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Job outlook for german instructors in the United States
Are german instructor jobs in demand?
German instructor job and salary trends over time
German instructor jobs over time
German instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 140 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 162 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 177 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 182 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 194 | 0.00% |
Average german instructor salary over time
German instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $69,308 | $33.32 | --0.1% |
| 2025 | $69,378 | $33.35 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $67,048 | $32.23 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $64,441 | $30.98 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $62,944 | $30.26 | +3.5% |
German instructor jobs by state
Most common states for german instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 489 | 9% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 79 | 8% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 578 | 7% |
| 4 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 374 | 7% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 277 | 7% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 66 | 7% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 51 | 7% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 43 | 7% |
| 9 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 661 | 6% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 659 | 6% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 467 | 5% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 312 | 5% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 282 | 5% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 161 | 5% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 37 | 5% |
| 16 | Vermont | 623,657 | 30 | 5% |
| 17 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,669 | 4% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 420 | 4% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 133 | 4% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 59 | 4% |
German Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of german instructor experts
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Kent State University
The University of Alabama
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of Oklahoma
University of North Carolina Asheville
Concordia University
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
What general advice would you give to a German Instructor?
Kalli Federhofer: I encourage every student to pursue a second major or at least a minor along with German. German is an attractive major: behind the US and China, Germany has the third-largest GDP. In a world that continues to be globalized, having not only a strong linguistic background but also intercultural understanding may open the doors to international careers.
What German Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kalli Federhofer: Current and future German students are an advantage. The number of German students in high school is dropping. While this process is worrisome, it is ideal for the new language learners. We still have a large demand for students who combine language proficiency with technical skill; with fewer students around who have language skills, the prospects of finding a lucrative position rises.
What will help German Instructors increase their earning potential?
Kalli Federhofer: While AI will effectuate changes in all areas of process development, it is still vitally important to understand the nuances, modulations, and refinements that characterize the underlying human interaction that starts such changes. Technical skills will therefore remain important overall, but the human agents behind these processes need to understand the intercultural facets of the global markets. Studying a language can be immensely beneficial.
Dr. Geoffrey Koby Ph.D.
Full ProfessorKent State University
Department of Modern & Classical Language Studies
What skills stand out on German Instructor resumes?
Dr. Geoffrey Koby Ph.D.: The primary skill is proficiency in the German language and culture. Teachers can’t teach, and translators can’t translate without high-level proficiency in the language (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) and extensive knowledge of the German cultures. In addition, translators need excellent writing skills in English.
What soft skills should all German Instructors possess?
Dr. Geoffrey Koby Ph.D.: For teachers, interpersonal skills are primary in working with learners (and their parents). For translators, interpersonal skills in dealing with clients. For both, organizational skills to manage classrooms or translation assignments.
What hard/technical skills are most important for German Instructors?
Dr. Geoffrey Koby Ph.D.: For teachers, the ability to write syllabi and teach practical German skills; for translators, the ability to use translation-related software, that is, computer-assisted translation software and terminology management software.
What skills will help German Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Geoffrey Koby Ph.D.: Language proficiency! For teachers, a Master's degree in teaching or in German will move you up the salary scale in a high school. For translators, specialization in an area such a business, law, finance, science, medicine, or technology can lead to higher-paying assignments with more interesting content.
Dr. Regina Range Ph.D.
Associate Professor of German, German and Engineering Liaison, German/Engineering AdvisorThe University of Alabama
Department of Modern Languages and Classics
What skills stand out on German Instructor resumes?
Dr. Regina Range Ph.D.: Looking at German instructor skills is too small of a scope. German (Studies) is (are) part of the humanities, a field in which we discuss and enhance our understanding of the nature and motivation of all human activities and culture. Our students, whichever field they may choose to work in (I am providing a list at the end of this text that shows some of the jobs that German majors/minors and graduate students go into, aside from becoming a German instructor), are equipped to ask and answer questions about what it means to be human, which stem from literature, the arts, and cultures they engage with during their German studies. Being able to discern historical precedents, identify effects and patterns of human behavior, and deal with impacts of such events - social, cultural, political, ecological, and demographical ones, to only name a few - are only some of the skills students of German achieve and bring to the job market.
Moreover, the pandemic has and continues to demonstrate the importance of a humanities background in the fields of public life: understanding the response to the crisis from one's own as well as from other cultures' perspectives and histories, while simultaneously being able to communicate in the target language, is undoubtedly a huge plus.
