Education & Library
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Also called: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Creative Writing Professor, English Instructor
US median pay
$78,760
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
0%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
4,500
69,300 employed
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Instructing4.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.2/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Persuasion3.0/5
- Negotiation3.0/5
Knowledge
- English Language4.7/5
- Education and Training4.5/5
- Communications and Media4.1/5
- History and Archeology3.8/5
- Philosophy and Theology3.7/5
- Sociology and Anthropology3.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Doctoral degree58%
- Master's degree30%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.