Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

SOC Code: 25-1124
Also known as:
Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Spanish Instructor, Arabic Instructor, Arabic Language Instructor, Arabic Professor
Median Annual Salary
$77,010
-0.2% growth (2024-2034)
2K
Openings/Year
26K
Current Jobs

What Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary Do

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.

💰 Salary

$77,010
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

-0.2%
Little or no change

🎓 Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

2K
Projected average per year

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

26,400

Projected Employment (2034)

26,400

Top Skills Required

Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Learning Strategies

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.

Technology & Tools

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

📚 Entry-Level Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Doctoral Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

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

Spanish Language and Literature

8,891 degrees awarded • 813 colleges offer this program

Linguistics

2,847 degrees awarded • 159 colleges offer this program

Foreign Languages and Literatures, General

2,396 degrees awarded • 206 colleges offer this program

French Language and Literature

2,001 degrees awarded • 373 colleges offer this program

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General

1,204 degrees awarded • 195 colleges offer this program

Language Interpretation and Translation

967 degrees awarded • 73 colleges offer this program

Japanese Language and Literature

920 degrees awarded • 127 colleges offer this program

German Language and Literature

907 degrees awarded • 201 colleges offer this program

American Sign Language (ASL)

879 degrees awarded • 102 colleges offer this program

Chinese Language and Literature

626 degrees awarded • 103 colleges offer this program

Best Colleges for Becoming a Foreign 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 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 211 A+
2 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 163 A+
3 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 541 A
4 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 205 A
5 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 197 A
6 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 188 A
7 University of Georgia Athens, GA 184 A
8 University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 162 A
9 New York University New York, NY 150 A
10 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA 145 A
11 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 136 A
12 University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 132 A
13 University of Chicago Chicago, IL 126 A
14 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 110 A
15 William & Mary Williamsburg, VA 98 A
16 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 97 A
17 Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO 83 A
18 Yale University New Haven, CT 79 A
19 Princeton University Princeton, NJ 72 A
20 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 72 A

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary make?
The median annual salary for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary is $77,010.
What education do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary need?
Most foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree. Common degree programs include Spanish Language and Literature, Linguistics, Foreign Languages and Literatures, General.
Is becoming a foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary a good career choice?
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary is projected to see -0.2% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which reflects some decline in the field. With approximately 1,900 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary?
Top colleges for aspiring foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary include University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of California-Los Angeles, The University of Texas at Austin, Columbia University in the City of New York, University of California-Berkeley. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary?
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary may also be known as: Adjunct Instructor, Adjunct Spanish Instructor, Arabic Instructor, Arabic Language Instructor, Arabic Professor, Arabic Teacher, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Biblical Languages Professor, Bilingual Instructor, Bilingual Teacher, Chinese Instructor, Chinese Language Professor, Chinese Teacher, College Faculty Member, College Professor, English for Speakers of Other Languages Teacher (ESOL Teacher), ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor), Foreign Language Instructor, Foreign Languages Professor. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.