Careers · Explore one path
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
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.
Other titles employers use
Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Creative Writing Professor · English Instructor · English Professor · Humanities Professor · Instructor · Lecturer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and creative work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Instructing
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
Subjects to know
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Communications and Media
- History and Archeology
- Philosophy and Theology
Useful strengths
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.0 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.7 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.2 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 2.3 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 60%
- A master's degree 30%
- High school or less 10%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Word processing software
- Internet browser software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Computer based training software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 9,220
- Job openings each year
- 160
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 20.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 9,220 | 160 | 20.8% |
| Florida | 5,550 | 460 | 8.2% |
| Texas | 4,820 | 400 | 8.1% |
| California | 4,500 | 370 | 4.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,200 | 250 | — |
| New Jersey | 2,630 | 220 | 6.9% |
| Illinois | 2,590 | 200 | — |
| North Carolina | 2,270 | 190 | 8.1% |
| Michigan | 2,060 | 160 | — |
| Virginia | 1,780 | 140 | — |
| Alabama | 1,670 | 140 | 5.0% |
| Ohio | 1,640 | 130 | — |
| Tennessee | 1,600 | 140 | 12.7% |
| Colorado | 1,460 | 130 | 15.9% |
| Washington | 1,430 | 140 | 12.6% |
| Maryland | 1,340 | 110 | 11.7% |
| Arizona | 1,270 | 100 | 4.1% |
| Missouri | 1,040 | 80 | 1.0% |
| Georgia | 970 | 80 | 4.3% |
| South Carolina | 950 | 80 | 9.2% |
| Wisconsin | 890 | 70 | 6.0% |
| Massachusetts | 870 | 70 | 10.1% |
| Iowa | 860 | 70 | 7.5% |
| Indiana | 820 | 70 | 2.5% |
| Connecticut | 740 | 60 | 7.2% |
| Minnesota | 730 | 60 | 1.4% |
| Oklahoma | 670 | 50 | −2.9% |
| Mississippi | 610 | 50 | 5.2% |
| Louisiana | 570 | 50 | 3.6% |
| Utah | 540 | 50 | 20.0% |
| Arkansas | 510 | 40 | — |
| Oregon | 500 | 40 | 4.2% |
| Kansas | 410 | 30 | 2.5% |
| Kentucky | 410 | 30 | — |
| Maine | 410 | 30 | −4.7% |
| Nebraska | 410 | 30 | 2.5% |
| District of Columbia | 400 | 30 | — |
| Nevada | 340 | 30 | 6.3% |
| Idaho | 320 | 30 | 10.3% |
| West Virginia | 320 | 30 | — |
| Rhode Island | 300 | 20 | 3.4% |
| Delaware | 290 | 20 | 11.5% |
| New Mexico | 260 | 20 | 8.3% |
| New Hampshire | 250 | 20 | — |
| Montana | 190 | 20 | 5.6% |
| Puerto Rico | 180 | 20 | 5.9% |
| South Dakota | 170 | 10 | 6.3% |
| Vermont | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| North Dakota | 140 | 10 | — |
| Wyoming | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Alaska | 50 | 0 | 25.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 787
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
- Degrees each year
- 224
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $23,000
Old Dominion University
- Degrees each year
- 378
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Degrees each year
- 312
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 185
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
Western Washington University
- Degrees each year
- 293
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Degrees each year
- 210
- Admit rate
- 79%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
New York University
- Degrees each year
- 146
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000