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The average salary for an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor is approximately $52,775 annually, equating to around $25 per hour. This salary can vary significantly depending on factors such as geographical location, level of experience, and the specific educational institution.
Instructors in urban areas often earn higher salaries due to the higher cost of living and increased demand for ESL education. States such as California and New York typically offer some of the highest salaries for ESL instructors, reflecting the competitive job market. Additionally, those with advanced degrees and specialized certifications may command higher wages.
Opportunities for ESL instructors range from teaching in public schools to private language institutions and online platforms. Understanding the salary trends can aid job seekers in negotiating better pay and identifying high-demand areas. As global demand for English proficiency grows, the role of ESL instructors remains vital, offering rewarding career paths for educators.
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The highest-paying states for english as a second language instructors are California, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average english as a second language instructor salary states are South Carolina, Ohio, and New Mexico.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $67,841 | $32.62 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $71,186 | $34.22 |
| 3 | California | $79,045 | $38.00 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $67,780 | $32.59 |
| 5 | Nevada | $67,170 | $32.29 |
| 6 | Vermont | $61,411 | $29.52 |
| 7 | Delaware | $63,919 | $30.73 |
| 8 | Montana | $58,158 | $27.96 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $66,727 | $32.08 |
| 10 | Michigan | $58,646 | $28.20 |
| 11 | Maryland | $57,778 | $27.78 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $60,160 | $28.92 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $48,771 | $23.45 |
| 14 | New York | $60,606 | $29.14 |
| 15 | Maine | $55,302 | $26.59 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $54,906 | $26.40 |
| 17 | Utah | $62,395 | $30.00 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $57,193 | $27.50 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $54,245 | $26.08 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $55,838 | $26.85 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $55,017 | $26.45 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $52,792 | $25.38 |
| 23 | Washington | $54,988 | $26.44 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $51,742 | $24.88 |
| 25 | Alaska | $53,143 | $25.55 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $49,551 | $23.82 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| 28 | Kansas | $47,953 | $23.05 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $49,976 | $24.03 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $46,939 | $22.57 |
| 31 | Oregon | $48,142 | $23.15 |
| 32 | Colorado | $47,677 | $22.92 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $47,791 | $22.98 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $45,191 | $21.73 |
| 35 | Illinois | $47,829 | $22.99 |
| 36 | Georgia | $45,475 | $21.86 |
| 37 | Florida | $43,784 | $21.05 |
| 38 | Virginia | $45,678 | $21.96 |
| 39 | Iowa | $45,187 | $21.72 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $46,703 | $22.45 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $42,648 | $20.50 |
| 42 | Arizona | $45,701 | $21.97 |
| 43 | Missouri | $47,489 | $22.83 |
| 44 | Alabama | $45,185 | $21.72 |
| 45 | Texas | $43,401 | $20.87 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $40,686 | $19.56 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| 48 | Ohio | $42,554 | $20.46 |
| 49 | Idaho | $34,345 | $16.51 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $35,384 | $17.01 |
| 51 | Indiana | $31,587 | $15.19 |
The highest-paying cities for english as a second language instructors are Santa Rosa, CA, Newburgh, NY, and Madison, WI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $80,958 | $38.92 |
| 2 | Newburgh, NY | $61,026 | $29.34 |
| 3 | Madison, WI | $54,911 | $26.40 |
| 4 | Jackson, MS | $49,409 | $23.75 |
| 5 | Rockford, IL | $47,891 | $23.02 |
| 6 | Henderson, KY | $47,818 | $22.99 |
| 7 | Greeley, CO | $47,637 | $22.90 |
| 8 | Saint Peters, MO | $47,448 | $22.81 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,005 | $22.60 |
| 10 | Fayetteville, NC | $46,776 | $22.49 |
| 11 | Richmond, VA | $45,503 | $21.88 |
| 12 | Savannah, GA | $44,937 | $21.60 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $43,217 | $20.78 |
An english as a second language instructor's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $52,775 | $4,398 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
The highest paying types of english as a second language instructors are creative writing instructor, language instructor, and english language teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Professor Of English | $55,207 | $4,601 | $26.54 | 28,417 |
| Instructor Of Spanish | $54,930 | $4,578 | $26.41 | 25,516 |
| Language Teacher | $51,413 | $4,284 | $24.72 | 74,479 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
| English Professor | $56,038 | $4,670 | $26.94 | 20,821 |
| ESL Instructor | $53,226 | $4,436 | $25.59 | 26,173 |
Top companies hiring english as a second language instructors now:
English as a second language instructor salaries at Ohlone College and SUNY Orange are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average english as a second language instructor salary at companies like Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Virginia's Community Colleges are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohlone College | $58,010 | $27.89 |
| 2 | SUNY Orange | $57,704 | $27.74 |
| 3 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | $57,686 | $27.73 |
| 4 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $55,038 | $26.46 |
| 5 | Metropolitan Learning Institute | $54,675 | $26.29 |
| 6 | Jackson State Community College | $54,313 | $26.11 |
| 7 | Union County College | $54,262 | $26.09 |
| 8 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | $53,843 | $25.89 |
| 9 | LTC Language Solutions | $53,833 | $25.88 |
| 10 | San Diego College of Continuing Education | $53,632 | $25.78 |
| 11 | Rock Valley College | $49,492 | $23.79 |
| 12 | Central Christian College of Kansas | $49,388 | $23.74 |
| 13 | St. Charles Community College | $47,316 | $22.75 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Trade-Technical College | $45,995 | $22.11 |
| 15 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $42,264 | $20.32 |
| 16 | University of Northern Colorado | $41,778 | $20.09 |
| 17 | Santa Rosa High School | $41,324 | $19.87 |
| 18 | West Chester Area School District | $40,526 | $19.48 |
| 19 | University of Pennsylvania | $38,796 | $18.65 |
| 20 | University of Arkansas | $36,730 | $17.66 |
The average english as a second language instructor salary has risen by $5,805 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average english as a second language instructor earned $46,970 annually, but today, they earn $52,775 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for english as a second language instructors over the last decade.
Compare english as a second language instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare english as a second language instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,800 | $25.37 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | $52,400 | $25.18 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $50,900 | $24.49 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $49,600 | $23.87 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $48,700 | $23.43 | +2.7% |
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