Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers help adults earn a high school equivalency credential, improve basic skills and learn English. They plan lessons, adapt to each student, track progress and connect students to services such as job placement. AI tools can help with materials and practice. The decline the BLS projects comes from enrollment, not from AI.
The short answer: low exposure, but fewer jobs projected for other reasons. The ILO's 2025 index rates the closest groups at minimal exposure, 0.34 for other language teachers and 0.33 for teaching professionals not elsewhere classified. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 14 percent decline from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,800 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed adult education teachers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Other Language Teachers | Minimal exposure | 0.34 |
| Teaching Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified | Minimal exposure | 0.33 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for adult education and ESL teachers, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers | Decline 14% | About 3,800 |
The BLS says enrollment in adult education and ESL programs has declined, and that with high school graduation rates expected to stay high, fewer adults are expected to seek equivalency credentials. It adds that changes in government funding may affect demand. All projected openings come from replacing workers who leave or retire.
Where AI is helping
- Drafting practice exercises and reading passages at different levels.
- Giving students extra speaking or writing practice outside class.
- Helping teachers adapt materials for different needs.
What stays with adult education teachers
- Students: building trust with adults who may have had hard experiences with school.
- Assessment: noticing learning difficulties and adjusting the plan.
- Connections: linking students to jobs and community services.
- Checking AI help: generated exercises and explanations can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Fewer adults are expected to enroll, while openings still come from workers who leave or retire. Teachers who can use AI tools to give students more practice are better placed. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace teachers?, will AI replace translators? and will AI replace instructional coordinators?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for adult literacy and ged teachers at $61,540 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace adult education teachers?
The BLS projects a 14 percent decline from 2025 to 2035, but it ties this to falling enrollment and funding, not to AI.
How exposed are adult education teachers to AI?
The closest ILO groups are at minimal exposure, 0.34 for other language teachers and 0.33 for teaching professionals not elsewhere classified.
Are there still openings?
Yes. The BLS projects about 3,800 openings a year, all from replacing workers who leave or retire.
What do adult education teachers do?
They teach adults basic skills, prepare them for high school equivalency credentials and teach English as a second language.