Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
Also called: Adult Basic Education Instructor (ABE Instructor), ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor), GED Instructor (General Educational Development Instructor), TeacherTeach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in basic education, literacy, or English as a Second Language classes, or in classes for earning a high school equivalency credential.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 24 of its 37 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 13.9% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.9% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other teachers and instructors”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.8 hires for every 10 job openings in private educational services, which employs about 83% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,870 | $42,910 to $58,440 | 470 |
| Arizona | $61,750 | $41,240 to $77,130 | 570 |
| Arkansas | $43,240 | $30,250 to $55,220 | 230 |
| California | $102,030 | $68,750 to $125,090 | 1,660 |
| Colorado | $51,170 | $40,030 to $72,790 | 820 |
| Connecticut | $72,180 | $56,160 to $83,090 | 410 |
| Delaware | $78,600 | $62,390 to $82,670 | 200 |
| District of Columbia | $62,940 | $62,530 to $81,610 | 570 |
| Florida | $58,920 | $52,490 to $63,010 | 3,670 |
| Georgia | $47,540 | $41,030 to $52,170 | 470 |
| Hawaii | $44,600 | $42,640 to $46,060 | 300 |
| Idaho | $50,040 | $45,710 to $75,050 | 270 |
| Illinois | $62,370 | $49,410 to $82,360 | 1,970 |
| Indiana | $58,660 | $50,470 to $62,320 | 650 |
| Iowa | $48,010 | $39,710 to $54,220 | 370 |
| Kansas | $52,030 | $46,920 to $56,550 | 160 |
| Kentucky | $44,990 | $40,450 to $50,200 | 350 |
| Louisiana | $66,870 | $46,070 to $77,570 | 100 |
| Maine | $58,880 | $56,220 to $67,570 | 330 |
| Maryland | $59,950 | $47,990 to $64,370 | 450 |
| Massachusetts | $62,290 | $52,110 to $83,380 | 1,420 |
| Michigan | $59,900 | $48,120 to $63,650 | 560 |
| Minnesota | $76,800 | $61,540 to $84,410 | 2,880 |
| Mississippi | $49,900 | $46,980 to $54,340 | 240 |
| Missouri | $51,770 | $41,020 to $80,240 | 620 |
| Montana | $56,500 | $47,760 to $73,900 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $49,040 | $40,800 to $54,360 | 130 |
| Nevada | $48,930 | $45,300 to $57,190 | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $64,440 | $52,980 to $65,460 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $81,100 | $59,870 to $94,450 | 1,350 |
| New Mexico | $49,170 | $42,680 to $67,230 | 210 |
| New York | $78,010 | $64,460 to $96,650 | 2,810 |
| North Carolina | $51,810 | $46,090 to $61,980 | 3,720 |
| North Dakota | $63,820 | $58,860 to $76,500 | 180 |
| Ohio | $47,190 | $44,480 to $65,320 | 750 |
| Oklahoma | $51,840 | $48,950 to $57,050 | 300 |
| Oregon | $65,700 | $54,920 to $101,980 | 510 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,230 | $49,640 to $73,260 | 790 |
| Rhode Island | $57,690 | $50,830 to $63,390 | not published |
| South Carolina | $62,940 | $50,190 to $74,630 | 480 |
| South Dakota | $35,760 | $35,370 to $58,080 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $60,340 | $51,900 to $80,910 | 240 |
| Texas | $49,490 | $44,520 to $61,760 | 1,830 |
| Utah | $49,680 | $48,140 to $51,290 | 60 |
| Vermont | $62,500 | $47,300 to $79,600 | 70 |
| Virginia | $64,540 | $49,440 to $83,500 | 700 |
| Washington | $69,990 | $59,330 to $79,800 | 1,310 |
| West Virginia | $65,050 | $64,280 to $65,690 | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $64,980 | $49,140 to $80,190 | 1,050 |
| Wyoming | $52,060 | $49,620 to $62,050 | 100 |
Nationally: $61,540. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 24 of its 37 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement. | 0.02% |
| Not much | Observe students to determine qualifications, limitations, abilities, interests, and other individual characteristics. | Not published |
| AI alone | Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students. | Not published |
| Not much | Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs, abilities, and interests. | Not published |
| AI alone | Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. | Not published |
| Not much | Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. | Not published |
See all 37 tasks
| AI + software | Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate. | Not published |
| Not much | Assign and grade class work and homework. | Not published |
| AI + software | Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws or administrative policies. | Not published |
| Not much | Prepare students for further education by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Conduct classes, workshops, and demonstrations to teach principles, techniques, or methods in subjects, such as basic English language skills, life skills, and workforce entry skills. | Not published |
| AI + software | Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations. | Not published |
| Not much | Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students for whom they are responsible. | Not published |
| Not much | Enforce administration policies and rules governing students. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration. | Not published |
| Not much | Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required. | Not published |
| Not much | Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare and administer written, oral, and performance tests and issue grades in accordance with performance. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review instructional content, methods, and student evaluations to assess strengths and weaknesses, and to develop recommendations for course revision, development, or elimination. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Attend professional meetings, conferences, and workshops to maintain and improve professional competence. | Not published |
