Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Languages and literature instructor salary
Average languages and literature instructor salary
$63,651
Average Languages and Literature Instructor Salary
The average salary for a Languages and Literature Instructor in the United States is approximately $63,651 annually or about $31 per hour. This figure can vary based on multiple factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of educational institution. In general, instructors in urban areas or prestigious universities tend to earn higher salaries compared to those in rural or less recognized institutions.
Salary by State
Many states offer competitive salaries for instructors in this field. For instance, states like California and New York frequently rank among the highest-paying locations for languages and literature instructors, reflecting the demand for qualified educators and the cost of living in these regions. Additionally, cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco feature some of the highest salaries in the profession.
Career Opportunities
As a languages and literature instructor, you can explore opportunities in various educational settings, including high schools, colleges, and universities. With the right qualifications and experience, you may also advance to administrative roles or positions focused on curriculum development. Continual professional development and networking within educational communities can further enhance your career trajectory.
Let Zippia find your next languages and literature instructor job
Let Zippia find your next languages and literature instructor job
Where can a Languages And Literature Instructor earn more?
Average languages and literature instructor salary by state
The average languages and literature instructor salary in New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average languages and literature instructor salary states are Texas, Arkansas, and West Virginia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for languages and literature instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $88,049 | $42.33 |
| 2 | New York | $85,087 | $40.91 |
| 3 | Michigan | $79,762 | $38.35 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $86,614 | $41.64 |
| 5 | Vermont | $84,908 | $40.82 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $93,209 | $44.81 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $81,208 | $39.04 |
| 8 | Nevada | $77,541 | $37.28 |
| 9 | Illinois | $85,537 | $41.12 |
| 10 | California | $83,081 | $39.94 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $84,422 | $40.59 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $65,749 | $31.61 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $75,167 | $36.14 |
| 14 | Montana | $67,358 | $32.38 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $74,121 | $35.64 |
| 16 | Washington | $78,304 | $37.65 |
| 17 | Maryland | $73,590 | $35.38 |
| 18 | Iowa | $66,157 | $31.81 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $69,807 | $33.56 |
| 20 | Oregon | $65,564 | $31.52 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $66,411 | $31.93 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $64,050 | $30.79 |
| 23 | Delaware | $66,609 | $32.02 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $75,169 | $36.14 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $80,420 | $38.66 |
| 26 | Indiana | $68,954 | $33.15 |
| 27 | Virginia | $63,761 | $30.65 |
| 28 | Alaska | $64,887 | $31.20 |
| 29 | Florida | $65,009 | $31.25 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $66,010 | $31.74 |
| 31 | Idaho | $67,662 | $32.53 |
| 32 | Ohio | $63,508 | $30.53 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $56,161 | $27.00 |
| 34 | Georgia | $57,035 | $27.42 |
| 35 | Maine | $64,690 | $31.10 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $55,838 | $26.85 |
| 37 | Colorado | $56,064 | $26.95 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $60,276 | $28.98 |
| 39 | Missouri | $63,935 | $30.74 |
| 40 | Utah | $59,058 | $28.39 |
| 41 | Kansas | $60,538 | $29.10 |
| 42 | Arizona | $58,458 | $28.10 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $43,945 | $21.13 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $52,401 | $25.19 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $53,814 | $25.87 |
| 46 | Texas | $51,887 | $24.95 |
| 47 | Alabama | $54,333 | $26.12 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $42,194 | $20.29 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $51,716 | $24.86 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $43,718 | $21.02 |
Highest paying cities for languages and literature instructors
The highest-paying cities for languages and literature instructors are Parkesburg, PA, Buffalo Grove, IL, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkesburg, PA | $86,658 | $41.66 |
| 2 | Buffalo Grove, IL | $86,362 | $41.52 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $86,067 | $41.38 |
