Teaching Assistants
Median wage · national
$42,910
Range: $35K – $61K
Employed
164K
Openings/yr
25K
Typically: bachelor's degree
Adult Education Instructors
Adult Education Instructors earn $61,540 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $49,100 and $77,690. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Adult Education 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.
- Median Wage
- $61,540
- Employed Nationally
- 37K
- Openings / Year
- 3,900
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Academic Specialist
Adult Basic Education Instructor (ABE Instructor)
Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher)
Adult Basic Studies Teacher
Adult Education Coordinator
How Much Do Adult Education Instructors Make?
Adult Education Instructors earn $61,540 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,100 and $77,690. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$61,540
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$49K–$78K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$49,100
Entry-level
$61,540
Median
$77,690
Experienced
What Do Adult Education Instructors Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Adult Education Instructors roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- 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 students for further education by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Instructing
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Learning Strategies
Active Listening
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Adult Education Instructors Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Low
Low time pressure. Work pace is typically steady and self-directed.
What Is the Job Outlook for Adult Education Instructors?
The BLS projects -13.7% employment change for Adult Education Instructors through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 3,900 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↘ -13.7%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Declining employment projected.
3,900
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
37K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Adult Education Instructors professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $61,540 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | 3,600 | $52,240 | -15.1% |
| 2 | Florida | 3,190 | $52,900 | -14.0% |
| 3 | New York | 2,770 | $75,080 | +22.0% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 2,240 | $68,730 | +11.7% |
| 5 | Texas | 1,910 | $50,820 | -17.4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Adult Education Instructors positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 4 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teacher Education (K-12) | 106,652 | $47,382 | 1,894 |
| 2 | Teaching ESL | 5,030 | $42,259 | 446 |
| 3 | Teaching Assistance | 2,942 | — | 230 |
| 4 | Bilingual Education | 1,654 | $55,140 | 176 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Adult Education Instructors
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 4 | Rice University Houston, TX | 91 | $13,370 | $89,718 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 6 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 91 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Adult Education Instructors, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Adult Education Instructors pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Adult Education Instructors Pros & Cons
Adult Education Instructors has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 1 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
PROS
- Competitive salary $61,540 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
CONS
- Declining employment The BLS projects -13.7% employment change through 2034. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $61,540 median while building the experience employers require.
Adult Education Instructors Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Adult Education Instructors professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Adult Education Instructors is $61,540, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,100 and $77,690. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Adult Education Instructors a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -13.7% employment change through 2034. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $61,540 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How long does it take to become a Adult Education Instructors?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Teacher Education (K-12) are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $61,540 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Why are Adult Education Instructors jobs declining?
The BLS projects -13.7% employment change for Adult Education Instructors through 2034. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 3,900 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 37K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
What skills do Adult Education Instructors professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Adult Education Instructors roles: Instructing, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Learning Strategies, and Active Listening. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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