| AI alone | Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons that promote learning, following approved curricula. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools. | Not published |
| Not much | Register, orient, and assess new students according to standards and procedures. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help. | Not published |
| AI + software | Select, order, and issue books, materials, and supplies for courses or projects. | Not published |
| AI + software | Collaborate with other teachers and professionals in the development of instructional programs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or special academic interests. | Not published |
| Not much | Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, contests, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities. | Not published |
| AI alone | Provide information, guidance, and preparation for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) examination. | Not published |
| AI + software | Select and schedule class times to ensure maximum attendance. | Not published |
| AI alone | Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms. | Not published |
| AI + software | Advise students on internships, prospective employers, and job placement services. | 0.01% |
| AI alone | Participate in publicity planning, community awareness efforts, and student recruitment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Observe and evaluate the performance of other instructors. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with leaders of government and community groups to coordinate student training or to find opportunities for students to fulfill curriculum requirements. | Not published |
| Not much | Train and assist tutors and community literacy volunteers. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 4 of the 37 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 37 tasks fall under 27 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #23 Prepare informational or instructional materials
- #30 Perform administrative or clerical activities
- and 3 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures | |||
| Assess student capabilities, needs, or performance | |||
| Prepare informational or instructional materials | |||
| Advise others on educational or vocational matters | |||
| Collaborate in the development of educational programs | |||
| Teach academic or vocational subjects | |||
| Monitor individual behavior or performance | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise |
Show all 27 activities
| Perform administrative or clerical activities | |||
| Purchase goods or services | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Provide support or encouragement to others | |||
| Evaluate programs, practices, or processes | |||
| Promote products, services, or programs | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Teach life skills | |||
| Schedule operational activities | |||
| Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Evaluate personnel capabilities or performance | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Assign work to others | |||
| Assist individuals with special needs | |||
| Distribute materials, supplies, or resources | |||
| Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures | |||
| Set up classrooms, facilities, educational materials, or equipment | |||
| Serve on organizational committees |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Teaching material27%
- An explanation or answer13%
- A document or report11%
- A plan or strategy10%
- An analysis or summary9%
How they worked with Claude
21% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 13,590 moves out
- 1 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 8%
- 2 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education High -0.4% 8%
- 3 Teachers and Instructors, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Special Education Teachers, Middle School High -0.4% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 19,170 moves in
- 1 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education High -0.4% 8%
- 2 Teachers and Instructors, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 3 Special Education Teachers, Middle School High -0.4% 5%
- 4 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 4%
- 5 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 11% high school
- 3% some college
- 11% associate's
- 41% bachelor's
- 11% post-bachelor's certificate
- 20% master's
- 2% post-master's certificate
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 20 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% less than high school
- 13% high school
- 19% some college
- 8% associate's
- 33% bachelor's
- 19% master's
- 2% professional degree
- 3% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other teachers and instructors” · 8,299 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other teachers and instructors”
8 programs, such as Bilingual and Multilingual Education, Multicultural Education and Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other.
See all
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education
- Multicultural Education
- Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
- Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language
- Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other
- Adult Literacy Tutor/Instructor
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
64.6% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | not published | |
| a certification | not published | |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/25-3011.00