| 4 | Clinton, NY | $85,617 | $41.16 |
| 5 | Geneva, IL | $85,578 | $41.14 |
| 6 | Bennington, VT | $85,133 | $40.93 |
| 7 | Springfield, IL | $81,577 | $39.22 |
| 8 | Fort Myers, FL | $65,282 | $31.39 |
| 9 | West Palm Beach, FL | $64,834 | $31.17 |
| 10 | Clarksville, TN | $64,497 | $31.01 |
| 11 | Lexington, MO | $64,090 | $30.81 |
| 12 | Harrisonburg, VA | $63,715 | $30.63 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $57,195 | $27.50 |
Languages and literature instructor salary details
A languages and literature instructor's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $94,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a languages and literature instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| Average | $63,651 | $5,304 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
Highest paying languages and literature instructor jobs
The highest paying types of languages and literature instructors are russian language instructor, adjunct spanish instructor, and foreign language instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Teacher | $52,445 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 54,666 |
| Instructor Of Spanish | $54,930 | $4,578 | $26.41 | 25,516 |
| Foreign Language Teacher | $53,918 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 73,406 |
| World Language Teacher | $53,288 | $4,441 | $25.62 | 73,200 |
| Sign Language Teacher | $54,210 | $4,517 | $26.06 | 73,259 |
| Language Teacher | $51,413 | $4,284 | $24.72 | 74,479 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for languages and literature instructors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Patricia Bayona
Assistant Professor of Spanish, North Central College
Top companies hiring languages and literature instructors now:
Which companies pay languages and literature instructors the most?
Languages and literature instructor salaries at Wentworth Military Academy and College and PSEA are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average languages and literature instructor salary at companies like C2 Education and University of Illinois Springfield are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wentworth Military Academy and College | $86,489 | $41.58 |
| 2 | PSEA | $68,108 | $32.74 |
| 3 | C2 Education | $62,955 | $30.27 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Springfield | $62,107 | $29.86 |
| 5 | Bennington College | $62,066 | $29.84 |
| 6 | Florida Gulf Coast University | $61,295 | $29.47 |
| 7 | Spelman College | $60,022 | $28.86 |
| 8 | Austin Peay State University | $58,325 | $28.04 |
| 9 | Eastern Mennonite University | $56,389 | $27.11 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Languages and literature instructor salary trends
The average languages and literature instructor salary has risen by $9,367 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average languages and literature instructor earned $54,284 annually, but today, they earn $63,651 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for languages and literature instructors over the last decade.
Compare languages and literature instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average languages and literature instructor salary over time
Compare languages and literature instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Languages and literature instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $63,700 | $30.60 | -0.1% |
| 2025 | $63,700 | $30.63 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $61,600 | $29.60 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $59,200 | $28.45 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $57,800 | $27.79 | +3.3% |
Recently added languages and literature instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Tutor-AP Language/Literature-Remote | WFH | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Tutor-AP Language/Literature-Remote | WFH | Chicago, IL | 05/26/2025 | $52,175 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Instructor-Department of Modern Languages and Literatures | Westchester, FL | 05/05/2025 | $68,640 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Tutor-AP Language/Literature-Remote | WFH | Chicago, IL | 03/27/2025 | $52,175 |
| Tpapt | Tutor-AP Language/Literature (Remote) | Chicago, IL | 03/02/2025 | $52,175 |
| Loyola | Affiliate Instructor-Modern Languages & Literatures | Maryland | 02/27/2025 | $48,000 |
| Cambridge Center for Adult Education | Literature Instructor | Cambridge, MA | 12/11/2024 | $52,175 |
| Loyola | Affiliate Instructor-Modern Languages & Literatures | Campus, IL | 11/30/2024 | $48,000 |
| UW Medicine | Asian Languages & Literature | Seattle, WA | 10/24/2024 | $64,800 |
| Cambridge Center for Adult Education | Literature Instructor | Cambridge, MA | 10/10/2024 | $52,175 |
Languages and literature instructor salary FAQs
Search for languages and literature instructor jobs