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Job outlook for english professors in the United States
English professor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected english professor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for english professors are projected over the next decade.
English professor salaries have increased 8% for english professors in the last 5 years.
There are over 24,899 english professors currently employed in the United States.
There are 20,821 active english professor job openings in the US.
The average english professor salary is $56,038.
Are english professor jobs in demand?
English professor job and salary trends over time
English professor jobs over time
English professor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,899 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 27,589 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 28,922 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 29,105 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 29,437 | 0.01% |
Average english professor salary over time
English professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $56,038 | $26.94 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | $55,624 | $26.74 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $54,081 | $26.00 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $52,716 | $25.34 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $51,758 | $24.88 | +2.8% |
English professor jobs by state
Most common states for english professors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 177 | 26% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 94 | 13% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 80 | 13% |
| 4 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 127 | 12% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 726 | 9% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 502 | 9% |
| 7 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 394 | 9% |
| 8 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 160 | 9% |
| 9 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 342 | 8% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 70 | 8% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 209 | 7% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 43 | 7% |
| 13 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,237 | 6% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 547 | 6% |
| 15 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 322 | 6% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 180 | 6% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 123 | 6% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 74 | 6% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 65 | 6% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 56 | 6% |
English Professor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of english professor experts
University of Oregon
Kean University
North Carolina State University
Lehman College of the City University of New York
The University of Texas at San Antonio
University of Arizona
Skidmore College
Ashford University
SUNY Buffalo State
Northern Arizona University
Wilson College
University of Houston - Downtown
Louisiana State University
Davidson College
University of Michigan
Concordia University
Arizona State University
The University of Texas Permian Basin
What general advice would you give to an English Professor?
Alex Holte PhD: My advice for someone new to the field of academia is to learn time management skills early and learn what type of service work you find interesting and would like to contribute to. From there, learn how to say “no” to opportunities that may not align with your goals as well. I feel a lot of new professors tend to find the need to be involved in everything, which can result in burning out later in their career.
What English Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alex Holte PhD: I would say being able to work with AI may be something that is more important in the next 3-5 years. Right now it’s a new technology and people are just now learning how to integrate it in the workplace, but I feel it is possible the future workforce of tomorrow will necessitate some form of being able to use AI technology.
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Alex Holte PhD: When you are starting out at any career, it is important to negotiate your salary. Many candidates feel that they have to accept their first offer, but in reality, at many jobs, there is some room for negotiation. Be mindful however, to not request a salary that is much higher than what is being offered as they may feel like a compromise would not be possible and move on to the next candidate.
Mary Wood
Professor of EnglishUniversity of Oregon
English Language And Literature
What general advice would you give to an English Professor?
Mary Wood: It depends on what level the teacher is at (college level or K-12 and if K-12 do you mean elementary, middle, or high school), whether they're in public or private education, etc. Those who wish to become K-12 English teachers would take some literature classes in our department but would do most of their teacher training in the School of Education.
What English Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mary Wood: It's a great time to become an English teacher because it's more important than ever for students to be savvy about how language works, given the ways that language is being manipulated in media (including social media) as well as in the explosion of AI applications. It's also a good time to remind students of the human values and age-old questions about life that are found in novels, plays, poetry, and short stories.
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Mary Wood: Dislike: Administrative meetings, Grading papers, Bureaucratic paperwork, Lack of robust funding for research and teaching. Like: Working with students, Talking, writing, and reading about literature and getting paid for it, My co-workers and their commitment to their students, Having flexibility in my workday (available to college teachers, not K-12)
What general advice would you give to an English Professor?
Dr. Lisa Sisler D.Litt, MFA: Regardless of the level the educator is at (high school/ college), most of the day is spent in the classroom teaching. There is prep for each class: lesson planning, reading, researching. Then there is the grading of papers. We also spend a lot of time mentoring and advising students, working one-on-one with students to help them achieve both class goals and their personal goals.
What English Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Lisa Sisler D.Litt, MFA: After Covid, many teachers left the profession so the profession needs teachers. As well, with a return to in-person learning we have noticed significant gaps in learning. And with the emergence of AI Writing tools, a strong foundation in reading and writing is critical.
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Lisa Sisler D.Litt, MFA: I would say, personally, the best part of being an English educator is being in the classroom, working with the students. There's a kind of magic that happens in that space-- a shared space of ideas and literature and writing-- nothing beats that. The hardest part about being an English educator is the grading-- finding the time to get it done is often difficult, especially with all the meetings and other responsibilities that pile up throughout the semester. Though reading the students' work is often enlightening and gratifying.
