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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Adult Literacy Teacher expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $69,833, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $48,883 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Positioned in Education within the broader Education industry, Adult Literacy Teachers typically hold Bachelor's in education. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is classroom. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$77,400 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Adult Literacy Teacher in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $127,200 — $77,400 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($49,800). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The three-tier salary picture for Adult Literacy Teachers in 2026: $50,280 at entry (P10), $69,833 at midpoint, and $99,163 at the senior end (P90). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The $48,883 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $10,534 below the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $118,800 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $50,200 (average of the bottom 3). That $68,600 delta is real money — $5,717/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Adult Literacy Teacher in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $127,200 — $77,400 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($49,800). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Adult Literacy Teacher is $50,280, while senior-level (P90) earners average $99,163. That $48,883 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Adult Literacy Teachers average $50,280 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $50,280 | $69,833 | $99,163 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £25,124 | £34,894 | £49,549 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$45,976 | CA$63,856 | CA$90,675 |
| Australia | 13 | A$54,160 | A$75,223 | A$106,816 |
| Sweden | 24 | 299,137 kr | 415,469 kr | 589,965 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $60,685 | $84,285 | $119,685 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $58,644 | $81,450 | $115,659 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $58,320 | $81,000 | $115,020 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $54,000 | $75,000 | $106,500 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $53,352 | $74,100 | $105,222 |
| Washington | 8 | $52,326 | $72,675 | $103,199 |
| New York | 5 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $49,248 | $68,400 | $97,128 |
| Florida | 22 | $48,875 | $67,882 | $96,392 |
| Colorado | 11 | $48,031 | $66,709 | $94,727 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $47,952 | $66,600 | $94,572 |
| Nevada | 5 | $47,866 | $66,480 | $94,402 |
| Arizona | 12 | $47,628 | $66,150 | $93,933 |
| Oregon | 5 | $47,520 | $66,000 | $93,720 |
| Idaho | 3 | $47,376 | $65,800 | $93,436 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $47,002 | $65,280 | $92,698 |
| Utah | 4 | $46,872 | $65,100 | $92,442 |
| Virginia | 7 | $46,101 | $64,029 | $90,921 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $45,504 | $63,200 | $89,744 |
| Alaska | 1 | $45,360 | $63,000 | $89,460 |
| Illinois | 5 | $44,842 | $62,280 | $88,438 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $43,728 | $60,733 | $86,241 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| Montana | 1 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $43,056 | $59,800 | $84,916 |
| Texas | 40 | $42,844 | $59,505 | $84,497 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $42,768 | $59,400 | $84,348 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $42,552 | $59,100 | $83,922 |
| Georgia | 6 | $42,408 | $58,900 | $83,638 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $42,336 | $58,800 | $83,496 |
| Kansas | 4 | $42,120 | $58,500 | $83,070 |
| Michigan | 6 | $41,976 | $58,300 | $82,786 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $41,472 | $57,600 | $81,792 |
| Maryland | 1 | $41,472 | $57,600 | $81,792 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $39,960 | $55,500 | $78,810 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $39,744 | $55,200 | $78,384 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $39,204 | $54,450 | $77,319 |
| Missouri | 4 | $39,204 | $54,450 | $77,319 |
| Alabama | 5 | $39,053 | $54,240 | $77,021 |
| Indiana | 3 | $38,448 | $53,400 | $75,828 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $38,448 | $53,400 | $75,828 |
| Iowa | 2 | $38,016 | $52,800 | $74,976 |
| Ohio | 6 | $37,944 | $52,700 | $74,834 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $36,288 | $50,400 | $71,568 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Adult Literacy Teacher median of $84,285 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($81,450) and Hawaii ($81,000). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $50,400 and $52,800. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($127,200 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $60,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $127,200 | 212 | $60,000 | $76,981 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $118,800 | 198 | $60,000 | $72,357 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $110,400 | 184 | $60,000 | $67,733 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $108,600 | 181 | $60,000 | $66,742 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $106,800 | 178 | $60,000 | $65,751 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $106,200 | 177 | $60,000 | $65,421 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $106,200 | 177 | $60,000 | $65,421 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $103,800 | 173 | $60,000 | $64,099 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $103,800 | 173 | $60,000 | $64,099 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $101,400 | 169 | $60,000 | $62,778 |
From a career planning perspective, Adult Literacy Teacher offers a $48,883 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in education. Day-to-day, expect classroom work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Adult Literacy Teachers is $69,833 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $50,280, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $99,163.
The highest-paying city for Adult Literacy Teachers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $127,200. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($127,200), Santa Clara ($118,800), Irvine ($110,400). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Adult Literacy Teacher salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $49,800. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Adult Literacy Teachers (10th percentile) average $50,280 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $91,584. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Adult Literacy Teachers average $99,163 nationally — $48,883 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Adult Literacy Teachers can earn up to $180,624.
The top-paying states for Adult Literacy Teachers are California ($84,285 median), Massachusetts ($81,450 median), Hawaii ($81,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Adult Literacy Teacher involves Bachelor's in education. The field is in the Education sector (Education), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically classroom.
With a national median of $69,833 and representation across 288 metro areas, Adult Literacy Teacher offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $48,883 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.