Coach & Scout
Median wage · national
$47,320
Range: $35K – $65K
Employed
249K
Openings/yr
36K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
English Language and Literature Teachers
English Language and Literature Teachers earn $78,760 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $60,900 and $103,130. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About English Language and Literature Teachers
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a english language and literature teachers: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Teaching Specific Subjects and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
- Median Wage
- $78,760
- Employed Nationally
- 58K
- Openings / Year
- 4,500
- Entry Education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Adjunct English Instructor
Adjunct Instructor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Writing Instructor
Assistant Professor
How Much Do English Language and Literature Teachers Make?
Most english language and literature teachers take home around $78,760 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $60,900 and $103,130, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$78,760
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$61K–$103K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$60,900
Entry-level
$78,760
Median
$103,130
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $89,580, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do English Language and Literature Teachers Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Teach writing or communication classes.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Instructing
Writing
Speaking
Learning Strategies
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
Where Do English Language and Literature Teachers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Low
Low time pressure. Work pace is typically steady and self-directed.
What Is the Job Outlook for English Language and Literature Teachers?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +0.0%, meaning it is growing slowly, a little behind the average job. Around 4,500 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +0.0%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Slower than average.
4,500
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
58K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most English Language and Literature Teachers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $78,760 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 6,110 | $84,850 | +7.7% |
| 2 | California | 5,460 | $130,490 | +65.7% |
| 3 | Texas | 4,310 | $78,900 | +0.2% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 2,900 | $83,980 | +6.6% |
| 5 | Illinois | 2,570 | $77,570 | -1.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a doctoral or professional degree. The 7 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is an English program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teaching Specific Subjects | 40,101 | $51,389 | 1,276 |
| 2 | English | 35,472 | $48,590 | 1,524 |
| 3 | Rhetoric & Composition | 13,176 | $48,471 | 766 |
| 4 | Linguistics | 7,681 | $49,984 | 526 |
| 5 | English Language and Literature/Letters | 877 | $46,634 | 79 |
| 6 | Literature | 774 | $46,173 | 118 |
| 7 | Digital Humanities and Textual Studies | 54 | — | 18 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring English Language and Literature Teachers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | 97 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 5 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up English Language and Literature Teachers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to English Language and Literature Teachers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
English Language and Literature Teachers Pros & Cons
The data on English Language and Literature Teachers shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $78,760 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $103,130 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Slow job growth At +0.0% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
- High education requirement Most employers require a doctoral or professional degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
English Language and Literature Teachers Frequently Asked Questions
How much do English Language and Literature Teachers professionals earn?
Around $78,760 a year for the typical worker, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $60,900 and $103,130. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is English Language and Literature Teachers a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $78,760 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Research salary outcomes at specific programs, not just the national median, before committing to a graduate path.
How long does it take to work as English Language and Literature Teachers?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A doctoral or professional degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Teaching Specific Subjects are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $78,760 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a doctoral or professional degree worth it to become an English Language and Literature Teachers?
It depends heavily on program cost. At $78,760 median, expensive graduate school debt can take 20 or more years to recover. In-state public schools, employer-sponsored programs, or income-driven repayment make the strongest case. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for English Language and Literature Teachers?
Employment is projected to change by +0.0% through 2035, slower than average compared with other occupations. Around 4,500 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 58K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do English Language and Literature Teachers professionals need?
Mainly Reading Comprehension, Instructing, Writing, Speaking, and Learning Strategies. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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