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Foreign language instructor salary
Average foreign language instructor salary
$62,177
Average Foreign Language Instructor Salary
The average salary for a Foreign Language Instructor is approximately $62,177 per year, equating to about $30 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors like location, years of experience, and the specific educational institution. For example, instructors in urban areas often command higher salaries due to the cost of living.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, salaries can reach up to $80,000 or more, reflecting the higher demand for language education. Conversely, regions with lower demand may offer salaries closer to the national average. Additionally, specialized language instructors, such as those teaching less common languages, may find better-paying opportunities in certain markets.
Factors Influencing Salary
- Experience: Entry-level instructors typically earn lower salaries, while those with advanced degrees or several years of experience can significantly increase their earning potential.
- Location: Urban vs. rural settings can greatly affect salary levels.
- Institution Type: Public schools, private institutions, and universities may offer varying pay scales.
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Where can a Foreign Language Instructor earn more?
Foreign language instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average foreign language instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for foreign language instructors are New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York. The lowest average foreign language instructor salary states are Kentucky, New Mexico, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for foreign language instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $87,249 | $41.95 |
| 2 | Vermont | $74,966 | $36.04 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $79,535 | $38.24 |
| 4 | New York | $78,413 | $37.70 |
| 5 | Nevada | $70,686 | $33.98 |
| 6 | California | $76,815 | $36.93 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $75,205 | $36.16 |
| 8 | Michigan | $68,541 | $32.95 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $75,393 | $36.25 |
| 10 | Oregon | $67,034 | $32.23 |
| 11 | Delaware | $63,216 | $30.39 |
| 12 | Florida | $63,326 | $30.45 |
| 13 | Washington | $68,233 | $32.80 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $64,466 | $30.99 |
| 15 | Maryland | $66,715 | $32.07 |
| 16 | Alaska | $66,198 | $31.83 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $63,822 | $30.68 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $61,849 | $29.74 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $63,022 | $30.30 |
| 20 | Montana | $58,729 | $28.24 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $74,521 | $35.83 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $57,216 | $27.51 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $62,424 | $30.01 |
| 24 | Indiana | $61,323 | $29.48 |
| 25 | Virginia | $57,711 | $27.75 |
| 26 | Iowa | $57,030 | $27.42 |
| 27 | Maine | $60,628 | $29.15 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $57,891 | $27.83 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $58,659 | $28.20 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $57,423 | $27.61 |
| 31 | Illinois | $58,499 | $28.12 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $53,942 | $25.93 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $51,930 | $24.97 |
| 34 | Idaho | $58,081 | $27.92 |
| 35 | Texas | $55,693 | $26.78 |
| 36 | Kansas | $53,785 | $25.86 |
| 37 | Colorado | $52,383 | $25.18 |
| 38 | Missouri | $56,577 | $27.20 |
| 39 | Georgia | $51,398 | $24.71 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $47,253 | $22.72 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $51,772 | $24.89 |
| 42 | Ohio | $51,855 | $24.93 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $41,813 | $20.10 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $47,436 | $22.81 |
| 45 | Arizona | $50,193 | $24.13 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $47,966 | $23.06 |
| 47 | Utah | $51,374 | $24.70 |
| 48 | Alabama | $50,005 | $24.04 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $48,233 | $23.19 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $46,942 | $22.57 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $39,638 | $19.06 |
Highest paying cities for foreign language instructors
The highest-paying cities for foreign language instructors are Monterey, CA, Boston, MA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monterey, CA | $81,524 | $39.19 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $79,761 | $38.35 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $78,647 | $37.81 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $74,504 | $35.82 |
| 5 | Bethesda, MD | $66,174 | $31.81 |
| 6 | Greenwich, CT | $63,588 | $30.57 |
| 7 | Panama City, FL | $61,814 | $29.72 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,473 | $28.59 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| 10 | Wilmette, IL | $58,875 | $28.31 |
| 11 | Clarksville, TN | $57,933 | $27.85 |
| 12 | Toledo, OH | $52,107 | $25.05 |
| 13 | Gainesville, GA | $51,581 | $24.80 |
| 14 | Mililani Town, HI | $47,212 | $22.70 |
Foreign language instructor salary details
A foreign language instructor's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $87,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a foreign language instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| Average | $62,177 | $5,181 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
Highest paying foreign language instructor jobs
The highest paying types of foreign language instructors are russian language instructor, adjunct spanish instructor, and spanish language lecturer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Teacher | $52,445 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 54,666 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| Instructor Of Spanish | $54,930 | $4,578 | $26.41 | 25,516 |
| Language Teacher | $51,413 | $4,284 | $24.72 | 74,479 |
| English Language Teacher | $57,831 | $4,819 | $27.80 | 74,779 |
| Adjunct Instructor | $52,030 | $4,336 | $25.01 | 40,633 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for foreign language instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Larry Herzberg Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Asian Languages, Director of Asian Studies, Calvin University
Suppose you only have a B.A. in Asia-related subjects. In that case, you will need to seek a job in the business world, in government work, or in gaining expertise in computers so that you can combine your knowledge of an East Asian language with a job that pays a decent salary.
