Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
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.
Also called: Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Foreign Languages Professor · French Professor · German Professor · Instructor
Median pay (national)
$77,010
$47,090–$134,960 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
21,170
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-0.2%
~1,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
Doctoral or professional degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $134,960 versus $47,090 at the bottom 10% — 2.9x. The median of $77,010 leaves roughly 75% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -0.2% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 1,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 46 states with released data, Connecticut pays the most for this role (median $106,430, +38% vs the national median), while Alaska sits lowest at $46,320 — a 130% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Learning management system LMS as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Active Learning
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
- Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.
- Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.
Tools & technology
- Learning management system LMS
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Zoom
- Adobe PageMaker
- American Sign Language ASL browser
- Audacity
- Blackboard Learn
- Blackboard software
- Collaborative editing software
- Computer assisted language learning CALL software
- Course management system software
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- DOC Cop
- Image scanning software
- iParadigms Turnitin
Knowledge areas
- Foreign Language
- English Language
- Education and Training
- History and Archeology
- Philosophy and Theology
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Administrative
- Geography