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| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 81 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 86 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 76 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 80 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,594 | $30.57 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $61,437 | $29.54 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $59,673 | $28.69 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | $56,940 | $27.37 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $54,698 | $26.30 | +4.0% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 170 | 24% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 115 | 16% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 118 | 12% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 68 | 12% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 962 | 11% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 732 | 11% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 98 | 11% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 69 | 11% |
| 9 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 485 | 10% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 920 | 9% |
| 11 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 644 | 9% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 521 | 9% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 95 | 9% |
| 14 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 530 | 8% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 484 | 8% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 470 | 8% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 276 | 8% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 260 | 8% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 113 | 8% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 81 | 8% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melrose | 2 | 7% | $84,839 |
| 2 | Glastonbury | 1 | 3% | $72,139 |
| 3 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $84,987 |
| 4 | Arlington | 1 | 2% | $84,925 |
| 5 | Boulder | 1 | 1% | $50,915 |
| 6 | Fort Collins | 1 | 1% | $50,990 |
| 7 | Lakewood | 1 | 1% | $50,871 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $61,038 |
| 9 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $75,770 |
| 10 | Chandler | 1 | 0% | $61,781 |
| 11 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $64,583 |
| 12 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $58,148 |
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
SUNY College at Oswego
Utah State University
Fairfield University
University of San Francisco
The University of the Arts
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Molloy College
University of Richmond
Saint Anselm College
Indiana University Kokomo
University of Miami
California State University - Fullerton
American University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Dallas Baptist University
Dr. Terry Nugent: Maximizing your salary potential will largely be dependent on how well you have navigated your undergraduate opportunities. Participating in student organizations, internships, and electives such as music appreciation or theatre can open up unexpected opportunities or make you a good fit for local nonprofit organization. Taking advantage of traveling opportunities and study abroad will also broaden your opportunities. Finally, realizing that education is a life long endeavor and obtaining certifications will document added skills.
Dr. Terry Nugent: Despite evolving AI technology, effective communication requires an understanding of the rhetorical situation and how language works. That being said, learning to use both current and emerging technology will be critical as writing will increasingly incorporate mixed media and be published in digital form. Familiarity with both Google and Microsoft based programs, graphic designing and editing tools, and tools for creating charts, graphs, and infographics will be critical. Additionally, graduates will need to hone their teamworking and collaborative skills since almost all work requires working with diverse groups which leads to a final skillset that should be developed. Businesses often operate on a global level requiring employees to be able to work closely with diverse cultures therefore, some knowledge of linguistics will be very helpful.
Nicole Walker: English majors make it clear what's going on in other disciplines, in other sectors, in other businesses, and in government and politics. We are the great connectors between people and between ideas.
Laura Wilson: Writing and editing will always be important and prevalent. Clear communication is increasingly important. Encourage writers to work WITH AI by learning how to use the software and edit the output. Encourage exploration of certificates to make them more marketable.
Laura Wilson: Be ready to explain how a degree in English translates to the working world. Be passionate and knowledgeable about why a company would need a writer/humanitarian. Develop an elevator pitch that explains soft skills and hard skills in relation to work they'd do in any field.
Soma Frazier: Leverage social media and your network to find a mentor. Mine had authored a bestselling book and was thriving as a freelance brand and content strategist for clients including Hershey and E&J; Gallo Winery. I truly respected her experience, so I treated for coffee and let her know I wanted to be her when I grew up! She laughed, offered advice, and eventually hired me to write for her food blog—which came with snazzy perks like wine and chocolate. I ended up taking on her overflow. Though I wound up in higher education rather than content strategy, those years taught me to adopt a specific style and tone, and to cut a 500-word piece to 150 words without sacrificing anything essential. I still apply what I learned from my mentor to my own career and writing—and it helped shape my debut novel, which sold to a Big 5 publisher.
Shane Graham: All the skills I mentioned above. Humanities degrees, and the kinds of thinking they encourage, will only become more important in the years to come. AI chatbots can only regurgitate and mimic thinking that already exists in the world; the well-trained human brain can create something new.
