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| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 48 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 51 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 54 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 48 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 50 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,468 | $29.55 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $59,383 | $28.55 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $57,678 | $27.73 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | $55,036 | $26.46 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $52,869 | $25.42 | +4.0% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 139 | 20% |
| 2 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 258 | 4% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 247 | 4% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 155 | 4% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 22 | 4% |
| 6 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 21 | 4% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 283 | 3% |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 190 | 3% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 186 | 3% |
| 10 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 94 | 3% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 50 | 3% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 26 | 3% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 20 | 3% |
| 14 | New York | 19,849,399 | 336 | 2% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 218 | 2% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 185 | 2% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 173 | 2% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 63 | 2% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 29 | 2% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 21 | 2% |
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
SUNY College at Oswego
Utah State University
Fairfield University
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
University of San Francisco
The University of the Arts
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Molloy College
University of Richmond
Saint Anselm College
Indiana University Kokomo
California State University - Fullerton
American University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Dallas Baptist University
University of Baltimore
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: Take on a variety of jobs. For instance, while teaching and writing creative works, I was also freelancing and writing grants. In doing so, I developed multiple income sources as well as a broad skill base that ultimately equipped me to secure higher-paying opportunities. Beyond that, each job shaped my creative writing: crafting pithy articles taught me to revise down, while developing grant proposals taught me to make a specific mission or topic feel relevant to the everyday reader. You may hit the jackpot and land your dream career straight out of school. If you're like the rest of us, though, there will be a period of uncertainty in which you're building your portfolio and finding your stride. That's the perfect time to take a note from improv comedians and be receptive to opportunities and ideas by saying 'Yes.'
Shane Graham: Remember the skills you honed as an English major: pay close attention to detail, ground your thinking in evidence, find reliable sources of information, and put things in their larger context. All of these skills will serve you well in whatever job you pursue.
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.
Shane Graham: I suppose the same way the business majors do it: by putting networking and sycophancy ahead of competence and hard work. Most students don’t become English majors because they’re focused on maximizing salary potential, though.
Fairfield University
Rhetoric And Composition/Writing Studies
Rachel Robinson-Zetzer PhD: People are scared of the blank page. Too often, they think that what they write needs to be perfect in its first iteration; however, that’s a myth and a romantic notion of the lone, solitary writer. In fact, much writing happens in collaboration with others, and people are either drawn to that environment, or they aren’t. Once people realize that writing is malleable, meaning it can be changed and revised again and again, that desire to seek perfection lessens, and Writers are more willing to kill their darlings.
Rachel Robinson-Zetzer PhD: Writing is a great profession to enter now because it’s a way to reach a specific audience for a specific purpose. With all the misinformation in the world today, Writers have a lot of power. It’s an exciting time to let your voice be heard, whether that’s through fiction, newswriting, memoir, cartoon, or something else.
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.
Dr. Allison Rittmayer: The rise of AI is something graduates looking for jobs in writing need to take seriously. I think we will see more collaborative use of AI in writing jobs in the next several years as employers seek to make the most out of the technology while recognizing its limitations and ethical quagmires.
Dr. Allison Rittmayer: Don't undercut your skills and experience. You are likely qualified for more jobs than you think you are. You need to promote your experience writing in different genres and across media. Likewise, don't be afraid to take on new projects in unfamiliar formats or unfamiliar roles. That is the key to continual growth.
Dr. Allison Rittmayer: I think the key to this is through experience and continuing education. Explore volunteer work that will give you the opportunity to use writing skills you don't use in your day job. Stay current with your technological skills, learn new programs and apps, and pay attention to trends in writing, language use, graphic design, and other related fields.
Dean Rader: English is a fantastic, nimble, relevant degree. Because people with an English degree can do so many things--not just one thing, like accounting for example, we have to work a little harder to brand or market ourselves for the specific job we want. We have to hustle a little bit harder. We have to network with our friends a little more. Our resumes and cover letters have to be impeccable. We may have to start at the very bottom and work our way up the ladder. So, I encourage students and recent graduates to take any job that gets their foot in the door. And then, once you have that job. Do it well. And don't be a jerk. Be kind. Be helpful. Make yourself indispensable. Employees who can do many things--write, create, collaborate, communicate--are necessary and can often find themselves advancing in a career they may not have imagined. I just encourage students to not have a fixed mindset about a job, work hard, and be open.
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.
Dean Rader: There is an interesting study I saw recently that shows how humanities majors tend to start out with a lower beginning salary than most other fields. However, in five years, their salaries and their job satisfaction are higher than those from many other disciplines. English majors who can do another thing, who minor in marketing or who can do coding or Web design often have an easier time landing that first job. But, I also often recommend a graduate degree. That may sound counterintuitive given the reports out there about how college and graduate school admissions are plummeting; however, if fewer people are going to graduate school--especially in the humanities--there could very well be a deficit of people in the workforce with advanced training. If you can get an MBA or a JD or a master's without going into too much debt, research shows it pays off down the road.
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: Adaptability and flexibility. The type of writing, the genres of writing, the styles of writing, and the technologies around writing may/will change, so be adaptable. Learn how to learn, especially on the fly. Your college instructors can't teach you every type or genre of writing you may encounter in your career; so, develop skills in learning new genres of writing. Ask yourself, what worked in the past that will work as I learn this new type/style of writing. Adapting to different audiences and formats is key. The ability to research and in turn translate that research to your audience, even if it involves SEO and writing for the web with a less concrete audience or for search engines. In this sense, the skill of creating transferrable content is key. Also, storytelling is very important in many writing-based careers—how to tell a story. Another skill is differentiating what you can offer that AI can't or where does AI complement your work and writing? Avoiding or ignoring AI is not wise.
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.
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.
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.
Betsy Boyd: Become the best writer and communicator you can possibly be. By reading and writing as often as possible. By taking notes. By staying excited about your own perspective and the good work of others. Going back to school can be a good way to strengthen your abilities, gain community support, and earn an advanced degree that commands a higher salary.
Anna Mae Duane: The idea that English majors are not in demand is a myth—don’t harm your own chances by buying into it! There are numerous studies—and countless employer testimonies—that indicate how valuable your skills as an English major are. English majors consistently find work in a variety of fields, and perhaps even more important, alumni of English departments report that they find their jobs and lives rewarding. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 'what sets two equally qualified job candidates apart can be as simple as who has the better communication skills.' You are, in many ways, ahead of the game in comparison to others in your cohort. I’d also urge English majors to think broadly about their career options. Yes, fields like journalism, publishing and advertising all rely on the skills developed in English departments. But other employers, particularly in tech companies, have realized how valuable English majors can be to their organization. As a recent report in Fortune indicates, top executives in AI at IBM and elsewhere realize that having expertise in the Humanities is an essential component for success in their field.
Anna Mae Duane: In this respect, I think the advice remains the same no matter what your major. Make sure you have a sense of what a competitive rate is, and negotiate for what you’re worth up front. I’d also recommend that you make sure that your employers know that you are eager to advance, and then take the initiative to show up as a leader whenever possible.