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English professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$78,760median pay per year, May 2025[1]
  1. $48,270lowest 10% earn less
  2. $60,90025th percentile
  3. $78,760median
  4. $103,13075th percentile
  5. $137,250top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Postsecondary English teachers earned a median of $78,760 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to stay flat through 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0%[2]
Openings per year
4,500[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[7]

How much do English professors make?

BLS counts English professors under the title English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary. In May 2025 their median pay was $78,760 a year[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $89,580[8]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,270, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $60,900[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $103,130, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $137,250[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[10]. The figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest state median at $130,490, followed by New Hampshire at $98,650 and Connecticut at $97,310[12]. Oklahoma was lowest on the list at $53,200[12].

New York had the most jobs at 6,110, then California at 5,460 and Texas at 4,310[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median at $165,090[14]. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA came next at $160,050[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 5,320, with a median of $96,430[15].

Show median pay in 48 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$130,4905,460
New Hampshire$98,650230
Connecticut$97,310940
Delaware$97,100n/a
Oregon$91,870960
Michigan$90,2401,730
Vermont$86,870170
Nevada$85,830280
New York$84,8506,110
Maine$84,290230
Minnesota$84,200920
Massachusetts$83,9802,900
Maryland$83,760830
Alaska$82,77090
District of Columbia$82,300410
Wisconsin$80,800840
Pennsylvania$80,6702,530
Washington$79,8401,000
Iowa$79,720510
Rhode Island$79,190540
Texas$78,9004,310
New Jersey$78,7601,950
Nebraska$78,450500
Illinois$77,5702,570
Arizona$76,990870
Utah$73,280420
Montana$73,160130
Missouri$73,0701,040
Colorado$72,9101,220
Indiana$69,1801,000
Virginia$67,3301,810
New Mexico$66,450230
Georgia$65,5301,140
Ohio$65,1402,240
Kentucky$65,090540
South Carolina$64,470840
Tennessee$64,2201,150
North Dakota$63,690120
North Carolina$63,3702,140
West Virginia$63,280250
South Dakota$62,960110
Alabama$62,9101,040
Kansas$62,340460
Wyoming$62,030140
Mississippi$60,680530
Louisiana$60,350430
Florida$59,7402,480
Arkansas$56,520320
Oklahoma$53,200500

How to become an English professor

The OOH details below come from a profile that covers postsecondary teachers as a wider group, not only English teachers[16].

Doctoral programs usually take several years, and most ask for a dissertation of original research[21]. In an O*NET survey of 34 workers in this job, 58% said a doctoral degree is required and 30% said a master's degree[22].

People with a doctorate often seek tenure, which protects a professor from being fired without just cause. It may take up to 7 years across the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor and professor[23].

What English professors do

O*NET describes the job as teaching English language and literature classes, with linguistics and comparative literature among the subjects. Some teachers mainly teach, and others combine teaching with research[24]. Common tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include assistant professor, associate professor, creative writing professor and lecturer[26].

Where they work

This part also draws on the wider postsecondary teachers profile[16]. The largest employer group was colleges, universities and professional schools run by states, at 41%[27]. Many postsecondary teachers work full time, and part-time work is common. Part-time teachers may teach at several schools, and some hold another job in their field[28].

Classes are mostly in the daytime, with some evening or weekend courses[29]. Full-time teachers need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours, and otherwise set their own schedules[30]. Summer use varies. Some teach, and others do research or professional development[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of English professors to stay about the same from 2025 to 2035, with about 69,300 jobs at both ends[2]. For all occupations, BLS projects 3.5% growth over the same period[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

Still, jobs come open. BLS projects about 4,500 openings a year, which include workers who retire or switch occupations and not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[32].

The projection count of 69,300 is higher than the 57,720 wage and salary jobs counted by OEWS in May 2025[33]. The two sources measure employment differently.

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and the middle of the range was $78,760[1][5]. The entry path is long, because the typical entry education is a doctoral degree[7]. Employment is projected to stay flat, so openings come from turnover and not from growth[2][6]. The facts here do not say how many applicants compete for each opening. The job may suit people who like teaching, writing and research and who are willing to spend several years on a doctorate[24][21].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[34].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an English professor make?
The median was $78,760 a year and the average was $89,580 in May 2025[1][8].
What degree do you need to be an English professor?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[7]. Some schools hire people with a master's degree for some posts[17].
Is English professor a job in demand?
Employment is projected to stay flat from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all occupations[2][3]. About 4,500 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for English professors?
California, with a median of $130,490 a year[12].
How much does an English professor make an hour?
BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages[10].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $78,760 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to stay about the same 0% from 2025 to 2035, from about 69,300 to 69,300 jobs (a change of +0). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $48,270, 25th percentile $60,900, 75th percentile $103,130, 90th percentile $137,250. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,500 openings for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary was $89,580 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS publishes only annual wages for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York 6,110; California 5,460; Texas 4,310; Massachusetts 2,900; Illinois 2,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $165,090; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $160,050; Fresno, CA $137,730; Ann Arbor, MI $137,400; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $132,500; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $128,810; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $128,160; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $107,770. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 5,320 (median $96,430); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,150 (median $128,810); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 2,110 (median $87,020); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,850 (median $78,620); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,220 (median $83,500); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,030 (median $82,080). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 25-1123.00 survey of workers (34 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 58%, Master's Degree 30%, Less than a High School Diploma 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 25-1123.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Creative Writing Professor, English Instructor, English Professor, Humanities Professor, Instructor, Lecturer. O*NET OnLine
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 57,720 people were employed as English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  34. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.