Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors Salary in California (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors in California, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
California Median
$102,030
per year
Hourly Rate
$49.05
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+66% vs US median
US median $61,540
State Rank
#1 of 50
1,660 employed here

How much do Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors make in California?

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors in California take home a median of $102,030 annually — roughly $49.05 an hour — which runs 66% above the national median of $61,540.

Within California, entry-level pay starts around $55,930 while the top 10% make $131,510 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $68,750 and $125,090 a year.

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors salary range in California

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$55,930$26.89
25th percentile (early career)$68,750$33.05
50th percentile (median)$102,030$49.05
75th percentile (experienced)$125,090$60.14
90th percentile (top earners)$131,510$63.23

How California compares

California ranks 1st out of 50 states and territories for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1California$102,030
2New Jersey$81,100
3Delaware$78,600
4New York$78,010
5Minnesota$76,800

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

Nationally, about 37,000 people work as Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.

Considering a move? Compare California pay ($102,030) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors make in California?
The median Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors salary in California is $102,030 per year, or about $49.05 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $55,930 at the entry level to $131,510 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors about 66% more than the national median of $61,540. California ranks 1st out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $102,030 a year. About 1,660 Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.