Fairfield University
Rhetoric And Composition/Writing Studies
Rachel Robinson-Zetzer PhD: On a day-to-day basis, a Writer really works on their bread and butter—their writing process. This can mean actually drafting and outlining texts, brainstorming, taking walks to get ideas flowing, you name it! The writing process is unique to every Writer, and because of that, there is really now one answer to the question How does a Writer spend their day? Instead, it’s best to think of the time a Writer has devoted to their craft as sacred, whether that be drafting pages out long-hand or chatting with friends over drinks about their ideas. Daily, Writers need to read. Great Writers are great readers.
Dean Rader: Well, writing, reading, and communication skills are always going to be vital. AI won't change that. In fact, the very things AI can't do yet is be human. And no major trains people better to interact with humans than English. Right now, video game manufacturers need writers, tech companies need editors, Websites need copywriters. But, every field can use an English major. Every field needs people with vision and ideas. The world needs people with clarity, who can articulate ideas, and who can make connections. That defines an English major.
Paul Cook: English is way more than just the study of literature. English majors learn how to read, write, and speak well—three essential and timeless skills that will serve you well in your professional lives, in a knowledge economy, and in the (post)digital era.
Paul Cook: Finding the human in what we do is critical. This is what humans can do that machines (like Generative AI platforms) simply can’t. I predict that being able to pinpoint the human element—and then build on it through creation and innovation—in a sea of AI-generated content will remain a marketable skill for decades to come.
Michael Pennell: Gain experience while in college, through internships, coursework, service, etc. Find your niche and differentiate yourself from others in the field. Consider how a specific minor or certificate may give you an edge. For example, a certificate or minor in professional and technical writing can enhance a candidate's appeal to employers, as well as maximize salary potential. Adding an internship and other 'real world' experience on top of that minor or certificate further maximizes one's earning potential. Develop a strong portfolio! Finally, networking may also maximize salary potential—do people know you and do they see you as an asset for their company or organization? Much of this advice applies equally to those pursuing freelance and contract work, as well.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
English Language And Literature
Liam Callanan: Writing, writing, writing. And in whole sentences. Not like these. Communication will be key in every field, and people who are trained to be critical thinkers, who practice good listening, who write clearly, concisely, and thoughtfully, will be highly valued.
Liam Callanan: Read. Read everything, including, especially, things on paper—books, magazines, newspapers. Paper-based reading exercises your focus muscles and broadens your mind.
Prof. Laura Betz PhD: Please use the skills I mentioned in my bolded quote as my answer for this question.
Prof. Laura Betz PhD: Any graduate beginning a career should feel very confident in the skills of critical thinking, writing, and public speaking that the English major has provided, and should be bold in putting those skills to work in many different professional contexts.
Katherine Kim Ph.D: -Again, it depends on the field, as jobs that center on skills you learn by being an English major vary widely. If it is jobs in teaching and studying English language and literature, then being open to interdisciplinary work and the digital humanities/new media will continue to be important. Studying English already requires a certain level of interdisciplinary work, and technology keeps adding to the ways people interact and circulate ideas. In addition, learning how to communicate clearly and understand/interpret what others communicate will always be vital. Given the divisiveness that exists in this world, understanding different perspectives and being able to communicate well with those who hold those perspectives will continue to be important in the field and beyond it.
University of Richmond
Rhetoric And Composition/Writing Studies
Justin Wigard: Critical textual analysis is key. With a degree in writing, you’ll be able to parse multiple forms of writing effectively: grants, data reports, creative works, and more! You’ll be prepared to work with anything that conveys information through written form (digitally, verbally, even visually). Digital writing, rhetoric, and publishing is also going to become increasingly prevalent as our world becomes more digitally connected. So, learning the ins and outs of writing is great, but you will become even more proficient if you have a little bit of experience working with digital projects. Programming, data science, basic web design, or proficiency with digital publishing suites will give you more understanding of how to write and create in a technologically-mediated world.
