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The differences between academic instructors and esl instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an academic instructor, becoming an esl instructor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an esl instructor has an average salary of $53,226, which is higher than the $48,371 average annual salary of an academic instructor.
The top three skills for an academic instructor include mathematics, language arts and GED. The most important skills for an esl instructor are grammar, classroom management, and language.
| Academic Instructor | ESL Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $48,371 | $53,226 |
| Hourly rate | $23.26 | $25.59 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 51,190 | 26,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 43 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
An academic instructor is responsible for all aspects of instruction and the students' learning experience. You will plan, prepare, and deliver lessons to your students and teach according to a student's educational needs, achievements, and abilities. In addition, you are expected to assess, record, and report the behavior, attainment, development, and progress of students. Other duties include promoting a student's well-being and progress in a certain course, guiding and advising students on social and educational matters, and ensuring to maintain high standards of teaching practice.
An ESL instructor is responsible for teaching the English language, usually to non-native speakers, discussing all the disciplines of the English language, both written and verbal, and in some cases, even its nature and history. ESL instructors create a comprehensive lesson plan for the English language learners, prepare learning materials, and conduct individual and group activities to test the learners' knowledge and progress. They also evaluate the learners' performance by identifying areas of improvement and adjust teaching strategies to address each learner's difficulties and maintain an engaging classroom environment.
Academic instructors and esl instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Instructor | ESL Instructor | |
| Average salary | $48,371 | $53,226 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $69,000 | Between $36,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Foster City, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Boston Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | Retail |
There are a few differences between an academic instructor and an esl instructor in terms of educational background:
| Academic Instructor | ESL Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | English |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Columbia University in the City of New York |
Here are the differences between academic instructors' and esl instructors' demographics:
| Academic Instructor | ESL Instructor | |
| Average age | 43 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.8% Female, 53.2% | Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 6.9% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 16% |