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Education

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
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Median pay

$78,270
Median annual pay for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

0%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

5,100
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

72,200
Estimated U.S. employment for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

0
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Doctoral or professional degree
Typical education needed to enter English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Reading Comprehension
  2. 2Writing
  3. 3Speaking
  4. 4Active Listening
  5. 5Learning Strategies
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1English Language
  2. 2Education and Training
  3. 3Communications and Media
  4. 4History and Archeology
  5. 5Philosophy and Theology
  6. 6Sociology and Anthropology

Abilities

  1. 1Written Comprehension
  2. 2Oral Expression
  3. 3Oral Comprehension
  4. 4Written Expression
  5. 5Speech Clarity
  6. 6Deductive Reasoning

Career interests

  1. 1Social
  2. 2Investigative
  3. 3Artistic
  4. 4Conventional
  5. 5Enterprising
  6. 6Realistic

Work styles

  1. 1Intellectual Curiosity
  2. 2Dependability
  3. 3Social Orientation
  4. 4Innovation
  5. 5Achievement Orientation
  6. 6Empathy

Work activities

  1. 1Training and Teaching Others
  2. 2Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  3. 3Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  4. 4Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  5. 5Thinking Creatively
  6. 6Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
  3. 3Freedom to Make Decisions
  4. 4Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  5. 5Contact With Others
  6. 6Public Speaking

Representative tasks

  • 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.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as poetry, novel structure, and translation and adaptation.
  • Assist students who need extra help with their coursework outside of class.

Software and tools

Learning management system LMS · in demandGoogle Docs · hot technologyAdobe Illustrator · hot technologyAdobe Photoshop · hot technologyApple Safari · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologySakai CLEMoodle

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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