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Home / All Jobs / Education / Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
These instructors teach adults who need to build basic reading, writing, math, English, or job-readiness skills, often in classes that mix very different ability levels. The work is personal and practical, but it comes with a clear tradeoff: you get direct impact on students' lives, while facing shrinking demand and pay that is modest for a job usually requiring a bachelor's degree.
Also known as Adult Education TeacherESL TeacherAdult Literacy InstructorGED InstructorESOL Teacher
Median Salary
$59,950
Mean $64,660
U.S. Workforce
~36K
3.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-13.7%
40.9K to 35.3K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~36K workers, with a median annual pay of $59,950 and roughly 3.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 40.9 K in 2024 to 35.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Adult Education Tutor / Assistant and can progress toward Adult Education Program Director. High-value skills usually include Instructing, Learning Strategies, and Reading Comprehension, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Speaking Clearly, and Patience.
Core Responsibilities
- Teach adults in classes or workshops that cover English, basic academics, life skills, and workplace readiness.
- Build lesson plans and set clear goals for what students should learn in each unit.
- Grade homework, classwork, and quizzes, then give students feedback on where they need more practice.
- Work with other teachers and staff to schedule lessons and adjust learning plans for students with different needs.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Teach adults in classes or workshops that cover English, basic academics, life skills, and workplace readiness.
02 Build lesson plans and set clear goals for what students should learn in each unit.
03 Grade homework, classwork, and quizzes, then give students feedback on where they need more practice.
04 Work with other teachers and staff to schedule lessons and adjust learning plans for students with different needs.
05 Keep the classroom running by following program rules, managing behavior, and enforcing attendance or participation policies.
06 Join staff meetings and training sessions to stay current and help improve the curriculum and teaching program.
Industries That Hire
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Public School District Adult Education Programs
Los Angeles Unified School District, New York City Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools
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Nonprofit Literacy and Immigrant Services
Goodwill Industries International, Literacy Partners, YMCA of Greater New York
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Correctional Education and Reentry
CoreCivic, The GEO Group, Florida Department of Corrections
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Workforce Development and Job Training
Per Scholas, Year Up, ManpowerGroup
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can usually enter the field with a bachelor's degree, and the role lists no required work experience or on-the-job training.
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The work has a clear payoff: you help adults read better, speak English more confidently, and move toward jobs or a diploma.
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Pay is not flashy, but the median salary of $59,950 and mean salary of $64,660 are reasonable for many classroom jobs.
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You can work in a range of settings, including colleges, nonprofits, school districts, correctional programs, and workforce centers.
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There are about 3.9 thousand annual openings, so replacement hiring still creates opportunities even as the field contracts.
Challenges
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The field is projected to shrink by 13.7%, losing about 5.6 thousand jobs by 2034, so long-term demand is weakening.
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The pay can feel modest for a job that usually expects a bachelor's degree and strong teaching skills.
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Many programs depend on public funding, grants, and enrollment, so class sizes, hours, and job stability can change when budgets tighten.
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There is a real career ceiling unless you move into coordination, curriculum, or administration.
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Students often arrive with interrupted schooling, uneven skills, and outside pressures, which can make progress slow and the work emotionally draining.
Career Progression
Adult Education Tutor / Assistant
0-2 years
$30K-$39K
Support lead instructors by helping small groups, preparing materials, and giving one-on-one help to adult learners.
Adult Education Instructor
2-5 years
$40K-$52K
Teach your own classes for basic reading, writing, English, or GED prep and handle routine grading and classroom management.
Adult Basic/ESL Instructor THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$53K-$70K
Run full classes for adults with mixed skill levels, adjust lessons on the fly, and help students work toward personal and job goals.
Lead Instructor / Curriculum Coordinator
8-15 years
$71K-$88K
Coach other teachers, refine curriculum, and handle scheduling, assessments, and program quality.
Adult Education Program Director
12+ years
$89K-$112K
Oversee staff, budgets, student outcomes, and partnerships across an adult learning program or center.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree
This is the most common entry point, held by 40.84% of workers in this role.
Master's degree
A strong alternative path, held by 19.76% of workers, especially for instructors who want more advancement options or a broader teaching focus.
Post-baccalaureate certificate or adult education endorsement
A focused post-degree credential is also used by 11.38% of workers and can help with adult education, ESL, or TESOL openings.
Associate's degree with tutoring, ESL, or workforce-training experience
Some instructors enter with an associate's degree or another two-year credential, which appears for 11.38% of workers, but employers usually want strong classroom experience as well.
Key Skills
Technical
Instructing 85%
Learning Strategies 75%
Reading Comprehension 75%
Writing 72%
Monitoring Student Progress 72%
Google Classroom, Canvas & Zoom 70%
CASAS, TABE & GED/ESL Assessment Tools 69%
Active Learning 70%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningSpeaking ClearlyPatienceEmpathyAdaptabilityCollaboration Job Outlook and Trends
+-13.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
3.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 40.9K to 35.3 K over the next decade, representing -13.7% growth. Around 3.9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.