Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

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

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $61,540 Median per year · $29.59/hr Most earn $41,810–$98,030

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Prepare students for further education by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
  • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
  • 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 implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
  • Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
  • Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.

Job outlook

United States
14% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 3,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Elementary and secondary schools33.0%
  • Junior colleges25.1%
  • Other schools and instruction9.5%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools5.7%
  • Self-employed (their own business)5.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

This isn't usually an entry-level job straight out of school. Most people finish a bachelor's degree and then spend about 1 to 2 years gaining related experience, such as tutoring or working with adult learners, before they become adult education or ESL instructors.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build strong reading, writing, and communication skills, and find out what it is like to help others learn. This sets you up for college.

  2. Bachelor's degree in education, English, or a related field

    4 years

    A bachelor's degree is the usual minimum for this job. Student teaching or classes in literacy, language learning, or adult learning give you the teaching foundation employers look for.

  3. Tutor

    1-2 years

    Working one-on-one or in small groups with adults or teens builds the lesson-planning and patience you need. Tutoring experience is the kind of related work that usually comes before this job.

  4. Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, or ESL Instructor

    Ongoing

    You teach adults reading, writing, math, high school equivalency prep, or English as a second language, often in community colleges, libraries, nonprofits, or workforce programs.

Where it can lead

  1. Adult Education Program Coordinator

    3-5 years of experience first

    You move from teaching to planning and managing classes, staff, and student services. It usually takes several years of successful teaching plus good organization and communication skills.

  2. Curriculum Specialist

    3-5 years of experience first

    You design lessons and learning materials for many instructors instead of only your own classes. Strong teaching results and experience writing curriculum help you get there.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and writing classesStrong reading and writing skills are the foundation of teaching literacy and language to others.
  • Join a debate, speech, or public speaking clubPractice explaining ideas clearly and staying calm in front of a group, which is a daily part of teaching.
  • Tutor younger students or classmatesHelping others learn is the most direct way to see if you enjoy teaching and to build patience and planning skills.
  • Volunteer at a library, community center, or literacy programWorking with adults from different backgrounds shows you the kinds of learners you would serve.
  • Take a second language classLearning a new language helps you understand what it feels like to be an ESL student and can be useful in ESL teaching.

In college

  • Major in education, English, linguistics, or a related fieldA bachelor's degree in one of these areas is the usual starting point for adult education and ESL teaching.
  • Take courses in adult learning, literacy, or ESL methodsThese classes teach you how adults learn differently from children, which is central to this job.
  • Get a tutoring or teaching assistant job on campusCampus tutoring or a teaching assistant role builds the 1-2 years of related experience employers often want.
  • Volunteer as an ESL or literacy tutorWorking with real adult learners in your community gives you hands-on experience and strong references.
  • Join a student education or language clubClubs like these connect you with people in teaching and help you learn about the field.

Tips for getting started

  • Volunteer with a local literacy program, library adult learning group, or community center that helps people learn English or prepare for their high school equivalency. Hands-on experience matters a lot in this field.
  • Look at job postings for adult education or ESL instructors in your area now. Notice which degrees, languages, and certifications they ask for, and plan your classes to match.
  • If you speak more than one language, that can be a real advantage in ESL and adult education. Keep building it.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

Related careers