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Adult education instructor salary
Average adult education instructor salary
$45,926
Average Salary for Adult Education Instructors
The average salary for an adult education instructor in the United States is approximately $45,926 annually, which translates to about $22 per hour. This salary can be influenced by various factors, including geographic location and years of experience. For instance, instructors in states like California, New York, and Texas tend to earn higher salaries compared to their counterparts in other regions.
Job Opportunities
Adult education instructors have a range of job opportunities available in community colleges, vocational schools, and online education platforms. Many instructors focus on areas such as literacy, career development, and life skills training.
Highest Paying States
In 2025, states with the highest average salaries for adult education instructors will likely include California, New York, and Florida. Moreover, instructors with advanced degrees or certifications may see a significant increase in their earning potential.
Career Growth
With a growing emphasis on lifelong learning, the demand for adult education instructors is expected to rise. This creates ample opportunities for career growth and specialization in various fields, allowing instructors to tailor their careers according to their interests and strengths.
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Where can an Adult Education Instructor earn more?
Adult education instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average adult education instructor salary by state
The average adult education instructor salary in California, Washington, and North Dakota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average adult education instructor salary states are Arkansas, Tennessee, and Colorado.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for adult education instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $58,454 | $28.10 |
| 2 | California | $81,291 | $39.08 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $53,884 | $25.91 |
| 4 | New York | $59,212 | $28.47 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $63,282 | $30.42 |
| 6 | Idaho | $59,590 | $28.65 |
| 7 | Washington | $64,424 | $30.97 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $56,445 | $27.14 |
| 9 | Maine | $55,011 | $26.45 |
| 10 | Oregon | $53,091 | $25.52 |
| 11 | Maryland | $56,773 | $27.29 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $54,540 | $26.22 |
| 13 | South Carolina | $48,897 | $23.51 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $49,819 | $23.95 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $54,785 | $26.34 |
| 16 | Arizona | $47,723 | $22.94 |
| 17 | Illinois | $50,084 | $24.08 |
| 18 | Kansas | $51,906 | $24.95 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $49,574 | $23.83 |
| 20 | Indiana | $51,986 | $24.99 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $51,273 | $24.65 |
| 22 | Alaska | $46,394 | $22.30 |
| 23 | Nevada | $44,173 | $21.24 |
| 24 | Texas | $47,917 | $23.04 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $55,207 | $26.54 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $45,020 | $21.64 |
| 27 | Alabama | $47,822 | $22.99 |
| 28 | Virginia | $44,856 | $21.57 |
| 29 | Iowa | $45,138 | $21.70 |
| 30 | Michigan | $43,029 | $20.69 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $43,329 | $20.83 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $43,411 | $20.87 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $41,033 | $19.73 |
| 34 | Delaware | $43,599 | $20.96 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $42,673 | $20.52 |
| 36 | Ohio | $44,099 | $21.20 |
| 37 | New Hampshire | $41,588 | $19.99 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $44,971 | $21.62 |
| 39 | Florida | $43,016 | $20.68 |
| 40 | Vermont | $41,470 | $19.94 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $42,834 | $20.59 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $39,364 | $18.93 |
| 43 | Colorado | $37,584 | $18.07 |
| 44 | Utah | $42,081 | $20.23 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $40,041 | $19.25 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $37,768 | $18.16 |
| 47 | Missouri | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| 48 | Georgia | $36,563 | $17.58 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $37,348 | $17.96 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $37,985 | $18.26 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $30,438 | $14.63 |
Highest paying cities for adult education instructors
The highest-paying cities for adult education instructors are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Buffalo, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $87,097 | $41.87 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $64,637 | $31.08 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $59,309 | $28.51 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,811 | $27.31 |
| 5 | Cheyenne, WY | $52,733 | $25.35 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $51,157 | $24.59 |
| 7 | Toms River, NJ | $49,867 | $23.97 |
| 8 | Spartanburg, SC | $48,924 | $23.52 |
| 9 | Lufkin, TX | $47,477 | $22.83 |
| 10 | Fredericksburg, VA | $45,235 | $21.75 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $44,511 | $21.40 |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $43,738 | $21.03 |
| 13 | Las Cruces, NM | $39,406 | $18.95 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $38,776 | $18.64 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $37,643 | $18.10 |
| 16 | Gainesville, GA | $36,596 | $17.59 |
Adult education instructor salary details
An adult education instructor's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an adult education instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $45,926 | $3,827 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying adult education instructor jobs
The highest paying types of adult education instructors are literacy consultant, esol instructor, and transitional studies instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Teacher | $49,442 | $4,120 | $23.77 | 54,716 |
| College Instructor | $50,584 | $4,215 | $24.32 | 41,053 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
| ESL Instructor | $53,226 | $4,436 | $25.59 | 26,173 |
| Adjunct Instructor | $52,030 | $4,336 | $25.01 | 40,633 |
| Adult Education Teacher | $41,280 | $3,440 | $19.85 | 70,775 |
Top companies hiring adult education instructors now:
Which companies pay adult education instructors the most?
