English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

SOC Code: 25-1123
Also known as:
Adjunct English Instructor, Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Writing Instructor, Assistant Professor
Median Annual Salary
$78,270
+0.0% growth (2024-2034)
5K
Openings/Year
72K
Current Jobs

What English language and literature teachers, postsecondary Do

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.

💰 Salary

$78,270
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+0.0%
Little or no change

🎓 Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

5K
Projected average per year

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

72,200

Projected Employment (2034)

72,200

Top Skills Required

Reading Comprehension
Instructing
Writing
Speaking
Active Listening

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • 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.

Technology & Tools

Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Apple Safari Google Docs Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

📚 Entry-Level Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Doctoral Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a english language and literature teachers, postsecondary:

English Language and Literature, General

34,210 degrees awarded • 1,374 colleges offer this program

Creative Writing

7,423 degrees awarded • 441 colleges offer this program

English/Language Arts Teacher Education

3,018 degrees awarded • 385 colleges offer this program

Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing

2,835 degrees awarded • 159 colleges offer this program

Rhetoric and Composition

1,400 degrees awarded • 86 colleges offer this program

English Language and Literature/Letters, Other

1,064 degrees awarded • 51 colleges offer this program

Comparative Literature

917 degrees awarded • 83 colleges offer this program

Writing, General

765 degrees awarded • 108 colleges offer this program

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other

446 degrees awarded • 18 colleges offer this program

General Literature

396 degrees awarded • 62 colleges offer this program

Best Colleges for Becoming a English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become english language and literature teachers, postsecondary.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 287 A+
2 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 164 A+
3 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 386 A
4 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 315 A
5 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 311 A
6 New York University New York, NY 253 A
7 University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA 203 A
8 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 194 A
9 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 189 A
10 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 185 A
11 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 185 A
12 Brown University Providence, RI 184 A
13 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA 181 A
14 University of Georgia Athens, GA 176 A
15 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 157 A
16 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 153 A
17 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 115 A
18 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 405 B+
19 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 362 B+
20 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA 355 B+

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do english language and literature teachers, postsecondary make?
The median annual salary for english language and literature teachers, postsecondary is $78,270.
What education do english language and literature teachers, postsecondary need?
Most english language and literature teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree. Common degree programs include English Language and Literature, General, Creative Writing, English/Language Arts Teacher Education.
Is becoming a english language and literature teachers, postsecondary a good career choice?
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary is projected to see +0.0% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 5,100 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for english language and literature teachers, postsecondary?
Top colleges for aspiring english language and literature teachers, postsecondary include University of California-Los Angeles, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Columbia University in the City of New York, University of California-Berkeley, The University of Texas at Austin. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to english language and literature teachers, postsecondary?
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary may also be known as: Adjunct English Instructor, Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Writing Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Children's Literature Professor, Classics Teacher, College Faculty Member, College Professor, Composition Instructor, Composition Professor, Composition Teacher, Contemporary English Literature Professor, Creative Writing English Professor, Creative Writing Professor, Creative Writing Teacher, Developmental English Instructor, Developmental Reading Instructor, English Adjunct. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.