Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$61,540
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$29.59
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$98,030
entry level starts ~$41,810
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 37,000 employed

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

The median pay for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors in the United States is $61,540 per year — about $29.59 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $41,810, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $98,030.

That is $150 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors salary range by percentile

Half of all Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors earn between $49,100 and $77,690 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$41,810$20.10
25th percentile (early career)$49,100$23.61
50th percentile (median)$61,540$29.59
75th percentile (experienced)$77,690$37.35
90th percentile (top earners)$98,030$47.13

Highest-paying states for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors pay at $102,030 a year, followed by New Jersey ($81,100) and Delaware ($78,600). At the other end, South Dakota posts the lowest median at $35,760 — a gap of $66,270 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$102,030$49.05+66%
2New Jersey$81,100$38.99+32%
3Delaware$78,600$37.79+28%
4New York$78,010$37.50+27%
5Minnesota$76,800$36.92+25%

Workforce and education

About 37,000 people work as Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $65,860 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors make in the United States?
The median Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors salary in the United States is $61,540 per year, or about $29.59 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $41,810, while the top 10% of earners make $98,030 or more.
How does Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors median of $61,540 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors, with a median salary of $102,030 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors work in the United States?
About 37,000 people were employed as Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.