Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for spanish professors in the United States
Are spanish professor jobs in demand?
Spanish professor job and salary trends over time
Spanish professor jobs over time
Spanish professor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 569 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 548 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 565 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 566 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 571 | 0.00% |
Average spanish professor salary over time
Spanish professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,359 | $25.65 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | $53,237 | $25.59 | --0.6% |
| 2023 | $53,566 | $25.75 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $51,246 | $24.64 | --2.5% |
| 2021 | $52,563 | $25.27 | +5.1% |
Spanish professor jobs by state
Most common states for spanish professors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 82 | 12% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 50 | 8% |
| 3 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 397 | 7% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 124 | 7% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 459 | 5% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 210 | 5% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 95 | 5% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 46 | 5% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 826 | 4% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 322 | 4% |
| 11 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 173 | 4% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 135 | 4% |
| 13 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 119 | 4% |
| 14 | Alaska | 739,795 | 33 | 4% |
| 15 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 848 | 3% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 441 | 3% |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 207 | 3% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 160 | 3% |
| 19 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 145 | 3% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 34 | 3% |
Most common cities for spanish professors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enfield | 1 | 2% | $69,097 |
| 2 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $79,199 |
| 3 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $69,187 |
| 4 | Springfield | 1 | 1% | $79,149 |
Spanish Professor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of spanish professor experts
Kean University
North Carolina State University
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Ashford University
Arizona State University
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
University of La Verne
Rutgers University
Concordia College
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Northern Illinois University
AGWA - American Grant Writers' Association, Inc.
Texas State University
University of Minnesota Crookston
Boise State University
Furman University
University of Tennessee
Elmira College
What will help Spanish Professors increase their earning potential?
Alex Holte PhD: When you are starting out at any career, it is important to negotiate your salary. Many candidates feel that they have to accept their first offer, but in reality, at many jobs, there is some room for negotiation. Be mindful however, to not request a salary that is much higher than what is being offered as they may feel like a compromise would not be possible and move on to the next candidate.
What general advice would you give to a Spanish Professor?
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: First, I would tell all students that it is VERY different from teaching k-12. Unlike K-12, you are not placed in a school with a teaching job upon graduation; teaching in higher education is one of the most competitive fields, period. The next difference is that you are expected to be an expert/ master of your field. If you're also willing to accept that you will likely have to work as an adjunct professor (for low pay) first, then go for it! Teaching in higher education is the most rewarding job, especially for people who love learning.
Jane Kuandre
Associate ProfessorWhat will help Spanish Professors increase their earning potential?
Jane Kuandre: Networking is crucial for career advancement in academia as it allows individuals to establish collaborations, gain access to resources, and stay updated on the latest research trends.
Senior Lecturer Isabelle Hall Program coordinator
Senior LecturerThe University of Texas at San Antonio
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a Spanish Professor?
Senior Lecturer Isabelle Hall Program coordinator: Every semester I teach 4 classes: 13 credits total. ( 3 language acquisition classes and one culture or literature related class in English (the class is cross-listed with Comparative Studies Humanities and /or Humanities). Day to day: preparing for classes, teaching, grading, talking to students as a group or individually, answering emails, planning extracurricular activities,... Weekly: If the professor is in charge of the Language Club, then we participate in at least one event a week. Tutoring: We have quite a few of those hours toward the end of the semesters. Most professors are part of committees that require bi-monthly meetings or more. Entering the field: Many hours of preparation daily.
What Spanish Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Senior Lecturer Isabelle Hall Program coordinator: Teaching has to be a passion. The interaction with the students is extremely rewarding. The quality of the team of professors we work along with is essential to everyone's well-being in the department. In my case, I have extraordinary colleagues and leadership. The paycheck is lower than other positions with similar degrees. We often work 6 days a week (especially at the beginning) and we usually work in the summer to prep, do research, take students abroad, participate in conferences ...
What will help Spanish Professors increase their earning potential?
Senior Lecturer Isabelle Hall Program coordinator: A language professor is a good field to enter now because there are not as many of us as 15 years ago. Every year, I receive multiple emails searching for teachers and professors in San Antonio or elsewhere. But on the other hand, the Roman languages are not as popular as they used to be. (The highest demand at this point is for French high school teachers). I have noticed that today, the professors who are fluent in multiple languages or have diverse backgrounds (Film, Business, International relations, ... ) have an advantage. There is a growing number of Professional language classes.