The intersectional approaches to complex problems are part and parcel of German (Studies). It prepares students to become aware of nuance in language, to pay close attention to communication style, identify as well as to understand cultural and public narratives. This is a highly transferrable skill set that aids in convincing the public to commit to collective and altruistic action-something that is clearly part of the everyday life of each (German) instructor who is granted the opportunity to work and inspire young minds in the current situation. -A situation that is tremendously challenging for all humans worldwide. It is also this understanding of interconnectedness, the ability and willingness to being globally-minded while acting locally, that results from learning German.
The interdisciplinarity of German (Studies), which consists of learning about and being well-versed in differing ethical, creative, cultural, and historical perspectives, makes for responsible, reflective, and informed citizens as well as skilled workers-who then, in their role as instructors, can instruct young people and inspire them to acquire the same or similar skillsets.
Aside from being able to translate, analyze information, and think critically, German instructors (and our German (Studies) students) are keenly aware of the importance of the arts and culture in community building and in how it can aid in recovery processes and building resilience.
As part of their instructional training, German teachers most recently also had to learn how to navigate and adapt to online teaching and learning. -A vital skill born out of the pandemic, which also challenged and continues to challenge instructors to quickly and creatively think about how to cater to both their students as well as their institutions' and districts' needs. Additional flexibility and reacting quickly to unprecedented circumstances while keeping everyone's different situations, abilities, and varying access to technology and connectedness in mind, is clearly a skill that German instructors acquired and one that will continue to be part of their future careers. Being able to quickly modify the curriculum based on students and their learning needs is a key skill. German instructors receive a robust foundation in teaching methodologies and are therefore aware that they continuously need to work on improving their own language skills and keep up with the current research enabling them to improve their instructional methods or technology.
As previously mentioned, German instructors, as well as students of German, have an abundance of skills, such as interpersonal communication, organizational, analytical problem-solving skills, the ability to articulate and argue for a point of view while considering different cultural standpoints, to write and edit intelligently and clearly, to work well both in groups and individually, to lead with both heart and mind, to be dependable when it comes to meeting deadlines while also being able to think creatively.-These are all skills that are also of interest outside of teaching and/or the academy. There are: 5,406 German companies in the U.S., 773,800 jobs, created by German companies in the U.S., German investment in the U.S. is $522 billion (https://www.rgit-usa.com/fileadmin/AHK_RGID/import/RGIT_GBM-Flyer_October2020.pdf) Reaching out to German companies in the U.S. to apply these skills presents a viable option for anyone who studies or studied German. Directly tapping into the German job market is also something to consider. Working or interning in Germany, just like any study abroad opportunity, presents a life-changing opportunity.
International experience is a game-changer for many, if not a must-have, in today's globalized world. 60% of companies consider the international experience in hiring and promotion. The importance of a study abroad experience cannot be underestimated. (QS Global Employer Survey Report 2011: How Employers Value an International Study Experience. http://content.qs.com/qs/qs-global-employer-survey-2011.pdf.) However, international experience alone does not suffice. Being able to develop and speak from a place of a global mindset is essential when aspiring to successfully operate in an international setting. It requires intercultural competence, the ability to appreciate both the differences and similarities between cultures, and the skill to communicate effectively in those settings. Those who study German are equipped with a versatile set of skills allowing them to apply to a wide range of careers.
A great example of dual degrees and career opportunities that arise from learning German is our IGSEP program here at the University of Alabama. It is a cooperation between Engineering and Germany. https://students.eng.ua.edu/programs/two-steps-ahead/IGSEP Students are trained to not only function but thrive in Germany (as well as in German-speaking contexts) and in their interactions with German colleagues. This innovative program provides them with the competitive edge needed in today's job market.)
Dr. Richard Langston Ph.D.
Professor of German, Director of Graduate AdmissionsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures
What skills stand out on German Instructor resumes?
Dr. Richard Langston Ph.D.: To be qualified for a university lectureship in German that is advertised through the usual channels—the MLA job list, the Chronicle of Higher Education, etc.—candidates usually are required to have a Ph.D. in hand. A lectureship usually means that the job in question is a teaching job, not one that requires scholarly output, though that is probably of consequence, too, depending on the employer.
This means that candidates have extensive teaching experience that spans foreign language teaching to teach content courses for undergraduates. A candidate has proof that they have excelled at teaching (e.g., stellar student evaluations). It means that the candidate has worked with a variety of textbooks, is capable of designing attractive course syllabi and effective lesson plans, and can work effectively with colleagues. The person understands and can succeed at attracting students to the program on account of their teaching.
What soft skills should all German Instructors possess?
