
  • Prepare and administer written, oral, and performance tests and issue grades in accordance with performance.

Tools & technology

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Facebook
  • Google Workspace software
  • SAP software
  • Zoom
  • Blackboard software
  • Computerized testing software
  • Edmodo
  • Edpuzzle
  • Educational software
  • Google Classroom
  • Kahoot!
  • Learning management system LMS
  • Microsoft Publisher

Knowledge areas

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