Fabio Lanza
ProfessorAshford University
History
What will help Spanish Professors increase their earning potential?
Fabio Lanza: Difficult to say, given how quickly things change. Digital humanities was and still is fashionable and important. Public history (museum, exhibitions, outreach). And teaching.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Spanish Professor job market given the pandemic?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: In the coming years, there will be more need than ever for well-trained teachers in all levels and aspects of schools. There will also be a need to support partnerships with community organizations, family outreach, libraries, and extra-curricular kinds of support to support the academic and social emotion needs of children and their families. There will also be great need for highly skilled teachers in supporting students in digital forms of literacy, writing, and reading practices.
What Spanish Professor 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.
Dr. Ann Hills
Associate Professor of Spanish & ChairUniversity of La Verne
Modern Languages Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Spanish Professor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Ann Hills: A general trend, regardless of profession, is adaptability: as technologies evolve to meet the demands of the so-called "new normal," so too must the workforce. Job applicants will need to demonstrate the willingness and ability to navigate a pandemic and post-pandemic landscape by adapting to changes in the way tasks are carried out. It's likely that organizations will retain work practices and modalities that have proved to be efficient, safer, reduce costs, or are otherwise beneficial, so it would behoove candidates to add the necessary skills to their skill set, such as the ability to work remotely and utilize current technologies in a productive way.
Many of our language graduates intend to pursue a job in education, which has undergone a radical transformation (as anyone who is a teacher, a student, or shares a household with a student can attest), and it seems likely that the remote/hybrid learning models will continue long after the pandemic. Beyond a working knowledge of Zoom and good bandwidth, educators will need to demonstrate pedagogical flexibility, innovation, and creativity; the ability to engage students; and empathy towards students.
Another trend is the influence of the healthcare profession-the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy well before Covid-19-on other professions. In recent years, I've observed many alignments and collaborations between language professionals and the public health sector. Foreign language proficiency and cross-cultural knowledge and sensitivity are invaluable assets across many positions in healthcare organizations, such as translators and interpreters, hospital language & culture specialists, and public health policymakers, to name just a few.
What technical skills for a Spanish Professor stand out to employers?
Dr. Ann Hills: Most jobs these days require a modicum of technical skills, including those oriented around language and culture. In addition to solid research, critical thinking, written and oral skills-part and parcel of a language, literature or linguistics major's expertise-candidates are now expected to demonstrate more technical skills, such as information and multimodal literacies.
For educators at all levels of instruction, the conversion of in-person classes to distance learning has made competence in different types of "Edtech" (education technology) essential. Proficiency with videoconferencing platforms, virtual learning environments, collaboration software, and other digital technologies is extremely advantageous (if not obligatory!). Another impressive skill is website design.
It continues to be important to highlight the "soft skills," such as adaptability, creativity, time management, collaborative decision making and effective communication.
What's a good job out of college for Spanish Professors?
Dr. Ann Hills: The coronavirus has had a devastating effect on many industries and, by extension, job options. Pre-pandemic, I would routinely suggest that language students consider positions in countries in which their language(s) of study are spoken. Many recent graduates teach English abroad right out of college, allowing them to earn money as well as cross-cultural and professional experience; current times have made such opportunities more challenging.
Nevertheless, I believe that graduates with degrees in languages and cultures have skill sets and knowledge that can be translated (pardon the pun) into many fields that continue to be in high demand-indeed, into some fields that are in even higher demand as a result of the pandemic, such as education, healthcare and community engagement. Students of language and culture tend to have a highly developed sense of understanding of, empathy for, and often experience communicating and working with, diverse populations; organizations and private sector employers are realizing that these are critical traits in today's global society and markets, as are concerns for inclusion and equity. In addition to positions that specifically require multilingualism, those that call for critical thinking, superior verbal and written communication skills, and linguistic sophistication should be a good fit for language majors as well.
There are many variables that make a job "good," of course: a livable wage, a reasonable work-life balance, a supportive and respectful environment, a rewarding work product... If you're not fortunate enough to attain your dream job right away-few people are!-take stock of your true passions and future career goals. Consider an entry level job in your desired field or an allied field: this allows you to bank valuable knowledge and experience in that area as you give it a "test drive." If you're interested in education but don't find an available teaching position, apply as a tutor, teaching assistant or substitute teacher. If your passion is literary translation, earn some practical experience working for a commercial translation company.
It's my hope that with determination, creativity and a strong work ethic, we can face the challenges occasioned by the pandemic and find new opportunities for productive collaborations.
Marcy Schwartz Ph.D.
Professor and ChairRutgers University
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Spanish Professor job market given the pandemic?
Marcy Schwartz Ph.D.: We're going to see a shift in emphasis as some newer technologies have been taking off, and other job opportunities (such as tourism, travel, retail and hospitality) have retracted. Hopefully that retraction is temporary, and a gradual return to normal patterns in business, leisure, education, hotel and restaurant management, etc., will recover. Media work, marketing, tech support (in higher education, this is booming as we need more and more support for remote teaching and events), health professions, human resources, social services, and alternative energy sources and engineering seem to be strong.
What technical skills for a Spanish Professor stand out to employers?
Marcy Schwartz Ph.D.: This depends entirely on the industry and the type of work, but clearly the more digitally savvy, the better. World language skills are also key -- interpersonal skills are always valued and all areas of the work force need to prioritize hiring employees who speak languages other than English.
What's a good job out of college for Spanish Professors?
Marcy Schwartz Ph.D.: A good first job out of college should be a training ground in all kinds of professional and life skills. A job that requires multiple skills and tasks allows the candidate to be building professional skills in a broad way, for example, a position that requires marketing, grant writing, and customer relations keeps the candidate from being pigeon-holed in one industry or job sector. Make the most of every opportunity!
Dr. Alexander Aldrich Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorConcordia College
World Languages and Cultures
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Spanish Professor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Alexander Aldrich Ph.D.: Research has found that, even prior to the pandemic, bilingual workers earned more take-home pay than their monolingual counterparts in the U.S. labor market. A tighter job market will only make prospective bilingual employees more competitive over monolingual applicants for the same job than before. In my opinion, a pandemic is a great time to study a world language!
What skills stand out on Spanish Professor resumes?
Dr. Alexander Aldrich Ph.D.: We've seen how businesses have had to adapt to the upheaval presented by the pandemic. The skill of adaptability is one that I would certainly look for if I were a hiring manager. What other job candidates would exhibit this better than someone who has learned a world language and the culture of its people? Learning a new language and culture is the very essence of learning to adapt.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Spanish Professors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Alexander Aldrich Ph.D.: Recent market research done by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) found that the top business areas in greatest need of foreign language skills are customer service, sales, marketing, management, and IT. One in four businesses in the U.S. lost opportunities for growth because they didn't have the foreign language skills needed among their employees. Thus, focusing only on trades that require one to be bilingual (e.g., translation, interpretation, world language education) would be missing the mark. The data are telling: foreign language skills are needed everywhere in the U.S. today, and that need is only going to increase.
What Spanish Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Suzanne Kemp Ph.D.: They need to stay engaged in some level of working with people with disabilities. If they do something that isn't relevant to the field, they won't be as marketable as a new graduate.
Linda Saborío
Associate Professor and Assistant ChairNorthern Illinois University
World Languages and Cultures
What experience really stands out on Spanish Professor resumes?
Linda Saborío: For foreign language majors, study abroad experiences stand out on a resume because they demonstrate an in-depth cultural immersion from living and learning how to thrive in an environment unlike your own. Many employers will view a study abroad experience as a moment of personal growth and independence, especially among younger candidates. Also, any volunteer work with non-profit organizations in other countries will stand out on a resume.
What Spanish Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Linda Saborío: With second language acquisition, it is of utmost importance to continue practicing that language. This means that students needing to take a gap year should consider finding ways to immerse themselves in experiences where they will be using the target language. Many students opt for volunteer work with international NGOs and non-profit organizations. Before agreeing to work for any aid organization, however, you do need to research the organization's quality and standards, their expectations of you and vice versa, and what, if any, will be your out-of-pocket expenses.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Spanish Professors in the next 3-5 years?
Linda Saborío: The recent switch in classroom modality from a traditional classroom to virtual learning has led to innovative technology uses in the foreign language classroom. Technology tools provide students with opportunities to connect to foreign lands, where they can be introduced to a different perspective and experience a distinct way of life. There are many innovative and interactive tools available, including Quizlet, Flipgrid, and Audacity; music videos, blogs, and even video chats with partners in another country are all excellent tools for second language acquisition.
