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The differences between adult education teachers and literacy specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an adult education teacher and a literacy specialist. Additionally, a literacy specialist has an average salary of $59,520, which is higher than the $41,280 average annual salary of an adult education teacher.
The top three skills for an adult education teacher include classroom management, math and ESL. The most important skills for a literacy specialist are instructional strategies, school administration, and assessment data.
| Adult Education Teacher | Literacy Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $41,280 | $59,520 |
| Hourly rate | $19.85 | $28.62 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 70,775 | 2,562 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An adult education teacher teaches and coordinates programs developed for adult learners. Adult education teachers assist learners who stop schooling early to provide for their families. They are advocates for the skills and confidence needed by those who were not able to complete their learning and in preparation for their job. Other than teaching, they make lesson plans so that adult learners can meet their goals. Also, they help students to look for resources that can be used to network in their job community.
A literacy specialist ensures accurate and correct recording reporting and document keeping. These professionals manage literacy support by organizing staff instructions and schedules. Besides providing and supporting data analysis and literacy assessment, a literacy specialist also acts as a useful resource for families, administrators, assistant teachers, and teachers. They promote professional development by supporting, coaching, and guiding teachers with instructional practices and literacy programs. Moreover, literacy specialists oversee the learning institution's literacy program.
Adult education teachers and literacy specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Adult Education Teacher | Literacy Specialist | |
| Average salary | $41,280 | $59,520 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $55,000 | Between $45,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | Contra Costa College | Excel Academy Charter Schools |
| Best paying industry | Government | Retail |
There are a few differences between an adult education teacher and a literacy specialist in terms of educational background:
| Adult Education Teacher | Literacy Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between adult education teachers' and literacy specialists' demographics:
| Adult Education Teacher | Literacy Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.6% Female, 67.4% | Male, 16.0% Female, 84.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |