Careers → Education → Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers

Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers

Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information

Median Salary

$59,950

~$29/hr · ~$4,996/mo

US Jobs

41K

Decline

AI & Automation Risk

7/10

High Risk

AI & Automation Risk

High Risk 7/10

The core work product—language instruction, literacy training, and test preparation—is fundamentally digital and information-based, making it highly susceptible to AI-driven tutoring and translation tools. While the role requires significant cultural sensitivity and interpersonal motivation, AI can now provide personalized lesson plans, real-time feedback, and adaptive learning paths that significantly increase teacher productivity or replace routine instructional tasks.

Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home

Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.

City	Local Salary	Cost of Living	Real Purchasing Power
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CABEST VALUE	$116,330	Above avg (107.3)	$108,374
Modesto, CA	$111,780	Above avg (105.1)	$106,329
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$99,500	Average (102.4)	$97,178
Salem, OR	$98,450	Average (102.5)	$96,087
Vineland, NJ	$88,040	Below avg (93.9)	$93,744
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$103,080	Above avg (110.7)	$93,082
Fresno, CA	$92,550	Above avg (104.0)	$88,987
St. Cloud, MN	$75,820	Below avg (89.3)	$84,904
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$96,200	Above avg (114.7)	$83,835
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	$81,130	Average (97.3)	$83,374
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	$75,520	Below avg (90.6)	$83,364
Joplin, MO-KS	$70,700	Below avg (85.2)	$82,992
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$83,500	Average (100.7)	$82,924
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$96,900	Above avg (117.6)	$82,432
Mankato, MN	$72,180	Below avg (87.6)	$82,353