In terms of translation technology, one cannot ignore the rapid changes in accuracy. The current technology, neural machine translation, reaches near human-level performance for direct translation. However, language localization, the process of translating images, idiomatic expressions, and a product's overall adaptability from one country to another, requires cultural understanding beyond current technological capabilities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Spanish Professors?
John Porter Ph.D.: Grant writing is a very consistent business. It does not matter if the market is up or down or which party is in office. If the economy is down and money is tight, business tends to turn towards grant funding to supplement revenue. If the economy is strong, the company has a little extra cash and is willing to explore grant funding.
When unemployment rises and it isn't easy to find employment, more people will start their own business. If that business is a non-profit, it could receive grant funding for their programs and activities.
Grant writing is an excellent full-time, and part-time opportunity. Many, mostly non-profit organizations, seek Certified Grant Writers to help compensate for the lack of revenue, which has occurred from the recent economic shutdown. Independent Grant Consultants have a lot of control over the number and type of clients they work with, from a few each month to as many as there is time to do.
Certified Grant Writers are in high demand to compensate for issues like the recovery from the economic shutdown, rising taxes, and other financial strains,
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Spanish Professors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rodney Rohde Ph.D.: There are large vacancy rates all over the country. This is a good news/bad news issue. However, with a degree in medical laboratory science (also known as a clinical laboratory science) AND certification, one can find employment anywhere in the U.S. One of the great things about this career is that graduates honestly can decide where they "fit best" with regard to geography and employer (urban, rural, large, or small).
Dr. Margaretha Rudstrom
LecturerUniversity of Minnesota Crookston
Agriculture and Natural Resources Department
What Spanish Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Margaretha Rudstrom: I am taking this from the perspective of an agribusiness major.
If a student isn't able to land a position within their field of study, I would suggest they work on their people skills and stay up to date with what is happening in the markets, ag policy, and agriculture. Staying up to date means following the popular press in the areas you have a career interest in. That could mean following the news from places like Drovers, local and national producer associations, or congressional or senate ag committees. This will help keep you up to date on what's happening in the areas you have an interest in or are looking for a career.
I seem to be harping on the people skills piece. Get experience in working with customers, customer service, customer complaints. These experiences will help you develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and communication skills sought after by employers.
Dr. Lori Gray
Associate Professor: Director of Music EducationBoise State University
Department of Music Education
What type of skills will young Spanish Professors need?
Dr. Lori Gray: For the past several years, it has been clear that employers are seeking graduates with 21st Century Learning Skills (critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration). The four Cs of 21st Century Learning frequently come up during reference calls on my end and interviews for our recent graduates.
I would add that graduates need a strong work ethic, an understanding of professionalism and respect in the workplace, and self-awareness and an understanding of personal needs and limitations both at work and in their personal lives. In these current living conditions during a global pandemic (COVID-19), graduates also need resilience, perseverance, adaptability, and flexibility. These are all skills I would want for our Music Education majors to cultivate, as the climate in K-12 Education is ever-changing. However, I believe these are all skills that would be useful in any new career path.
Nathan Brown Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of FrenchFurman University
Department of Classics
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Spanish Professors to find work opportunities?
Nathan Brown Ph.D.: When you decide to become an academic, your ability to choose where you live geographically is fairly limited. You must go where the jobs are, and it is hard to predict that year to year! My advice is this: decide if there are regions of the country you could just simply never live, and then refrain from applying to institutions in those areas. That being said, college towns are known to be cool places that typically have good cultural activities, interesting food options, and a well of potential, like-minded friends. In short, I think graduates need to keep an open mind about geographic locations. There are many many awesome places to live in the US.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Spanish Professors to find work opportunities?
Jessie Grieser: Linguists have wonderful flexibility in career opportunities, which benefits us greatly. Bachelor's degree linguists work as editors, as programmers, as nonprofit organizers, in a second language and translation work, and many, many others. This gives many opportunities to find entry-level work across a wide variety of places.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Spanish Professors in the next 3-5 years?
Rebecca Sarver: The use of remote and virtual meetings will continue even after COVID-19. Face to face meetings may still be the preferred method of contact, but the reality is that many clients who need to access services do not have reliable and consistent transportation to get to the services. Phones and computers enable more convenient meetings that are less costly in terms of time and travel. Some clients may prefer not to leave their homes.