What general advice would you give to an English Professor?
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: Perseverance pays off. Its worth it to pursue the career you want and not settle and be unhappy.
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: I wouldn’t know, I’m a professor.
Julie Maybee
Professor of PhilosophyLehman College of the City University of New York
Philosophy
What English Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Julie Maybee: The World Economic Forum's 'Future of Jobs Report 2023' states that employers will be looking for skills such as analytical thinking, creative thinking, self-efficacy skills like resilience, flexibility, agility, motivation, self-awareness, curiosity, and lifelong learning. Philosophy majors are being prepared to think analytically, think creatively, be resilient, flexible, agile, curious, and remain lifelong learners.
Jane Kuandre
Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to an English Professor?
Jane Kuandre: My advice for someone looking to pursue a career in academia would be to focus on building a strong publication record, developing a network of collaborators, and continuously seeking opportunities for professional development.
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Jane Kuandre: Networking is crucial for career advancement in academia as it allows individuals to establish collaborations, gain access to resources, and stay updated on the latest research trends.
Senior Lecturer Isabelle Hall Program coordinator
Senior LecturerThe University of Texas at San Antonio
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to an English Professor?
Senior Lecturer Isabelle Hall Program coordinator: Every semester I teach 4 classes: 13 credits total. ( 3 language acquisition classes and one culture or literature related class in English (the class is cross-listed with Comparative Studies Humanities and /or Humanities). Day to day: preparing for classes, teaching, grading, talking to students as a group or individually, answering emails, planning extracurricular activities,... Weekly: If the professor is in charge of the Language Club, then we participate in at least one event a week. Tutoring: We have quite a few of those hours toward the end of the semesters. Most professors are part of committees that require bi-monthly meetings or more. Entering the field: Many hours of preparation daily.
What English Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Senior Lecturer Isabelle Hall Program coordinator: Teaching has to be a passion. The interaction with the students is extremely rewarding. The quality of the team of professors we work along with is essential to everyone's well-being in the department. In my case, I have extraordinary colleagues and leadership. The paycheck is lower than other positions with similar degrees. We often work 6 days a week (especially at the beginning) and we usually work in the summer to prep, do research, take students abroad, participate in conferences ...
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Senior Lecturer Isabelle Hall Program coordinator: A language professor is a good field to enter now because there are not as many of us as 15 years ago. Every year, I receive multiple emails searching for teachers and professors in San Antonio or elsewhere. But on the other hand, the Roman languages are not as popular as they used to be. (The highest demand at this point is for French high school teachers). I have noticed that today, the professors who are fluent in multiple languages or have diverse backgrounds (Film, Business, International relations, ... ) have an advantage. There is a growing number of Professional language classes.
What general advice would you give to an English Professor?
Dr. Dennis Wise Professor Practice: It's an extremely challenging moment to be entering the profession. Since 2008, state legislatures have been cutting back funding for higher education, and that has hurt English Departments because courses that require writing instruction (as our do) can't be run at ultra-large, 200-students a class levels. That has limited the willingness of administrations to hire tenure-track faculty, and has contributed to a proliferation of contingent (or year-to-year) labor. In addition, graduate programs across the country tend to significantly over-produce doctoral students, graduating far more each year than the job market can handle. All this goes to make the job prospects of anyone fresh out of graduate school relatively bleak. Many are forced into adjuncting, more and more of the former professoriate are becoming adjuncts.
What English Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Dennis Wise Professor Practice: The major benefit of the profession is flexibility of hours. Even for someone contracted for 40 hours a week of teaching, only about 12-15 of those hours are spent in the classroom – the grading and lesson prepping one can do anytime, anywhere. Likewise, working with the students is often increasingly rewarding. At the same time, burn-out from overwork and increasingly poor labor conditions is increasingly common, and our profession receives very poor compensation given the level of education professors are required to have.
