English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$78,760
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$37.87
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$137,250
entry level starts ~$48,270
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 58,000 employed

How much do English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary make?

The median pay for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States is $78,760 per year — about $37.87 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $48,270, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $137,250.

That is $17,370 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary range by percentile

Half of all English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn between $60,900 and $103,130 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$48,270$23.21
25th percentile (early career)$60,900$29.28
50th percentile (median)$78,760$37.87
75th percentile (experienced)$103,130$49.58
90th percentile (top earners)$137,250$65.99

Highest-paying states for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary pay at $130,490 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($98,650) and Connecticut ($97,310). At the other end, Oklahoma posts the lowest median at $53,200 — a gap of $77,290 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$130,490$62.74+66%
2New Hampshire$98,650$47.43+25%
3Connecticut$97,310$46.78+24%
4Delaware$97,100$46.68+23%
5Oregon$91,870$44.17+17%

Workforce and education

About 58,000 people work as English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $89,580 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary make in the United States?
The median English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary in the United States is $78,760 per year, or about $37.87 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $48,270, while the top 10% of earners make $137,250 or more.
How does English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary median of $78,760 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
California is the highest-paying state for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $130,490 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary work in the United States?
About 58,000 people were employed as English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.