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English instructor salary
Average english instructor salary
$53,915
Understanding the Average Salary of English Instructors
The average salary for an English instructor in the United States is approximately $53,915 per year or about $26 per hour. This figure reflects the various roles that English instructors can take on, from teaching in K-12 schools to community colleges and universities. Salaries may vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and the specific institution.
Regional Salary Variations
In certain states, English instructors can earn substantially more. For example, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for qualified educators. Additionally, instructors with advanced degrees or specialized certifications can command higher wages, enhancing their earning potential.
Career Opportunities
English instructors have the opportunity to teach various subjects, including literature, composition, and creative writing, which can further impact their salary. Those looking to maximize their earnings should consider pursuing advanced degrees or positions in high-demand areas. Overall, the field offers a range of possibilities for both entry-level and experienced professionals.
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Where can an English Instructor earn more?
English instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average english instructor salary by state
The average english instructor salary in California, Rhode Island, and Nevada are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average english instructor salary states are Florida, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for english instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $69,290 | $33.31 |
| 2 | California | $69,854 | $33.58 |
| 3 | Delaware | $66,931 | $32.18 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $69,541 | $33.43 |
| 5 | New York | $66,393 | $31.92 |
| 6 | Texas | $64,810 | $31.16 |
| 7 | Montana | $58,889 | $28.31 |
| 8 | Utah | $63,494 | $30.53 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $68,280 | $32.83 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $62,304 | $29.95 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $59,753 | $28.73 |
| 12 | Vermont | $61,086 | $29.37 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $55,937 | $26.89 |
| 14 | Oregon | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| 15 | Maryland | $60,064 | $28.88 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $54,209 | $26.06 |
| 17 | Alaska | $54,497 | $26.20 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $63,428 | $30.49 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $55,459 | $26.66 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $65,047 | $31.27 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $58,397 | $28.08 |
| 22 | Idaho | $54,758 | $26.33 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $55,873 | $26.86 |
| 24 | Michigan | $48,837 | $23.48 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $49,681 | $23.89 |
| 26 | Ohio | $50,117 | $24.09 |
| 27 | Maine | $54,377 | $26.14 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $51,179 | $24.61 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $50,069 | $24.07 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $45,026 | $21.65 |
| 31 | Arizona | $49,561 | $23.83 |
| 32 | Iowa | $47,037 | $22.61 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $47,752 | $22.96 |
| 34 | Georgia | $45,765 | $22.00 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $47,429 | $22.80 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $44,789 | $21.53 |
| 37 | Missouri | $50,716 | $24.38 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $43,155 | $20.75 |
| 39 | Virginia | $44,628 | $21.46 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $47,889 | $23.02 |
| 41 | Washington | $50,352 | $24.21 |
| 42 | Kansas | $47,293 | $22.74 |
| 43 | Colorado | $42,961 | $20.65 |
| 44 | Florida | $42,962 | $20.65 |
| 45 | Alabama | $45,826 | $22.03 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania | $44,099 | $21.20 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $40,981 | $19.70 |
| 48 | Illinois | $43,623 | $20.97 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $42,418 | $20.39 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $38,901 | $18.70 |
| 51 | Indiana | $31,758 | $15.27 |
Highest paying cities for english instructors
The highest-paying cities for english instructors are Santa Rosa, CA, Reno, NV, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $76,326 | $36.70 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $73,171 | $35.18 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $66,454 | $31.95 |
| 4 | West Orange, NJ | $62,564 | $30.08 |
| 5 | Newton, MA | $58,366 | $28.06 |
| 6 | Eugene, OR | $56,399 | $27.11 |
| 7 | Cleveland, TN | $55,830 | $26.84 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $55,486 | $26.68 |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | $53,959 | $25.94 |
| 10 | Vancouver, WA | $51,008 | $24.52 |
| 11 | Kansas City, MO | $50,783 | $24.41 |
| 12 | Athens, OH | $49,533 | $23.81 |
| 13 | Bowling Green, KY | $47,469 | $22.82 |
| 14 | Hutchinson, KS | $47,310 | $22.75 |
| 15 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $47,251 | $22.72 |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $45,174 | $21.72 |
| 17 | Richmond, VA | $44,362 | $21.33 |
| 18 | Glenview, IL | $43,840 | $21.08 |
| 19 | Florence, SC | $43,532 | $20.93 |
| 20 | Winter Garden, FL | $43,301 | $20.82 |
English instructor salary details
An english instructor's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $82,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an english instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $53,915 | $4,493 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying english instructor jobs
The highest paying types of english instructors are language instructor, english language teacher, and english professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Fellow | $44,040 | $3,670 | $21.17 | 40,551 |
| English As A Second Language Teacher | $55,428 | $4,619 | $26.65 | 97,211 |
| High School English Teacher | $50,369 | $4,197 | $24.22 | 71,673 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| Writing Tutor | $25,557 | $2,130 | $12.29 | 16,653 |
| English Language Teacher | $57,831 | $4,819 | $27.80 | 74,779 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for english instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David McMahan Ph.D.
Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College
Which companies pay english instructors the most?
English instructor salaries at Kern Community College District and Central State University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average english instructor salary at companies like Dillard University and Loyola Marymount University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kern Community College District | $109,640 | $52.71 |
| 2 | Central State University | $74,869 | $35.99 |
| 3 | Dillard University | $67,149 | $32.28 |
| 4 | Loyola Marymount University | $66,745 | $32.09 |
| 5 | Rutgers University | $66,423 | $31.93 |
| 6 | Suffolk University | $65,265 | $31.38 |
| 7 | Haywood Community College | $65,120 | $31.31 |
| 8 | Truckee Meadows Community College | $64,738 | $31.12 |
| 9 | Stonehill College | $64,523 | $31.02 |
| 10 | Florida Technical College | $64,183 | $30.86 |
| 11 | University of Illinois Springfield | $63,986 | $30.76 |
| 12 | Bunker Hill Community College | $61,914 | $29.77 |
| 13 | Daymar College | $61,766 | $29.70 |
| 14 | State College of Florida | $60,683 | $29.17 |
| 15 | Cape Fear Academy | $60,391 | $29.03 |
| 16 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $60,124 | $28.91 |
| 17 | PSEA | $59,933 | $28.81 |
| 18 | Hutchinson Community College | $57,173 | $27.49 |
| 19 | Seton High School | $57,086 | $27.45 |
| 20 | WholeRen Education | $55,497 | $26.68 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
English instructor salary trends
The average english instructor salary has risen by $5,931 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average english instructor earned $47,984 annually, but today, they earn $53,915 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for english instructors over the last decade.
Compare english instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average english instructor salary over time
Compare english instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
English instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,900 | $25.92 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | $53,500 | $25.73 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $52,000 | $25.02 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $50,700 | $24.38 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $49,800 | $23.94 | +2.7% |
Recently added english instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota University System | English Instructor | Devils Lake, ND | 06/27/2025 | $43,000 |
| American Straight A Academy | English Instructor | Irvine, CA | 06/23/2025 | $73,045 |
| Schenectady County Community | English Instructor-Suny Schenectady County Community College | Schenectady, NY | 06/15/2025 | $49,978 |
| Salem-Keizer School District | Social Studies/English Instructor-Residential Construction School Year-Ctec | Salem, OR | 06/14/2025 | $50,111 |
| Oregon Public Schools | Social Studies/English Instructor-Residential Construction School Year-Ctec | Salem, OR | 06/14/2025 | $50,111 |
| Mason City School District | English Instructor-Live Oaks SY | Mason, OH | 06/13/2025 | $47,940 |
| University of South Carolina | English Instructor | Cope, SC | 06/11/2025 | $50,000 |
| Pleasanton | English Instructor | Pleasanton, CA | 06/07/2025 | $52,175 |
| State of Virginia | Instructor of English | Danville, VA | 06/03/2025 | $55,000 |
| Berlitz | English Instructor | Odenton, MD | 05/29/2025 | $39,653 |
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