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Dennis Wise Professor Practice: The basic requirements on the profession are teaching, research, and service (whether service to the department, the university, or the field), in that order, but also job duties depend on the type of institution. In community colleges, your focus is almost exclusively on teaching, and at research universities, tenure-track faculty often have 40/40/20 workloads (i.e., 40% teaching, 40% research, and 20% service). However, even within institutions, there are different ranks of professors. at my institution, tenure-track faculty have the 40/40/20 workload that I described, but career-track faculty generally have a 80/20 workload – 80% teaching, 20% service. Below this rank are adjuncts. Adjuncts are paid on a per-course basis, and they're roughly equivalent to minimum wage McDonald's workers despite the quality of teaching work they do. They are not benefits eligible. Teaching encompasses not only classroom time, which is actually only a small proportion of the job, but class prep, office hours, conferencing with students, and grading (especially grading). It's also common to keep up with professional trainings. Research in an English Department requires that you publish with peer-reviewed journals and publish books with university presses. It also includes presenting at conferences. Service can encompass anything from serving on committees, directing thesis students, working in academic publishing (which is unpaid), and anything else.
Aurelie Matheron
Assistant Professor of FrenchSkidmore College
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Aurelie Matheron: Do some research online about how much someone earns at your stage of the career. If there is a significant gap, point out (diplomatically) that, because of your extensive experience in XYZ, you would like to get a X% increase in your salary. Be reasonable: if you want a 3% increase, ask for 5% (not 10% or more). Justify your negotiation: why should they pay me more? What experience can I show them to justify my request? If you have a higher offer from another place, you can say that “I have received another generous offer and would like to know about the possibility for matching that offer.” Salary is not the only thing you can negotiate: office space, computer/laptop, sabbaticals, course release, etc. Again, be reasonable: if you think you are entitled to XYZ requests, you also have to show why.
Fabio Lanza
ProfessorAshford University
History
What general advice would you give to an English Professor?
Fabio Lanza: I tell them not to expect that they can achieve the same, old-style academic career (like mine, for example). A tenure-track job in a research university to be clear. Those jobs exist but they are becoming rarer and rarer. I also tell them that if they forecast incurring in serious (or even non-serious) debt in order to get a PhD, they should not do it. They should not pursue that path at all. In the program, they should take all the chances they have to learn new skills, including skills that don't seem directly related to an academic career.
What English Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Fabio Lanza: To put it bluntly, if you want to make money, this is really not the career for you.
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Fabio Lanza: Difficult to say, given how quickly things change. Digital humanities was and still is fashionable and important. Public history (museum, exhibitions, outreach). And teaching.
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSUNY Buffalo State
Department of English
What skills will help English Professors earn the most?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: I believe that the critical thinking skills that can only be developed through intensive, deep reading are their most valuable asset. It makes them thinkers, intellectually and emotionally strong--something we desperately need in America today. They are active and engaged citizens who really excel at being self-motivated and engaged, and that is a valuable skill set to bring to any workplace.
What skills stand out on English Professor resumes?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: Their involvement in many kinds of experience through the English major, including the study of literature/culture and their experiences as writers and thinkers. Through involvement in opportunities such as writing tutoring, which is done via the department, publishing, and internships, our majors can be leaders in the work in which they are invested, helping to manage and guide others.
What soft skills should all English Professors possess?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: English majors, while many are introverted thinkers, are good workers on group projects. They are affable and adaptable, good conversationalists who are also good listeners. They allow others to find their own voice and do their work while contributing their own insights. They are great for being engaged in culture and perpetuating the kinds of self-directed learning that is expected of English majors inside and outside the classroom.
What hard/technical skills are most important for English Professors?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: Most of these have to do with their ability to write and think. Their critical thinking skills and self-motivation make them valuable contributors to the workplaces they join. Because they are trained to be self-motivated, they tend to need less oversight to ensure the success of the project(s) they are completing, making for less direct administrative need. They have been trained to break apart a problem and see (and solve) the problem's component parts through the process of critical thinking. Trained in a meta-discourse, they do not become outdated when one formal system in their field becomes obsolete, but they see beyond systems to larger issues.
Lawrence Lenhart
Associate Chair nd Associate ProfessorNorthern Arizona University
Department of English
What skills stand out on English Professor resumes?
Lawrence Lenhart: Ability to help writers across the disciplines
What hard/technical skills are most important for English Professors?
Lawrence Lenhart: Understanding of writing conventions in different contexts: professional versus academic versus creative versus analytical versus business versus scientific versus legal versus journalism
What skills will help English Professors earn the most?
Lawrence Lenhart: For someone working for themselves (e.g., tutor, freelance writer/editor, etc.): initiative, career self-management, innovative thinking / for someone working for a company (e.g., teacher, journalist, ): ability to leverage their strengths to support not just themselves, but entire departments; understanding/willingness to contribute to leadership's vision
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.
