Occupations · Educational Instruction and Library

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 25-1123.00

$78,270median annual wage, May 2024

59,590people employed, United States

▲ 0.0%projected change, 2024→2034

5,100openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 66% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$105,340	5,430
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$85,460	2,500
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$130,330	1,840
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$78,050	1,570
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$78,120	1,330
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$79,800	1,210
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$79,360	1,070
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$99,130	920
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$65,290	880
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	$68,370	770
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$142,150	730
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$63,270	640

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Doctoral or professional degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Assist students who need extra help with their coursework outside of class.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as poetry, novel structure, and translation and adaptation.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Reading Comprehension4.8

Writing4.2

Speaking4.1

Learning Strategies4.0

Active Listening4.0

Active Learning3.9

Critical Thinking3.8

Monitoring3.6

Mathematics2.0

Science1.8

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Illustrator●Adobe Photoshop●Apple Safari●Google Docs●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●Adobe Acrobat ReaderApple QuickTimeBlackboard CollaborateBlackboard LearnBlackboard softwareCollaborative editing softwareCourse management system softwareDOC CopDesire2Learn LMS softwareEmail softwareGoogle ChromeGraphics creation softwareImage scanning softwareLearning management system LMSLucidchartMoodleSakai CLEVLC Media PlayerWeb browser software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

5 / 5Extensive preparation — graduate school, and often a licence on top.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Public Speaking+2.0 above average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−2.0 below average

Health and Safety of Other Workers−1.5 below average

Consequence of Error−1.4 below average

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable−1.4 below average

Exposed to Contaminants−1.3 below average

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions−1.3 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2019-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Doctoral Degree58%

Master's Degree30%

Less than a High School Diploma10%

Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.1%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2019-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Social7.0

Investigative4.8

Artistic4.2

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Review manuscripts for publication in professional journals.
Schedule courses.
Teach writing or communication classes.
Write letters of recommendation for students.

O*NET 23.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Instructing4.6

Judgment and Decision Making3.4

Complex Problem Solving3.2

Social Perceptiveness3.1

Service Orientation3.1

Time Management3.1

Persuasion3.0

Coordination3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

English LanguageEducation and TrainingCommunications and MediaHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologySociology and Anthropology

Abilities it leans on

Written ComprehensionOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionWritten ExpressionSpeech ClarityDeductive Reasoning

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

TeacherLecturerProfessorInstructorFaculty MemberEnglish TeacherEnglish AdjunctAdjunct LecturerEnglish LecturerClassics TeacherCollege ProfessorEtymology TeacherReading ProfessorEnglish Professor

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 6

+Moodle+Adobe Acrobat Reader+Adobe Photoshop+Adobe Illustrator+Blackboard software+Desire2Learn LMS software

No longer listed 6

−Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator−Data entry software−Adobe Systems Adobe Reader−Calendar and scheduling software−Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software−Desire2Learn

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

TeacherLecturerProfessorInstructorFaculty MemberEnglish TeacherAdjunct FacultyEnglish AdjunctEnglish LecturerAdjunct LecturerDepartment ChairClassics Teacher

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
modern languages lecturer	2310.1.26	close
linguistics lecturer	2310.1.23	close
literature teacher secondary school	2330.1.10	close
language school teacher	2353.1	close
university literature lecturer	2310.1.40	broader
literary scholar	2641.3	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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