Adult Literacy and High School Equivalency Diploma Teachers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
- Education Required
- Most states require adult literacy and high school equivalency diploma teachers to have at least a bachelors degree. Some community colleges prefer to hire those with a masters degree or graduate coursework in adult education or English as a Second Language (ESL). Some colleges and universities offer masters degrees or graduate certificates in teaching adult education or ESL.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: -6% (Decline)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Some states require adult literacy and high school equivalency diploma teachers to have a teaching certificate to work in government-run programs. Some states have certificates specifically for adult education. Other states require teachers to have a certificate in elementary or secondary education.
- Median pay: How much do Adult Literacy and High School Equivalency Diploma Teachers make?
- $50,650 Annual Salary
- $24.35 per hour
Adult literacy and high school equivalency diploma teachers instruct adults in basic skills, such as reading, writing, and speaking English. They also help students earn their high school equivalent diploma.
Duties
Adult literacy and high school equivalency diploma teachers typically do the following:
- Plan and teach lessons to help students gain the knowledge and skills needed to earn their high school equivalent diploma
- Adapt teaching methods based on students strengths and weaknesses
- Emphasize skills that will help students find jobs, such as learning English words and common phrases used in the workplace
- Assess students for possible learning disabilities
- Monitor students progress
- Help students develop study skills
- Connect students to other resources in their community, such as mental health services or job placement services
Before students enter these education programs, their educational level and skills are assessed. These assessments are typically performed by another staff member; however, in some programs the teacher may conduct the assessments. Based on the results of the assessment and the students goals, teachers develop a personalized education program.
Teachers must formally evaluate their students periodically to determine their progress and potential to go on to the next level of classes. However, they may informally evaluate their students progress continually.
Adult literacy and high school equivalency diploma teachers often have students of various education levels in their classes. As a result, teachers need to use different teaching strategies and methods that meet all of their students needs. They may work with students in classes or teach them one-on-one.
Teachers prepare students for further education and help them to develop skills that they will need in the workplace. For example, they may teach students how to read a contract or how to estimate the cost of materials needed to remodel a kitchen.
There are three basic types of education that adult literacy and high school equivalency diploma teachers provide:
Careers for Adult Literacy and High School Equivalency Diploma Teachers
- Adult ESL teachers
- Adult ESOL teachers
- Adult English as a second language teachers
- Adult basic and secondary education and literacy teachers and instructors
- Adult basic education
- Adult basic studies teachers
- Adult education teachers
- Adult literacy instructors
- Adult literacy teachers
- Adult remedial education instructors
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- GED instructors
- General educational development teachers
- High school equivalency and adult secondary education
- High school equivalency diploma teachers