How to Become an Adult Education / ESL Instructor
Teach adults the literacy, language, and high-school-equivalency skills that reopen doors. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $61,540 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$61,540/yr
Middle half
$49,100 to $77,690
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
3,900
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Adult Learning Strategies
- ESL Instruction
- Curriculum Adaptation
- Cultural Competence
- Assessment
Helpful certifications
- TESOL/TEFL certification
- State adult education licensure
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
61/100
Work-life balance
85/100
Stress level
39/100
Related careers
- School Principal (K-12 Administrator)$105,870 median
- College Administrator (Postsecondary)$104,590 median
- School Psychologist$95,990 median
- Instructional Coordinator$77,440 median
- Teacher (Secondary Education)$72,040 median
- Librarian$68,270 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Adult Education / ESL Instructor make?
The median pay for an Adult Education / ESL Instructor is $61,540 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $49,100 and $77,690 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Adult Education / ESL Instructor?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Education, English, Linguistics, and Communications.
Is Adult Education / ESL Instructor a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 3,900 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Adult Education / ESL Instructor use most?
Common skills for this role are Adult Learning Strategies, ESL Instruction, Curriculum Adaptation, Cultural Competence, and Assessment.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).