Creative & Education
ESL Teacher Salary
ESL teachers instruct non-native English speakers in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills.
Median Salary
$56,000
Mean Salary
$59,800
Total Employed
82,200
Job Growth
+5%
ESL Teacher Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level esl teachers earn around $38,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $57,000. Senior-level esl teachers can earn $84,000 or more.
Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$38,000 Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$57,000 Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$84,000 Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for esl teachers varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $36,000, while the top 10% earn $88,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $56,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $72,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $88,000 |
ESL Teacher Salary by State
ESL Teacher salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $95,200, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $46,480.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $95,200 | Details → |
| #2 California | $77,280 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $75,600 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $69,440 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $68,320 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $64,400 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $64,400 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $62,720 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $61,600 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $61,600 | Details → |
| #11 Colorado | $58,800 | Details → |
| #12 New Hampshire | $58,800 | Details → |
| #13 Rhode Island | $58,800 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $58,240 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $56,560 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $56,560 | Details → |
| #17 Florida | $54,880 | Details → |
| #18 Maine | $54,880 | Details → |
| #19 Arizona | $54,320 | Details → |
| #20 Minnesota | $54,320 | Details → |
| #21 Nevada | $54,320 | Details → |
| #22 Utah | $54,320 | Details → |
| #23 Pennsylvania | $53,760 | Details → |
| #24 Illinois | $53,200 | Details → |
| #25 Montana | $53,200 | Details → |
| #26 Idaho | $52,640 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $52,080 | Details → |
| #28 New Mexico | $52,080 | Details → |
| #29 North Carolina | $51,520 | Details → |
| #30 Texas | $51,520 | Details → |
| #31 Wisconsin | $51,520 | Details → |
| #32 Wyoming | $51,520 | Details → |
| #33 Louisiana | $50,960 | Details → |
| #34 Indiana | $50,400 | Details → |
| #35 Michigan | $50,400 | Details → |
| #36 Nebraska | $50,400 | Details → |
| #37 North Dakota | $50,400 | Details → |
| #38 Ohio | $50,400 | Details → |
| #39 Iowa | $49,840 | Details → |
| #40 South Carolina | $49,840 | Details → |
| #41 Tennessee | $49,840 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $49,280 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $49,280 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $48,720 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $48,720 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $48,720 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $48,160 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $47,040 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $47,040 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $46,480 | Details → |
Key Responsibilities
- ● Teach English to non-native speakers
- ● Develop lesson plans for language proficiency
- ● Assess student language skills
- ● Create culturally responsive materials
- ● Support student integration
Top Skills
ESL Methods Lesson Planning Cultural Competency Assessment Patience Communication
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Job Outlook
Faster than average — projected 5% growth over the next decade