Dr. Richard Langston Ph.D.: All excellent teaching requires everything one associates with so-called “soft skills.” It manifests itself in what we call a “teaching style” that focuses on the student, that encourages personalized communication and creative exchange. Empathy, encouragement, social intelligence, compassion, enthusiasm, the list is endless of what can make for an effective teaching style.
What hard/technical skills are most important for German Instructors?
Dr. Richard Langston Ph.D.: Hard skills that are essential are the skills that applicants learn while in a doctoral program: theories and praxis of good teaching foreign languages, for example, the German literary and cultural canon, German history, and of course, the German language.
What skills will help German Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Richard Langston Ph.D.: Salaries for lecturers are usually not variable according to whether they have more or better skills than others. This is especially the case at public universities. In higher education, salaries are usually only negotiable when candidates or employees have competitive outside offers. I have never heard of a colleague in a lectureship position earn more money because of particular skills they possess.
Dr. Kaleigh Bangor Ph.D.
German Faculty & Language Program CoordinatorThe University of Oklahoma
Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
What skills stand out on German Instructor resumes?
Dr. Kaleigh Bangor Ph.D.: What stands out for me is inclusivity. German is perhaps perceived as the 'whitest' second language for students in the USA, so it is very important to bring in all German-speaking voices to better represent who exactly speaks German (i.e., there are many Germans with different racial and ethnic backgrounds).
What soft skills should all German Instructors possess?
Dr. Kaleigh Bangor Ph.D.: Because language learning is not easy, two soft skills are extremely important, namely enthusiasm and kindness.
What hard/technical skills are most important for German Instructors?
Dr. Kaleigh Bangor Ph.D.: The technical skills needed aren't necessarily 'technical but rather efficiency with simple technologies...giving quick feedback via email/D2L software is important.
What skills will help German Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Kaleigh Bangor Ph.D.: Earn the most as a language instructor? Most folx teaching languages are not in it for the money, and the money is usually non-negotiable (i.e., dependent on (public) school budgets).
Regine Criser Ph.D.
Associate Professor of German, Chair, Department of Languages and Literatures, Director of First and Second Year Academic SuccessUniversity of North Carolina Asheville
Department of Languages and Literatures
What skills stand out on German Instructor resumes?
Regine Criser Ph.D.: Previous teaching experience is always beneficial, no matter if in an official or unofficial capacity. Study Abroad experience in a German-speaking country is also highly valuable because it indicates a first-hand familiarity with culture and customs.
What soft skills should all German Instructors possess?
Regine Criser Ph.D.: Strong interpersonal skills are a must, good organization skills are helpful, creativity is definitely a benefit. You'll be most successful as a German Instructor if you are a team player who can work independently and achieve shared learning outcomes as they develop their own class activities and assignments.
What hard/technical skills are most important for German Instructors?
Regine Criser Ph.D.: At this point, being familiar with Zoom and/or google meet is critical. Knowing how to leverage those and other online platforms for student learning is a tremendous benefit. If a candidate can indicate that they have experience teaching online or at least an awareness of the best practices of online teaching, that would definitely set them apart.
What skills will help German Instructors earn the most?
Regine Criser Ph.D.: Skills for remote/online instruction or for teaching that leverages technology will set a candidate apart. If you want to teach at a university, a Ph.D. will likely translate into a higher salary than an M.A. Having a versatile skill set beyond the ability to teach German - maybe teaching another language or discipline - would make someone even more marketable.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the German Instructor job market given the pandemic?
John Norton Ph.D.: A need to communicate clearly and creatively through different medium
What German Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: Most important advice: Take initiative and be productive.
Find practical ways to use skills even if unpaid. Volunteer work is good. Use language skills. Technology skills. Exploit technology skills around the area of interest. If you want to be a teacher find out what software they are using today; what research skills are they utilize. Make sure you log your activities during the gap year especially those that relate to the area in which you want to work. If you want to go into finance, and you're working at a lawn service, understand and learn the business model and the accounting. If you're working at Starbucks (or in any commercial environment), get a chance to do inventories, learn about the ordering process and sources and suppliers for those orders; and how people are scheduled for work. All of that is relevant experience for business.
The CFO and recruiter for Keystone Staffing Solutions emphasized having evidence in your resume of of being productive during the gap time, no matter if it's one, two or three years. Evidence of being productive is what recruiters want to see on your resume: He stresses: "What did you do to expand your knowledge and skills not only in your selected area but beyond. BEING PRODUCTIVE for yourself proves to be an indicator of how productive you will be for me."
Still on gap year. How to go about it? Use teachers, friends, family, anyone in the field or related to it to provide guidance, insight, suggestions. This can lead to projects or experience that will help in learning and growth.