English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Profile
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.
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What Do English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Do?
Typical responsibilities of english language and literature teachers, postsecondary include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective english language and literature teachers, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct English Instructor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Lecturer
- Adjunct Professor
- Adjunct Writing Instructor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- Children's Literature Professor
How Many English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
There are about 1,114,182 english language and literature teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +14.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $88,437 |
| Hourly median | $42.52 |
| 10th percentile | $58,180 |
| 25th percentile | $73,309 |
| 75th percentile | $103,565 |
| 90th percentile | $118,694 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $130,580 |
| New Jersey | $98,820 |
| New York | $96,940 |
| Connecticut | $87,570 |
| Michigan | $85,340 |
| Vermont | $83,350 |
| Oregon | $83,120 |
| Maine | $82,210 |
| Massachusetts | $82,030 |
| New Hampshire | $81,880 |
| Texas | $81,190 |
| Minnesota | $80,480 |
| Maryland | $80,060 |
| Alaska | $79,820 |
| District of Columbia | $79,360 |
| Nevada | $78,210 |
| Wisconsin | $77,480 |
| Washington | $77,010 |
| Rhode Island | $76,260 |
| Illinois | $76,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,960 |
| Virginia | $74,310 |
| Indiana | $73,630 |
| Iowa | $72,330 |
| Nebraska | $72,160 |
| Arizona | $68,370 |
| Missouri | $66,970 |
| New Mexico | $66,830 |
| Idaho | $65,840 |
| Puerto Rico | $65,710 |
| Colorado | $65,180 |
| Delaware | $64,690 |
| Florida | $64,580 |
| Ohio | $64,530 |
| Wyoming | $64,130 |
| South Carolina | $63,860 |
| West Virginia | $63,570 |
| Georgia | $63,200 |
| Montana | $63,000 |
| Utah | $62,780 |
| Kansas | $62,770 |
| Kentucky | $62,640 |
| North Carolina | $62,190 |
| South Dakota | $62,150 |
| Arkansas | $62,070 |
| Alabama | $61,990 |
| Mississippi | $61,920 |
| Tennessee | $61,820 |
| North Dakota | $61,820 |
| Louisiana | $57,850 |
| Oklahoma | $50,180 |
| Hawaii | $48,260 |
Where English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Earn the Most
Compensation for english language and literature teachers, postsecondary vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $112,257 | 12.5% | 0.76 |
| Middle Atlantic | $90,165 | 20.3% | 1.42 |
| New England | $82,334 | 8.9% | 2.06 |
| Southwest | $76,107 | 10.9% | 0.86 |
| Great Lakes | $75,590 | 12.7% | 0.91 |
| Plains States | $71,049 | 5.8% | 0.84 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $65,710 | 0.2% | 0.36 |
| Rocky Mountains | $64,485 | 3.4% | 0.86 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $168,240 | 450 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $142,150 | 730 |
| El Paso, TX | TX | $139,410 | 170 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $136,320 | 410 |
| Visalia, CA | CA | $133,660 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $133,160 | 180 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $132,830 | 350 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $130,330 | 1,840 |
Which Industries Hire English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Most english language and literature teachers, postsecondary are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 59,590 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for english language and literature teachers, postsecondary tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Contact With Others
How to Become English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Communications Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for english language and literature teachers, postsecondary often complete programs in:
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-1123.00 (English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary).