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Public Universities
University of California, University of Texas at Austin, University of Florida
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
These teachers lead college-level classes in reading, writing, and literary analysis, then spend a lot of time grading essays, holding office hours, and coaching students through difficult drafts. The work is distinct because it blends teaching with academic expertise, so you have to stay current in your field while also making dense material understandable to students. The tradeoff is clear: the job can be intellectually rewarding, but it usually requires years of graduate school and the number of positions is not growing.
Also known as English InstructorEnglish LecturerProfessor of EnglishCollege English InstructorEnglish Faculty Member
Median Salary
$78,270
Mean $90,400
U.S. Workforce
~60K
5.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+0%
72.2K to 72.2K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~60K workers, with a median annual pay of $78,270 and roughly 5.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 72.2 K in 2024 to 72.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral degree in English, literature, rhetoric, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Professor of English / Department Chair. High-value skills usually include Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle LMS, JSTOR, Project MUSE & Academic Databases, and MLA Style, Chicago Style & Turnitin, paired with soft skills such as Reading Comprehension, Instructing, and Writing.
Core Responsibilities
- Lead class discussions, explain readings, and keep students moving through the course material.
- Read and grade essays, quizzes, and other assignments, then give students feedback on how to improve.
- Hold office hours so students can ask questions and talk through problems with the class or assignments.
- Offer extra help to students who are falling behind, often through one-on-one meetings or review sessions.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Lead class discussions, explain readings, and keep students moving through the course material.
02 Read and grade essays, quizzes, and other assignments, then give students feedback on how to improve.
03 Hold office hours so students can ask questions and talk through problems with the class or assignments.
04 Offer extra help to students who are falling behind, often through one-on-one meetings or review sessions.
05 Advise students on which classes to take, how to stay on track for their degree, and what careers might fit their interests.
06 Handle course setup and administration, including scheduling classes, keeping attendance and grade records, and choosing textbooks or other materials.
Industries That Hire
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Houston Community College, Austin Community College
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Private Liberal Arts Colleges
Amherst College, Swarthmore College, Williams College
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Online Universities
Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, University of Phoenix
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay can be solid for academic work, with a mean annual wage of $90,400 and a median of $78,270.
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There is no required on-the-job training, so once you have the degree you can move straight into teaching.
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The job is built around ideas, reading, and writing, which appeals to people who like intellectual work more than routine office tasks.
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Annual openings are projected at 5.1K, so there is a steady stream of hiring even though the field is not expanding.
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You often get real freedom to choose readings, shape discussions, and design assignments in ways that fit your teaching style.
Challenges
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Employment is projected to stay flat at 72.2K through 2034, a 0.0% change, so this is not a growth field.
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The entry bar is high: BLS says a doctoral or professional degree is typical, and 58.38% of workers in the role hold a doctorate.
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The median wage of $78,270 is much lower than the mean of $90,400, which suggests pay is uneven and top earners pull the average up.
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Grading, student meetings, and office hours can spill into evenings and weekends, especially during busy parts of the semester.
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Many schools rely on adjuncts and temporary contracts, so even experienced teachers can face limited advancement and job security.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-2 years
$25K-$40K
Helps with discussions, grading, and office hours while finishing graduate study and learning how college classes run.
Adjunct English Instructor
1-5 years
$35K-$58K
Teaches one or more classes on short contracts, usually with limited benefits and a heavy focus on classroom delivery.
Postsecondary English Instructor THIS ROLE
3-8 years
$65K-$89K
Runs courses independently, meets with students, and balances teaching with service work or light research.
Associate Professor of English
8-15 years
$90K-$124K
Takes on a fuller teaching load along with mentoring, committee work, and promotion or tenure expectations.
Professor of English / Department Chair
15+ years
$125K-$170K
Leads programs, shapes curriculum, mentors junior faculty, and often handles department-level decisions.
Education Paths
Doctoral degree in English, literature, rhetoric, or a related field
The most common path, held by 58.38% of workers in this role, and it matches the BLS expectation for a doctoral or professional degree.
Master's degree in English, literature, or composition
A major alternative, held by 30.42% of workers, especially for teaching-focused jobs at community colleges and some private schools.
Post-master's certificate in composition, writing studies, or teaching
A smaller path, held by 1.26% of workers, usually used to strengthen classroom credentials rather than replace a full graduate degree.
Post-doctoral training or research fellowship
A rare path, held by 0.32% of workers, and usually aimed at building a stronger publication and teaching profile.
Key Skills
Technical
Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle LMS 92%
JSTOR, Project MUSE & Academic Databases 89%
MLA Style, Chicago Style & Turnitin 86%
Syllabus Design & Course Mapping 84%
Rubric-Based Assessment & Gradebook Systems 81%
Zoom, Microsoft Teams & Hybrid Classroom Tools 78%
Soft Skills
Reading ComprehensionInstructingWritingSpeakingActive ListeningLearning Strategies Job Outlook and Trends
+0%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
5.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 72.2K to 72.2 K over the next decade, representing 0% growth. Around 5.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.