Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
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.
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What Do Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary include:
- 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.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as how to speak and write a foreign language and the cultural aspects of areas where a particular language is used.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media.
- Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Spanish Instructor
- Arabic Instructor
- Arabic Language Instructor
- Arabic Professor
- Arabic Teacher
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
How Many Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
There are roughly 586,403 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +7.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $39,815 |
| Hourly median | $19.14 |
| 10th percentile | $24,554 |
| 25th percentile | $32,184 |
| 75th percentile | $47,445 |
| 90th percentile | $55,076 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $106,430 |
| California | $106,330 |
| Massachusetts | $95,730 |
| New York | $94,280 |
| Rhode Island | $88,340 |
| Oregon | $83,870 |
| District of Columbia | $81,620 |
| Nevada | $81,550 |
| New Hampshire | $80,880 |
| Puerto Rico | $80,620 |
| Maryland | $79,860 |
| Michigan | $79,830 |
| Montana | $78,770 |
| New Jersey | $78,340 |
| Minnesota | $78,280 |
| Texas | $77,340 |
| Illinois | $77,100 |
| Iowa | $76,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,980 |
| Washington | $75,890 |
| New Mexico | $72,670 |
| South Carolina | $70,460 |
| Kentucky | $70,150 |
| Colorado | $68,610 |
| Arizona | $68,350 |
| South Dakota | $67,940 |
| Wisconsin | $67,320 |
| Indiana | $66,920 |
| Missouri | $66,450 |
| Alabama | $65,810 |
| Utah | $65,040 |
| Tennessee | $64,570 |
| Georgia | $64,420 |
| Arkansas | $63,460 |
| Virginia | $63,450 |
| Kansas | $63,230 |
| Florida | $63,160 |
| West Virginia | $63,090 |
| Delaware | $63,010 |
| Oklahoma | $61,520 |
| Ohio | $61,460 |
| North Carolina | $60,760 |
| Nebraska | $60,570 |
| Mississippi | $52,320 |
| Idaho | $50,520 |
| Alaska | $46,320 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $99,179 | 13.8% | 0.88 |
| New England | $88,308 | 9.0% | 2.12 |
| Middle Atlantic | $83,467 | 21.2% | 1.55 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $80,620 | 0.7% | 1.10 |
| Southwest | $75,228 | 10.4% | 0.85 |
| Plains States | $71,223 | 6.6% | 1.03 |
| Great Lakes | $70,087 | 14.9% | 1.10 |
| Rocky Mountains | $67,722 | 3.1% | 0.93 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $185,030 | 130 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $163,950 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $161,600 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $126,660 | 300 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $124,610 | 190 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $121,250 | 110 |
| El Paso, TX | TX | $101,550 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $99,560 | 750 |
Top Industries Employing Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
The bulk of foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 21,090 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary work:
Software Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Use
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (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)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary reflects the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Public Speaking
Education and Training
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling 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)
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Communications Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Education
5 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on 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: 25-1124.00 (Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary).
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