How Much Does an Esl Teacher Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$61,540
ESL teachers in the U.S. earn a median of $61,540 a year, or $29.59 an hour. Half of ESL teachers earn more than $61,540 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $98,030.
Pay percentiles for ESL teachers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20.10 | $41,810 |
| 25th | $23.61 | $49,100 |
| 50th (median) | $29.59 | $61,540 |
| 75th | $37.35 | $77,690 |
| 90th | $47.13 | $98,030 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors (SOC 25-3011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for ESL teachers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $102,030 | $49.05 | +66% |
| New Jersey | $81,100 | $38.99 | +32% |
| Delaware | $78,600 | $37.79 | +28% |
| New York | $78,010 | $37.50 | +27% |
| Minnesota | $76,800 | $36.92 | +25% |
| Connecticut | $72,180 | $34.70 | +17% |
| Washington | $69,990 | $33.65 | +14% |
| Louisiana | $66,870 | $32.15 | +9% |
| Oregon | $65,700 | $31.59 | +7% |
| West Virginia | $65,050 | $31.27 | +6% |
| United States | $61,540 | $29.59 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many ESL teachers are there?
BLS counts about 37,310 ESL teachers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors”. The most jobs are in North Carolina (3,720), Florida (3,670) and Minnesota (2,880).
The mean (average) annual wage is $65,860, higher than the median of $61,540.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,128
- Biweekly
- $2,367
- Weekly
- $1,183
- Daily (8 hours)
- $237
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do ESL teachers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for ESL teachers is $29.59. The middle 50% earn between $23.61 and $37.35 an hour.
Which state pays ESL teachers the most?
California has the highest median wage for ESL teachers at $102,030, +66% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for ESL teachers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of ESL teachers earn less than $41,810 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.