by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor covers Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor. A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Practice Of Teaching English To Students Who Are Not Proficient In English Or Who Do Not Speak, Read Or Write English, And That May Prepare Individuals To Function As Teachers And Administrators In Such Programs. Continue reading for the key facts every teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor programs.
Across the country, teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor is a widely-pursued major, with 5,071 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools ranking analyzes these 342 schools to determine the best overall colleges for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor programs later in this article.
Coursework for Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 39 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 265 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,695 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 33 |
People currently working in careers related to teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 57.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 11.2% |
| Master’s degree | 10.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 217,050 | 0.9% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 84,106 | 4.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $61,547 |
| 4 years | $57,320 |
| 5 years | $63,672 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,366 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,776 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $62,634 |
With 342 different teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor school rankings to help you.
Students interested in teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other | 21 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