Saint Anselm College
English Language And Literature
Dr. Joshua Potter: Follow your passion, use your intuition, and be creative. A humanistic education, especially within the discipline of English, prepares you to be a clear communicator, critical thinker, empathic builder of relationships, and creative wayfinder through shifting cultural landscapes. It is imperative to stay nimble, assert oneself into social institutions and fields of work that stoke one’s inspiration, and be prepared to help build fields and institutions that don’t yet exist.
Jim Coby: A degree in English does not necessarily provide you with a 1 to 1 employment opportunity. Unlike, say, engineering students, who will most likely move into engineering as an occupation, English majors do not necessarily end up English teachers. Many do, but most don't. Instead, it's useful to think of your employment search more broadly. If you've taken a number of classes in literary studies, then you're likely skilled in locating several points of evidence and making strong arguments with that evidence. You're going to be taking those skills in order to make a case for yourself. Think on the skills you've gained over the years, how you developed those skills, examples of time when you employed those skills, and ways you can improve those skills. Considering yourself as a fully fleshed out "round" character (akin to those you've read so much about) in your own storyline may well help you to conceive of novel and interesting employment opportunities.
Jaswinder Bolina Ph.D., M.F.A.: If you were an English major in college, you’re probably an excellent reader, writer, researcher, and learner. The start of your career is a great time to demonstrate your skills as a quick study and an adaptive thinker. Take a deep dive into whatever company or sector you’re working in, reading everything you can get your hands on, while identifying the challenges your employer needs help with. Then, sort out how to help. If you’re still on the job market, showcase those exceptional writing skills in crafting a thoughtful, unique, and enthusiastic application letter and portfolio. Be unique and set yourself apart from every other job applicant you’re up against.
Irena Praitis: English majors are excellent communicators, collaborators, and critical thinkers. Communication skills are highly sought as are skills for people working together. Graduates should emphasize their communication and critical thinking skills, emphasizing also creative thinking and working with and understanding others.
Irena Praitis: Always ask for the top of the salary range offered. Stress that the skills you bring will strengthen and grow as you learn and adapt to a particular organization's work environment.
Chelsea Horne Ph.D.: Use and develop the skills you have already gained during your degree. And be on the lookout for opportunities to continue expanding your skill toolkit, such as professional development workshops, certificates, and graduate programs (like the innovative MA in Literature, Culture, and Technology we offer at American University), where you can further hone expertise that can make you stand out. We are at a moment full of potential; maintaining flexibility and supporting the expansion of your skillsets can help you maximize your position.
Chelsea Horne Ph.D.: It is important to remember that even if this moment feels daunting and uncertain, you are at a very exciting stage of your life and career. Think about all your options and possibilities and focus on where and how you want to contribute to the world through your writing and profession. As you step into your career, consider building your network: at your workplace, with alumni groups, and with industry professionals. A strong network can offer opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, development, and more.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Criminal Justice And Corrections
Dr. Arthur Garrison LP.D.: Don’t chase salary. Seek a job that will point you in the direction you want to go. Your first job is not your last. You have your whole life ahead of you. You don’t need to have all the answers to your life’s plans. You still have time to learn what you want in life and what you can achieve.
Chance Gamble: More important? Confidence. When I graduated, I walked straight into a field of business I knew nothing about. I was later hired as a professional private tutor by a company that charged our clients $150 for an hour of my time. I believe that is because they saw I was confident that I could do whatever was asked of me. By confidence, I don't mean arrogance. Confidence is that peace that comes from knowing who you are, what you have accomplished, and how hard you will work to overcome future challenges. It is cultivated by a quality education, and it's authentic. In a meta-world of virtual realities where we can't trust the validity of the photos or videos we see, genuine, solid people will only increase in necessity and value. More prevalent? Creativity. Digital humanities is an exciting branch of academia exploring literature, composition, and rhetoric through digital mediums, and English majors are increasingly pushed to consider their interests through multiple modalities. As they move into the workforce, they will bring a blend of technological expertise and literary acumen that will be an explosive, distinct creativity in a world inundated by soulless AI generations.