Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Profile
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.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Take On?
Typical responsibilities of foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
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 about 586,403 foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Demand is forecast 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 |
Compensation varies 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 |
Where Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Earn the Most
Compensation for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
The bulk of foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 21,090 | n/a |
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary work in the following industries:
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)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Public Speaking
Getting Started in This Career
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
80 programs across 18 majors
- Romance Languages
- Linguistics & Literature
- East Asian Languages
- Classical Languages & Literature
- American Sign Language
- Germanic Languages
- Other Foreign Language & Literature
- Middle Eastern Semitic Languages
- Slavic, Baltic & Albanian Languages
- Native American Languages
- Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages
- South Asian Languages
- Celtic Language & Literature
- African Languages
- Iranian & Persian Languages
- Greek Language & Literature
- Turkic & Central Asian Languages
- Armenian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Education
5 programs across 1 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
3 programs across 3 majors
- History and Language/Literature
- Linguistics and Anthropology
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
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).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.