Top companies hiring foreign language instructors now:
Which companies pay foreign language instructors the most?
Foreign language instructor salaries at Middlebury College and Indiana University of Pennsylvania are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average foreign language instructor salary at companies like Saint Joseph's University and *n/a* are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlebury College | $79,814 | $38.37 |
| 2 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | $73,530 | $35.35 |
| 3 | Saint Joseph's University | $68,166 | $32.77 |
| 4 | *n/a* | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| 5 | CIA Inc | $63,056 | $30.32 |
| 6 | ICA Language Services | $62,535 | $30.06 |
| 7 | Austin Peay State University | $62,307 | $29.96 |
| 8 | Leidos | $61,852 | $29.74 |
| 9 | ASA College | $61,624 | $29.63 |
| 10 | Research Foundation of The City University of New York | $58,927 | $28.33 |
| 11 | Language Stars | $54,302 | $26.11 |
| 12 | Lakeview Academy | $52,990 | $25.48 |
| 13 | The Town Of Greenwich, Ct | $51,980 | $24.99 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Foreign language instructor salary trends
The average foreign language instructor salary has risen by $9,151 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average foreign language instructor earned $53,026 annually, but today, they earn $62,177 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for foreign language instructors over the last decade.
Compare foreign language instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average foreign language instructor salary over time
Compare foreign language instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Foreign language instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,200 | $29.89 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | $62,200 | $29.92 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $60,100 | $28.92 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $57,800 | $27.79 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $56,500 | $27.15 | +3.3% |
Recently added foreign language instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leidos | Foreign Language Instructor | Vienna, VA | 06/10/2025 | $89,700 |
| Rhode Island College | Foreign Language Instructors, Upward Bound Summer Program | Providence, RI | 06/10/2025 | $30,000 |
| Leidos | Foreign Language Instructor | Vienna, VA | 05/27/2025 | $89,700 |
| Leidos | Foreign Language Instructor | Vienna, VA | 04/29/2025 | $89,700 |
| The University of Oklahoma Human Resources | Temporary Instructor-OU Upward Bound Foreign Language | Norman, OK | 04/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| Kilgore College | Upward Bound Instructor (Summer Component)-Foreign Language | Kilgore, TX | 04/17/2025 | $93,915 |
| Educate Kansas | Esol Building Coordinator or Foreign Language Instructor | Colby, KS | 04/04/2025 | $48,249 |
| Join Our Team of Difference Makers | Temporary Upward Bound Foreign Language Instructor-Trio Programs | Azusa, CA | 03/30/2025 | $49,211 |
| North Shore Community College | Summer Instructor (Learning Specialist) Foreign Language, Trio Upward Bound Program | Lynn, MA | 03/29/2025 | $74,089 |
| North Orange County Community College District | Foreign Language Instructor (Chinese) Pool | Anaheim, CA | 03/24/2025 | $72,614 |
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