Adult education instructor salaries at Boston Public Schools and Grossmont College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average adult education instructor salary at companies like Virginia's Community Colleges and Northeastern Junior College are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Public Schools | $76,090 | $36.58 |
| 2 | Grossmont College | $59,386 | $28.55 |
| 3 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $59,133 | $28.43 |
| 4 | Northeastern Junior College | $57,861 | $27.82 |
| 5 | Spartanburg School District Three | $57,518 | $27.65 |
| 6 | Renton Technical College | $57,024 | $27.42 |
| 7 | Laramie County Community College | $56,322 | $27.08 |
| 8 | Ivy Tech Community College | $55,692 | $26.77 |
| 9 | North Central Texas College | $52,449 | $25.22 |
| 10 | Buffalo Schools | $51,652 | $24.83 |
| 11 | Eastern Suffolk BOCES | $51,268 | $24.65 |
| 12 | State Of South Dakota | $50,944 | $24.49 |
| 13 | North Shore Community College | $50,520 | $24.29 |
| 14 | Iowa Department of Transportation | $50,506 | $24.28 |
| 15 | Central Texas College | $49,291 | $23.70 |
| 16 | Grayson College | $49,203 | $23.66 |
| 17 | City of Las Cruces Government | $47,958 | $23.06 |
| 18 | UMass Dartmouth | $47,938 | $23.05 |
| 19 | Iowa State Association of Counties | $47,703 | $22.93 |
| 20 | Denver Public Schools | $47,327 | $22.75 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Adult education instructor salary trends
The average adult education instructor salary has risen by $6,622 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average adult education instructor earned $39,304 annually, but today, they earn $45,926 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for adult education instructors over the last decade.
Compare adult education instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average adult education instructor salary over time
Compare adult education instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Adult education instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $45,900 | $22.08 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $45,100 | $21.68 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $44,500 | $21.39 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $43,200 | $20.78 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $42,000 | $20.20 | +0.7% |
Recently added adult education instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Special Instructor-Adult Education | Little Rock, AR | 06/30/2025 | $50,000 |
| Northwest Arkansas Community College | Faculty, Adult Education ESL Instructor | Bono, AR | 06/30/2025 | $52,175 |
| Montgomery College | Adult Education Instructor | Maryland | 06/30/2025 | $59,887 |
| Msudenver | Adult Education Special Program Instructor | Denver, CO | 06/29/2025 | $38,000 |
| Montgomery College | Adult Education Instructor | Noble, LA | 06/28/2025 | $59,887 |
| State of Georgia | ESL Adult Education Instructor | Cleveland, GA | 06/27/2025 | $45,914 |
| Garden City Community College | Adult Basic Education (Abe)/Ase Instructor | Garden City, KS | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Monticello Public Schools | Instructor-Adult Basic Education | Nore, MN | 06/27/2025 | $57,914 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Adult Education Special Program Instructor | Denver, CO | 06/27/2025 | $38,000 |
| Tennessee Board of Regents | Adult Education Lead Instructor | Knoxville, TN | 06/27/2025 | $45,000 |
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