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Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeLower pressure

What they do

Teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English. Includes teachers of American Sign Language (ASL). Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $79,350 Median per year Most earn $49,060–$136,050

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.
  • Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 1,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools81.8%
  • Junior colleges16.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not an entry-level job. Most people need a doctoral degree, and the usual route takes roughly 10 years or more of study and early teaching work after high school. The path is long, but many students find it rewarding if they love a language and its literature.

  1. Bachelor's degree in a foreign language or literature

    4 years

    You build strong fluency, study the culture and literature, and often study abroad. This prepares you for graduate school in the language.

  2. Master's degree in the language or literature

    1-2 years

    You go deeper into the language, literary theory, and teaching methods. Some students skip this step and go straight into a doctoral program, and a master's is often a stepping stone.

  3. Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in the language or literature

    4-6 years

    You do advanced research, write a dissertation, and usually teach language or literature courses as a teaching assistant. This teaching experience is what schools look for when hiring.

  4. Lecturer or Adjunct Instructor of a foreign language

    2-4 years

    You teach your own courses on a short-term or part-time contract while you look for a tenure-track position. You build a teaching record and may publish or present research.

  5. Foreign Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary

    Ongoing

    You teach college-level language and literature courses, and may combine teaching with research, depending on the school.

Where it can lead

  1. Associate Professor of Foreign Language

    6-8 years of experience first

    You earn tenure by showing strong teaching, published research, and service to your department and school. You also take on more independent research and student mentoring.

  2. Department Chair of Languages

    5-10 years of experience first

    You manage the department's courses, budget, and staff, and represent it in university decisions. This role requires strong leadership and communication skills in addition to teaching and research.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take all the world language classes your school offersYears of study build the fluency and grammar knowledge you will need for college-level language work.
  • Take English and literature classes seriouslyStrong reading, analysis, and writing skills are essential for studying literature at the graduate level.
  • Join a language club or honor societyClubs give you practice speaking, exposure to cultures, and a community of students who share your interest.
  • Volunteer as a tutor or translator for a community groupHelping others use a second language shows you what teaching is like and builds real-world skills.
  • Look for a summer language program or campImmersive experiences, including ones offered by local colleges or community groups, can sharpen your fluency quickly.

In college

  • Major or minor in the language and its literatureCoursework in literature, linguistics, and culture is the foundation for graduate study in this field.
  • Study abroad in a country where the language is spokenLiving in the language builds fluency and cultural understanding that schools value when hiring teachers.
  • Work as a teaching assistant, grader, or language tutorEarly teaching experience helps you learn how to explain material and shows graduate programs you are ready to teach.
  • Do undergraduate research with a professorResearch experience helps you decide if a doctorate is right for you and gives you material for graduate applications.
  • Present at a student conference or join a language honor societyPresenting your work builds confidence and a record of academic involvement for future applications.

Tips for getting started

  • Keep your language skills sharp by reading, watching films, and speaking with native speakers, since fluency is the core of this career.
  • Get teaching experience early. Tutoring, leading a conversation group, or helping a language teacher shows you enjoy explaining ideas to others.
  • Talk with professors in your language department about graduate school, funding, and what their own career paths looked like.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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