Foreign Language and Literature Teachers earn $79,350 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $62,510 and $102,730. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English. Includes teachers of American Sign Language (ASL). Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also known as:
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers earn $79,350 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $62,510 and $102,730. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Above the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
The mean wage for this occupation is $89,990, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
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.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Low time pressure. Work pace is typically steady and self-directed.
The BLS projects -0.2% employment change for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 1,900 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Declining employment projected.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Foreign Language and Literature Teachers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $79,350 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,120 | $106,330 | +34.0% |
| 2 | Texas | 1,700 | $77,340 | -2.5% |
| 3 | New York | 1,610 | $94,280 | +18.8% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 1,260 | $75,980 | -4.2% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 1,110 | $95,730 | +20.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Foreign Language and Literature Teachers positions require a doctoral or professional degree to qualify. The 10 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teaching Specific Subjects | 40,101 | $51,389 | 1,276 |
| 2 | Romance Languages | 13,043 | $55,000 | 1,009 |
| 3 | Linguistics | 7,681 | $49,984 | 526 |
| 4 | American Sign Language | 2,341 | $45,044 | 216 |
| 5 | East Asian Languages | 2,056 | $51,642 | 205 |
| 6 | Classics and Classical Languages | 1,484 | $49,429 | 272 |
| 7 | Germanic Languages | 1,098 | $55,459 | 348 |
| 8 | Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages | 549 | $67,612 | 108 |
| 9 | Slavic Languages | 536 | $62,169 | 143 |
| 10 | Foreign Languages | 520 | $50,580 | 66 |
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 Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 4 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
Once you've sized up Foreign 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.
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Foreign Language and Literature Teachers has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
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