Prevailing Wage for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
The prevailing wage for an Adult Basic Education Instructor, also filed under titles like ESL Instructor and Adult Education Teacher, is set by the DOL and varies by experience level and worksite city. DOL establishes four wage levels tied to seniority and job complexity, so the floor for an ABE Teacher in Los Angeles differs significantly from one in Cedar Rapids.
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Entry-level ABE Instructors typically have limited classroom experience, often under two years, and work under direct supervision delivering established curriculum. This level reflects candidates new to adult education or ESL instruction in a formal program setting.
The most common filing level for Adult Basic Education Instructors. Covers professionals with a few years of experience who work with moderate independence, adapt instructional materials, and manage their own caseload of adult learners without close supervision.
Experienced ABE Teachers who exercise significant independent judgment, develop curriculum, mentor newer instructors, or lead multi-level classes. Typically five or more years in adult education with a demonstrated record of program contribution.
Senior Adult Education Instructors at this level set program direction, train staff, or carry specialized ESL credentials and supervisory responsibility. Fully competent professionals whose expertise shapes instruction across an entire program or institution.
Prevailing wage for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors by OES area
Each area on the map is a DOL OES wage zone. Click any location to see the prevailing wage floor for Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors at each level.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Match your ABE teaching credentials to the right level
Adult Education programs often distinguish between instructors holding state-issued adult education certifications and those with only general teaching licenses. A state ABE credential typically supports an L2 or L3 filing, while entry-level roles without it may be capped at L1.
Watch how California metros inflate the prevailing wage floor
Riverside, Los Angeles, and Bakersfield each post prevailing wages well above the national median for ABE Instructors. If your offer is in California, compare it against the metro-specific floor, not the national figure, before accepting.
Verify your worksite is classified under SOC 25-3011.00
ESL Instructors at community colleges or workforce agencies are sometimes misclassified under a postsecondary instructor SOC code, which carries a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm your employer's LCA lists SOC 25-3011.00 if you are teaching adult basic or ESL programs.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with ABE hiring history
Community colleges and adult education nonprofits do sponsor visas for Adult Education Teachers, but inconsistently. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored this role before, helping you prioritize organizations with a verified sponsorship track record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for an Adult Basic Education Instructor?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 25-3011.00, it calculates wage percentiles across employers in a given metro area. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification then assigns one of four wage levels based on where a specific role falls in that distribution, reflecting local market rates for ABE Instructors.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which level applies to me?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 is qualified, meaning moderate independence and a few years of experience. Level 3 is experienced, with significant autonomy and curriculum responsibility. Level 4 is fully competent, covering senior or lead roles. The employer determines your level based on actual job duties and required experience, which must be documented on the LCA filed with OFLC.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same ABE Instructor role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so each metro area produces its own wage distribution. A worksite in Riverside or San Francisco reflects higher local pay norms than one in Cedar Rapids. Because the LCA must list the actual worksite address, the employer cannot use a national or lower-metro wage when you are working in a higher-cost market, even if headquarters is elsewhere.
What happens if an employer offers me less than the prevailing wage for a sponsored ABE Instructor position?
An employer cannot file a certified LCA or petition for H-1B visa or other visa sponsorship if the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for your level and worksite. If you receive an offer below the floor, the employer must raise the wage before filing. USCIS can deny the petition and OFLC can debar employers found to have underpaid sponsored workers.
How do I verify the prevailing wage for an Adult Basic Education Instructor in a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Foreign Labor Certification Data Center publishes wage data by SOC code and metro area. You can also use DOL's FLAG portal to look up current prevailing wage determinations. Search for SOC 25-3011.00 and filter by the worksite metropolitan area. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers in that area have previously sponsored Adult Education Teachers, so you can cross-reference offer letters against confirmed sponsors.
