All About Adult Education and Literacy Teachers

Adult Education and Literacy Teacher Job Description Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in remedial education classes, preparatory classes for the General Educational Development test, literacy, or English as a Second Language. Teaching may or may not take place in a traditional educational institution.

Adult Education and Literacy Teacher Responsibilities

• Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or special academic interests.
• Provide disabled students with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
• 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.
• Select and schedule class times to ensure maximum attendance.
• Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students’ needs and progress.
• Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.

What Every Adult Education and Literacy Teacher Should Know

These are the skills Adult Education and Literacy Teachers say are the most useful in their careers:

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Types of Adult Education and Literacy Teacher Jobs

• ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor)
• Adult Basic Education Teacher (ABE Teacher)
• Adult Education Teacher
• ESOL Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages Teacher)
• Adult Literacy Teacher

Job Demand for Adult Education and Literacy Teachers

In the United States, there were 68,200 jobs for Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors in 2016.

Adult Education and Literacy Teacher jobs are decreasing by a rate of -5.1%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -3,400 jobs for Adult Education and Literacy Teachers by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,800 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors are Texas, Georgia, and New York.

Watch out if you plan on working in California, Illinois, or North Carolina. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Adult Education and Literacy Teachers

The salary for Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors ranges between about $32,370 and $89,710 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $53,630.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$77,280
New York	$75,720
New Jersey	$66,370
Connecticut	$66,200
Oregon	$63,230
Virginia	$59,370
Maryland	$59,190
North Dakota	$58,480
District of Columbia	$58,370
Texas	$58,120
Minnesota	$57,830
Delaware	$56,930
Vermont	$55,970
Nebraska	$55,750
Illinois	$55,750
Maine	$54,670
Iowa	$54,210
Pennsylvania	$54,190
Washington	$52,920
Alaska	$51,990
New Hampshire	$51,890
Missouri	$51,850
Idaho	$51,110
Florida	$51,020
Massachusetts	$50,900
Nevada	$50,230
Montana	$49,510
Rhode Island	$49,300
Wisconsin	$49,110
Indiana	$48,990
Ohio	$48,690
Michigan	$48,690
Tennessee	$48,570
Mississippi	$48,560
Colorado	$47,670
Arizona	$47,460
Arkansas	$46,740
North Carolina	$46,480
South Carolina	$46,330
Hawaii	$46,190
Wyoming	$45,040
Georgia	$44,650
Utah	$42,670
Louisiana	$40,340
Oklahoma	$40,080
Kentucky	$39,130
West Virginia	$38,140
Alabama	$38,060
Kansas	$37,910
New Mexico	$35,550
South Dakota	$34,830

Tools & Technologies Used by Adult Education and Literacy Teachers

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Adult Education and Literacy Teachers:

• Microsoft Excel
• SAP
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Office
• Data entry software
• Microsoft Word

How do I Become an Adult Education and Literacy Teacher?

What education or degrees do I need to become an Adult Education and Literacy Teacher?

What work experience do I need to become an Adult Education and Literacy Teacher?

Where Adult Education and Literacy Teachers Work

You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming Adult Education and Literacy Teachers might also be interested in the following careers:

• Public Relations Specialists
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Are you already one of the many Adult Education and Literacy Teachers in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
• Mathematical Science Professors

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons