Education · Career brief

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$78,760

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

4,500

Moderate opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Professional degree

Long formal preparation is part of the path

Doctoral or professional degree. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

People-centered

Helping, teaching, or working directly with people matters

Teach writing or communication classes.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects essentially flat employment (0%) through 2035. Annual openings mostly reflect replacement, not a rapidly expanding field.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if people-centered work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a professional-degree path. Main tradeoff: BLS projects essentially flat employment (0%) through 2035. Annual openings mostly reflect replacement, not a rapidly expanding field.

Before choosing, compare:Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary with another field Explore rankings in Education Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$78,760

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

0%employment growth4,500openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Doctoral or professional degree

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

69,300

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · English language and literature teachers, postsecondary (25-1123).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

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.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects essentially flat employment (0%) through 2035. Annual openings mostly reflect replacement, not a rapidly expanding field.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Training and Teaching Others4.7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.6
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.5
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.5
Thinking Creatively4.5

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Social7.0
Investigative4.8
Artistic4.2
Conventional3.5
Enterprising2.4
Realistic2.3

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Communications and Media History and Archeology Philosophy and Theology Sociology and Anthropology

Software and tools named in job postings

Learning management system LMS

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Tutor the same learner more than once, check what they actually understood, and change the explanation when the first approach fails.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe English language and literature teachers, postsecondary nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Reading Comprehension, Writing, Speaking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include Learning management system LMS; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options