Professor of English, Program Director MAHUMWilson College
English Department
What skills will help English Professors earn the most?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: Self-advocacy. I am not suggesting every English major rush to their boss and demand a big raise, but our culture continually suggests one should apologize for majoring in a liberal arts field. I don't buy it. English majors are amazing at solving problems, facilitating communication, researching ideas, developing programs-they are, in short, the total package. And they have a tremendous capacity to learn new skills and new abilities. This is why students from my college, for example, end up in a huge variety of subject fields. We need to understand the value we bring to any organization as an English major.
What skills stand out on English Professor resumes?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: In the academy, we often talk about English majors teaching students vital skills in critical thinking, communication, research, and analysis. An English major can be handed a project and know how to research the necessary components, compile them together in a clear and consistent format, and present that material to a client or supervisor with confidence. And I think the skill that really unites all of these aspects of the English major is independence. In our field, we ask students to articulate the rudiments of pragmatics, identify the meaning inherent to a seventeenth-century poem, and punch back at the masterpieces of the canon. No student can tackle such a diverse learning platform without a streak of independence that teaches them that, yes, scholars have been analyzing and deconstructing Shakespeare for 500 years, but no one has quite seen the text the way you have, and that's why you need to write about it. Heck, in a national conversation about higher education that strongly suggests that any major without a specific job title in its name should not even be considered, it takes someone who is a bit of a maverick to choose a major in English. But that independent streak serves our students really well in their careers and lives beyond college.
On a resume, I look for independence in that projection completion mode: acting as editor for student media; presenting a paper at a conference; writing a theatrical work; publishing; internships; etc. Anything that shows me that the applicant can tackle a project and get it done is what I am looking for.
What soft skills should all English Professors possess?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: Communication and care. Communication in all of its forms-written, oral, public speaking, and interpersonal, one-on-one communication abilities are all vital. A confident communicator can work wonders in many fields.
Add to that care. The study of English is not just the study of language; it is the study of those narratives that shape and dominate humanity and the means through which we make and understand them. I can't think of a better way to learn and know people. But that should come through as an ethos of care. If you want to teach, you must care for your students. No matter the field an English major may find themselves in, an ethos of care will serve them well.
What hard/technical skills are most important for English Professors?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: While college-and college students-are increasingly digital, students are becoming less and less technical. Even compared to 10 years ago, my students' technical knowledge has significantly declined. That is why I encourage my students to become proficient in some useful software suite, such as Adobe Creative Cloud. Taking one or two classes in any software suite is tremendously beneficial and can help an applicant to really stand out from other English majors.
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.
Professor of EnglishUniversity of Houston - Downtown
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
What skills stand out on English Professor resumes?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: When applying to be an instructor of English, your resume itself must be clean and totally without error. If you can't produce impeccable writing, why should your prospective employers believe that you can teach others to do so? A clean, complete, well-formatted resume reflects that you are a strong writer and editor, and these are critical skills. Of course, if you want to be an English instructor, some experience as a teacher is strongly preferred -- even if that is in informal contexts (e.g., leading training sessions at a previous place of employment or serving as a teaching assistant in graduate school).
What hard/technical skills are most important for English Professors?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: Writing, Editing, Teaching, Reading.
What soft skills should all English Professors possess?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: It is also important that you speak well -- that you are a good conversationalist. People in education want to hire people who will be collegial co-workers and have a dynamic classroom presence.
What skills will help English Professors earn the most?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: If you can document training in technical communication, professional writing, or rhetoric (as opposed to simply literature and/or creative writing), skills related to those sub-fields are highly valued by the corporate world and employers in the private sector -- the places that tend to pay people with backgrounds in English the most.
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of RhetoricLouisiana State University
English Department
What soft skills should all English Professors possess?
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.: The ability to clearly communicate ideas, theories, expectations, assignments, etc., stands as a paramount soft skill needed for writing instructors. Students already come into the classroom with high expectations concerning the level of attention they will receive in terms of instruction, so writing instructors need to develop methods to deliver information to students in a clear and easily understood manner. Clear communication also contributes to better engagement with course material. When students know what the instructor expects and what they must do, they typically engage more fully in their work. Additionally, listening to students is a second crucial soft skill writing instructors should develop. Including students in the learning process by listening to their perspectives and making small adjustments to accommodate their learning needs shows an attention to detail necessary in the modern writing classroom.
