The median pay for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary is $79,350 a year, according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 0.2% through 2035, with about 1,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 25-1124
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary in four numbers
- Median pay
- $79,350a yearBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $49KTop 10% $136K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.2%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,60024,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202524.6K
- Projected 203524.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 24.6K Projected 2035 24.7K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's8.7%
- Master's17.8%
- Doctorate73.4%
Highest education held by foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary Segment Value Bachelor's 8.7% Master's 17.8% Doctorate 73.4%
Also advertised as: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Foreign Languages Professor, French Professor, German Professor, Instructor.
Pay
How much do Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Every foreign language and literature teacher, postsecondary in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$79,350
Middle half earn $62,510 to $102,730
- 10th
- $49,060
- 25th
- $62,510
- 75th
- $102,730
- 90th
- $136,050
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $49,060 |
| 25th | $62,510 |
| Median | $79,350 |
| 75th | $102,730 |
| 90th | $136,050 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $79,350
- Median hourly wage
- N/A
- Mean annual wage
- $89,990
- People employed
- 19,830
Versus all US occupations
At $79,350, Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn 56% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $28,370 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 16% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $136,050 or more while the bottom 10% earn $49,060, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 59% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
New Hampshire posts the highest raw median ($101,750), but once local prices are taken into account Delaware leads at $101,294 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Hampshire | $101,750 | $97,682 | 150 |
| 2Delaware | $101,100 | $101,294 | 70 |
| 3California | $99,860 | $90,191 | 2,170 |
| 4Massachusetts | $98,750 | $93,374 | 960 |
| 5Maine | $96,970 | $99,918 | 70 |
| 6New York | $95,120 | $88,139 | 1,520 |
| 7Oregon | $91,670 | $88,689 | 510 |
| 8Maryland | $87,280 | $83,156 | 280 |
| 9Nevada | $84,980 | $84,998 | 90 |
| 10Michigan | $83,190 | $86,461 | 500 |
Job outlook
Is Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | +0.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary to change 0.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,600 openings are projected each year, 6.5% of the 24,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of postsecondary teachers varies by occupation (see table). Both part-time and full-time postsecondary teachers are included in these projections.
The number of people attending postsecondary institutions is expected to grow over the projections decade. Students will continue to seek higher education to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to meet their career goals. As more people enter colleges and universities, more postsecondary teachers will be needed to serve these additional students. Colleges and universities are likely to hire more part-time teachers to meet this demand. In all disciplines, there is expected to be a limited number of full-time nontenure and full-time tenure positions.
Getting in
How to become a Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in their field. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges. Other postsecondary teachers may need work experience in their field of expertise.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary.
- Doctoral Degree73.4%
- Master's Degree17.8%
- Bachelor's Degree8.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 73.4% |
| Master's Degree | 17.8% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 8.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary do?
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.
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Write letters of recommendation for students.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most postsecondary teachers work full time, although part-time work is common. Postsecondary teachers who work part time may offer instruction at several colleges or universities. Some have a full-time job in their field of expertise in addition to a part-time teaching position. For example, an active lawyer or judge might teach an evening course at a law school.
College and university courses are generally during the day, although some are offered in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate students who have jobs or other obligations.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Learning Strategies4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Instructing4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Coordination3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Service Orientation2.9
- Persuasion2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Desktop communications software
- Desktop publishing software
- Dictionary software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 7 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social7.0
- Investigative4.5
- Artistic4.1
- Conventional3.5
- Enterprising2.5
- Realistic2.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary
O*NET related occupations
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English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary
$78,760median a year
Most earn $48K to $137K
0.0%Doctorate - Educational Instruction and Library
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teacher, Postsecondary
$85,020median a year
Most earn $52K to $160K
+2.7%Doctorate - Educational Instruction and Library
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Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor
$61,540median a year
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More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary$79,350
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary | $79,350 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary appears on
Questions
Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary: frequently asked questions
How much do Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $79,350 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 56% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. The middle half earn between $62,510 and $102,730. The top 10% earn $136,050 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 73.4% hold doctoral degree.
Is Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.2% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary do?
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. A core O*NET task: prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Graphics or photo imaging software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
The highest state medians for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary are New Hampshire ($101,750), Delaware ($101,100), California ($99,860) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Delaware moves to the top at $101,294.
What personality type suits a Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET scores Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary highest on the Social, Investigative and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.