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

Education and TrainingO*NET 25-3011.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $61,283
Projected change: −9.8%
Typical education: Bachelor's degree
Employment: 47.9K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

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.
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs, abilities, and interests.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Prepare students for further education by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
Assign and grade class work and homework.
Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws or administrative policies.
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.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students for whom they are responsible.
Prepare and administer written, oral, and performance tests and issue grades in accordance with performance.
Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
Review instructional content, methods, and student evaluations to assess strengths and weaknesses, and to develop recommendations for course revision, development, or elimination.
Register, orient, and assess new students according to standards and procedures.
Collaborate with other teachers and professionals in the development of instructional programs.
Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or special academic interests.
Select, order, and issue books, materials, and supplies for courses or projects.
Attend professional meetings, conferences, and workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons that promote learning, following approved curricula.
Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, contests, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $40,274
25th percentile: $48,133
50th percentile: $61,283
75th percentile: $79,295
90th percentile: $104,985

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $61,283 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−9.8%projected to decline

202547,896 jobs

2035 projected43,194 jobs

4,702 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Bachelor's degree: 52.2%
Master's or Professional degree: 21.8%
High school diploma or less: 11.4%
Associate degree: 11.4%
Some college: 3.3%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Adult Education
Lesson Planning
Curriculum Development
Teaching English As A Second Language
Classroom Management
Social Studies
Educational Assessment
Learning Styles
Student Services
Workforce Development
Language Arts
Higher Education
Office Equipment
Bilingual (Spanish/English)
Educational Technologies
Instructing
Special Education
Data Entry
Instructional Strategies
Lifting Ability

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Adult Education Instructors559 postings
02Adult Education Teachers325 postings
03Adult Educators241 postings
04Adult ESL Instructors129 postings
05Adult Basic Education Teachers126 postings
06Adult Basic Education Instructors123 postings
07Instructors111 postings
08Adult Education Coordinators102 postings
09Adult ESL Teachers96 postings
10Directors of Adult Education87 postings
11Adult Education Specialists74 postings
12Adult Literacy Instructors72 postings
13Ged Instructors47 postings
14Registered Physical Therapists41 postings
15Adjunct Instructors40 postings
16High School Instructors37 postings
17Day Program Instructors33 postings
18Program Instructors31 postings
19Educators30 postings
20Directors of Adult Day Services28 postings

Top employers

01Edjoin.Org487 postings
02School District Of Palm Beach County149 postings
03State of Florida59 postings
04University of Arkansas50 postings
05City Colleges of Chicago-District Office29 postings
06Goodwill27 postings
07International Rescue Committee27 postings
08Milpitas Unified School District26 postings
09Lake Land College25 postings
10Department Of Corrections24 postings
11State Of Illinois23 postings
12Adult Education20 postings
13Del Mar College19 postings
14Wayne-Finger Lakes Boces19 postings
15CompHealth18 postings
16Tennessee Board of Regents18 postings
17Bristol Community College17 postings
18Davis School District17 postings
19Elgin Community College17 postings
20Team Georgia17 postings

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