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Education

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.

What it pays
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors earn a median of $29.59/hr — about $61,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.10/hr; the top 10% earn $47.13/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work is mostly indoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 5.6% of adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are people-focused, creative and organized and detail-focused.

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Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor make?
The median pay is $29.59 per hour — roughly $61,500 a year, with the real range running from about $20.10/hr (10th percentile) to $47.13/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor?
The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
What does a adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructor actually do all day?
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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.