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How Much Does an English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary Make?

An english language and literature teacher, postsecondary in the US earns a median salary of $78,760 a year (BLS, May 2025). The average is $89,580, and the middle half earn between $60,900 and $103,130.

Median a year $78,760
Median a week $1,515
Median a month $6,563
Average a year $89,580

English language and literature teacher, postsecondary pay range

What english language and literature teachers, postsecondary earn at each point of the pay scale. The 10th percentile is a rough guide to starting pay.

Percentile A year An hour
10th (lowest 10%) $48,270 –
25th $60,900 –
Median (50th) $78,760 –
75th $103,130 –
90th (top 10%) $137,250 –

The median is 54% more than the $50,980 median for all US jobs. About 57,720 people work as english language and literature teachers, postsecondary in the US.

After tax and by period

A week
$1,515
Every two weeks
$3,029
Twice a month
$3,282
A month
$6,563

At the median salary, before tax.

English language and literature teacher, postsecondary salary by state

Sorted by average pay. California pays english language and literature teachers, postsecondary the most, at $134,950 a year on average.

State Average Median Jobs After tax
California $134,950 $130,490 5,460 After tax
New York $104,260 $84,850 6,110 After tax
Massachusetts $103,940 $83,980 2,900 After tax
Oregon $101,490 $91,870 960 After tax
New Hampshire $99,470 $98,650 230 After tax
Delaware $99,090 $97,100 – After tax
Connecticut $98,200 $97,310 940 After tax
Vermont $95,840 $86,870 170 After tax
District of Columbia $95,530 $82,300 410 After tax
Michigan $94,670 $90,240 1,730 After tax
Maine $93,890 $84,290 230 After tax
Maryland $93,770 $83,760 830 After tax
Rhode Island $92,970 $79,190 540 After tax
Wisconsin $92,220 $80,800 840 After tax
New Jersey $88,440 $78,760 1,950 After tax
Nebraska $88,050 $78,450 500 After tax
Arizona $87,830 $76,990 870 After tax
Pennsylvania $87,040 $80,670 2,530 After tax
Minnesota $86,950 $84,200 920 After tax
Texas $86,400 $78,900 4,310 After tax
Indiana $82,520 $69,180 1,000 After tax
Virginia $82,420 $67,330 1,810 After tax
New Mexico $82,010 $66,450 230 After tax
Washington $81,800 $79,840 1,000 After tax
Alaska $81,200 $82,770 90 After tax
Nevada $81,100 $85,830 280 After tax
Illinois $80,140 $77,570 2,570 After tax
Missouri $79,580 $73,070 1,040 After tax
Utah $78,770 $73,280 420 After tax
Colorado $78,420 $72,910 1,220 After tax
Iowa $78,230 $79,720 510 After tax
Montana $77,540 $73,160 130 After tax
Puerto Rico $76,580 $73,490 130
South Carolina $76,390 $64,470 840 After tax
Ohio $74,050 $65,140 2,240 After tax
Louisiana $72,690 $60,350 430 After tax
Kansas $72,240 $62,340 460 After tax
Georgia $71,890 $65,530 1,140 After tax
Tennessee $70,650 $64,220 1,150 After tax
Kentucky $70,580 $65,090 540 After tax
North Dakota $70,400 $63,690 120 After tax
Wyoming $69,610 $62,030 140 After tax
West Virginia $69,180 $63,280 250 After tax
North Carolina $68,270 $63,370 2,140 After tax
South Dakota $65,870 $62,960 110 After tax
Alabama $65,490 $62,910 1,040 After tax
Florida $64,490 $59,740 2,480 After tax
Arkansas $64,210 $56,520 320 After tax
Mississippi $59,850 $60,680 530 After tax
Oklahoma $59,080 $53,200 500 After tax

A dash means BLS did not publish that figure for the state.

Other education and library jobs

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (published 2026), for “English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary” (SOC 25-1123). Wages are before tax and leave out self-employed workers. All job salaries

About the Job Salaries

Job Salaries shows what more than 500 US jobs pay, from nurses and electricians to software developers and truck drivers. Each job has its median and average salary, hourly and monthly pay, the pay range from the lowest-paid 10% to the top 10%, and a table of pay in every state. The figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the largest survey of US pay, in its latest release.

How to use it

  1. 1 Search for a job or pick one from the list.
  2. 2 Read the median salary, hourly pay and the pay range.
  3. 3 Check the salary by state to see where the job pays most.
  4. 4 Open the take-home pay calculator to see the salary after tax.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an english language and literature teacher, postsecondary make a month?

At the median salary of $78,760, an english language and literature teacher, postsecondary earns about $6,563 a month before tax, or $3,029 every two weeks.

Which state pays english language and literature teachers, postsecondary the most?

California has the highest average pay for an english language and literature teacher, postsecondary, at $134,950 a year. Next are New York and Massachusetts. Pay is usually higher where living costs are higher, so compare take-home pay too.

What is the starting salary for an english language and literature teacher, postsecondary?

The lowest-paid 10% of english language and literature teachers, postsecondary earn less than $48,270 a year, and the lowest 25% less than $60,900. That is a fair guide to starting pay, which depends on the state, the employer and your experience.

How much do the highest-paid english language and literature teachers, postsecondary make?

The top 10% earn more than $137,250 a year, and the top 25% more than $103,130.