Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

These educators teach courses in non-English languages and literature, with some professionals focusing purely on instruction and others balancing teaching with academic research. On a daily basis, they prepare lectures, instruct students, and evaluate coursework. This role requires strong skills in speaking, active listening, and reading comprehension, alongside effective learning strategies to help students master a new language.

To succeed, teachers draw on deep knowledge of foreign languages, English, education, history, and philosophy. They must be highly organized to plan curriculum and use computers to manage student records. This career appeals to individuals with a strong social interest, as it relies on establishing positive interpersonal relationships. Key work styles for these instructors include intellectual curiosity, dependability, empathy, and cooperation.

Entering this academic field requires extensive preparation. Most professionals in this career need a graduate degree, and the typical education required to enter the field is a doctoral or professional degree. Some positions may accept a master's degree.

Students preparing for this career typically major in fields related to languages and linguistics. Relevant college majors include romance languages, Germanic languages, East Asian languages, classics, or Slavic, Baltic, and Albanian languages. Other paths include studying American Sign Language, linguistics and comparative language studies, or teacher education for specific subject areas.

In 2025, the median annual pay for these postsecondary teachers was $79,350. Earnings vary based on experience and institution, with the lowest 10% earning less than $49,060 and the highest 10% earning more than $136,050.

There are 19,830 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to experience little or no change, with a growth rate of 0.2%. Despite this flat growth, about 1,600 job openings are expected to become available each year.