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Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors vs Elementary School Teacher: what changes?

Consider Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors if you want to teach 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. Consider Elementary School Teacher if you would rather teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors and Elementary School Teacher. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors

National median pay (2025)
$61,540
Route into the job
Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
3,800
Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 13.9% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors brief

Elementary School Teacher

National median pay (2025)
$63,970
Route into the job
Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
87,500
Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 0.4% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Elementary School Teacher brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Elementary School Teacher has the edge on annual openings

Elementary School Teacher is at 87,500 annual openings, compared with 3,800 annual openings for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors.

2

Elementary School Teacher has the edge on projected growth

Elementary School Teacher is at -0.4% projected growth, compared with -13.9% projected growth for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors.

3

Elementary School Teacher has the edge on median pay

Elementary School Teacher is at $63,970, compared with $61,540 for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors.

33.9/ 100

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors

vs
55/ 100

Elementary School Teacher

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors vs Elementary School Teacher

DimensionAdult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsElementary School Teacher
Median pay (2025)$61,540$63,970
Pay percentile50.2 percentile55.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)-13.9%-0.4%
Annual openings (2025–2035)3,80087,500
2025 employment41,1001,419,300
How you qualifyBachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 4Job Zone 4
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingBLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors briefRead Elementary School Teacher brief

Try another comparison

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors vs Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
$61,540 · -13.9% growth
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
$62,680 · -0.3% growth
Compare careers →

Elementary School Teacher vs High School Teacher

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Elementary School Teacher
$63,970 · -0.4% growth
High School Teacher
$72,040 · -0.2% growth
Compare careers →

Elementary School Teacher vs Preschool Teacher

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Elementary School Teacher
$63,970 · -0.4% growth
Preschool Teacher
$38,140 · 4.5% growth
Compare careers →
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