English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 58K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$78,760
Median hourly
$38
Average annual
$89,580
Typical range
$48,270–$137,250
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary is $78,760 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $38 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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..
Most earn between $48,270 and $137,250 a year. There are roughly 58K people employed as english language and literature teachers, postsecondary in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary.
- Hourly
- $37.87
- Daily
- $303
- Weekly
- $1,515
- Bi-weekly
- $3,029
- Monthly
- $6,563
- Annual
- $78,760
$78,760 a year is around the 50th percentile for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondarys. The median is $78,760.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$130,490
- 2New Hampshire$98,650
- 3Connecticut$97,310
- 4Delaware$97,100
- 5Oregon$91,870
- 6Michigan$90,240
- 7Vermont$86,870
- 8Nevada$85,830
- 9New York$84,850
- 10Maine$84,290
- 11Minnesota$84,200
- 12Massachusetts$83,980
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$165,090
- 2Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$160,050
- 3Fresno, CA$137,730
- 4Ann Arbor, MI$137,400
- 5San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$132,500
- 6Bakersfield-Delano, CA$132,230
- 7Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$128,810
- 8Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$128,160
- 9McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX$114,010
- 10San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$107,770
- 11Athens-Clarke County, GA$105,970
- 12Madison, WI$104,190
Related job titles
Employers advertise English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary roles under these titles.
- Adjunct English Instructor
- Adjunct Writing Instructor
- Children's Literature Professor
- Classics Teacher
- Composition Instructor
- Composition Professor
- Composition Teacher
- Contemporary English Literature Professor
- Creative Writing English Professor
- Creative Writing Professor
- Creative Writing Teacher
- Developmental English Instructor
- Developmental Reading Instructor
- English Adjunct Instructor
- English Composition Instructor
- English Faculty Member
Related occupations
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary$85,020
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$79,350
- Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$80,260
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary$84,290
- History Teachers, Postsecondary$83,820
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$78,620
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary$99,650
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,350
What a English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary does
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Assist students who need extra help with their coursework outside of class.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Schedule courses.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary make?
- The median annual wage for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary is $78,760 ($38 per hour). Pay ranges from about $48,270 at the 10th percentile to $137,250 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $89,580, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondarys the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $130,490.
- Is English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 58K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary do?
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.; Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.; Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records..