What hard/technical skills are most important for English Professors?
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.: Writing instructors must know how to use multiple computer programs proficiently and at times use them simultaneously. Long gone are the days where all you needed to know were the basics of Microsoft Word and Excel. In addition to the learning platform used by the university (Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, Google Classroom, etc.), writing instructors must know how to use Zoom or other online video conference platforms to ensure smooth experiences for students who cannot come to the physical classroom.
What hard/technical skills are most important for English Professors?
Cynthia Lewis Ph.D.: Experience at writing for publication or being recognized for writing (as by winning a contest); a solid grasp of English grammar and the ability to explain grammatical principles; the willingness to engage with students' writing, review it carefully, and give constructive responses and suggestions to it.
What skills stand out on English Professor resumes?
Cynthia Lewis Ph.D.: Demonstrated facility with language; the ability to tap into how the tutor learned what the tutee needs to know and to use that knowledge in tutoring; the ability to interest students in both reading and writing accomplished prose; a command of the vocabulary of English grammar and an ability to explain good grammatical practices; a grasp of the elements of composition and style.
(Some of these skills would come out in a cover letter versus a resume.)
Laura Aull
Associate Professor and Writing Program DirectorUniversity of Michigan
English Language & Literature Department
What skills stand out on English Professor resumes?
Laura Aull: Ability to:
- conduct research to compile information,
- ability to synthesize information, including identifying connections and implications,
- strong formal written and oral communication,
- organizational skills
- communication and project management experience, especially in educational settings or community organization settings
What soft skills should all English Professors possess?
Laura Aull: - formal oral and written communication skills
- interpersonal engagement
- ability to identify what is needed and break up information well to communicate with different stakeholders (e.g., administrators, staff, students, parents, faculty, donors, etc.)
What hard/technical skills are most important for English Professors?
Laura Aull: - navigating institutional and academic databases
- identifying and summarizing best practices and research
- website oversight, visualization, and management
What skills will help English Professors earn the most?
Laura Aull: The best is a combination of the above skills, including strong writing skills and strong digital communication and oversight skills.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the English Professor job market given the pandemic?
John Norton Ph.D.: A need to communicate clearly and creatively through different medium
What technical skills for an English Professor stand out to employers?
John Norton Ph.D.: - clear and creative communication
- advanced problem solving
- teamwork
How have salaries changed over time for English Professors?
John Norton Ph.D.: Salaries continue to rise in education
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for English Professors?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: Teachers who receive their reading endorsement as well as training in the teaching of writing through local sites of the National Writing Project, like the Central Arizona Writing Project at ASU put themselves at an advantage. Also, courses that prepare teachers in culturally sustaining teaching practices and digital literacies will help them meet the needs of diverse student populations and ever-evolving communication tools.
How have salaries changed over time for English Professors?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: In many parts of the country, like Arizona, teacher salaries have not grown at a rate to support an increased cost of living, which has led to a sever teaching shortage and high turnover rates. Teachers continue to be asked to do more, to juggle more, and are paid less. One of the things I hope this past year has shown is just how integral teachers and schools are to the health, well-being, and advancement of our communities and the work they do needs to be supported.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the English Professor job market given the pandemic?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: In the coming years, there will be more need than ever for well-trained teachers in all levels and aspects of schools. There will also be a need to support partnerships with community organizations, family outreach, libraries, and extra-curricular kinds of support to support the academic and social emotion needs of children and their families. There will also be great need for highly skilled teachers in supporting students in digital forms of literacy, writing, and reading practices.
Rebecca Babcock
William and Ordelle Watts ProfessorThe University of Texas Permian Basin
Department of Literature and Language
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on English Professors?
Rebecca Babcock: Post-pandemic, people will have to be more flexible with their work plans and what they expect out of a job.
What will help English Professors increase their earning potential?
Rebecca Babcock: Networking is always key. Especially for those working for themselves...the more people you know...the more contacts you have...the more jobs you will get. I am talking about real networking, not social networking. This means talk to people, get to know them, become friends or at least acquaintances with people in the industry you want to enter.
What's a good job out of college for English Professors?
Rebecca Babcock: All people seeking to enter a career should plan on doing an internship in that business. I believe an internship is the best way to get started in any career. If an internship is not available consider an apprenticeship, volunteering, or job shadowing. Get yourself in there and show how valuable you are.