Linguistics graduates earn $49,984 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $32,888 and $69,881. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Linguistics as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Languages and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Linguistics is a focused area of study within Languages. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $49,984 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 526 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 7,681 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$27,539
Median Earnings · 4yr
$49,984
Colleges Offering
526
Graduates / Year
7,681
Avg Net Price / yr
$17,195
How Much Do Linguistics Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Linguistics, a typical graduate earns $49,984, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $32,888 and $69,881, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $27,539 at one year out to $49,984 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$49,984
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$50,571
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Linguistics graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$32,88825th pct.
$49,984Median
$69,88175th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $49,984 and an estimated $68,780 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.4 years.
Based on outcomes from 390 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 7,681 students who complete Linguistics programs each year, the majority (68%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
68%
Bachelor's68%
Master's17%
Doctorate6%
What Can You Do With a Linguistics Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Linguistics graduates show up in 4 different occupations, and Foreign Language and Literature Teachers pay the most at $79,350/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
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.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
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.
Teach writing or communication classes.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
Top Colleges for Linguistics
Not sure where to study Linguistics? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Linguistics graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Languages Programs
Linguistics is not the only path through Languages: 10 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Linguistics program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Linguistics carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $27,539 at graduation to $49,984 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 75,600 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availabilityOffered at 526 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $49,984 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($32,888) and 75th ($69,881) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Linguistics Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Linguistics graduates earn?
$49,984 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $32,888 and $69,881, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Linguistics degree?
$27,539 in the first year out. That grows to $49,984 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Linguistics degree?
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $79,350 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Linguistics program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Linguistics bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Linguistics?
526 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Linguistics degree worth it?
$49,984 median earnings four years out against $17,195 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Linguistics and Languages?
Linguistics is the narrower of the two: Languages covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Linguistics-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Linguistics graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Linguistics graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Linguistics graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +0.5% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Interpreters and Translators are among the strongest-growth roles at +2.0%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Languages Programs
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