Best degree programs for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, ranked by enrollment
57 college programs and 1,055 schools train Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $79,350 median wage, 19,830 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
57 college programs at 1,055 schools train foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary, graduating 20,998 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Spanish Language and Literature. The job pays a median of $79,350 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
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.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
57 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 16.0905 | 6,320 | 30.1% | 761 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 2 | CIP 16.0102 | 2,488 | 11.8% | 161 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 3 | CIP 16.0101 | 1,917 | 9.1% | 198 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 4 | CIP 16.0901 | 1,322 | 6.3% | 324 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 5 | CIP 16.1601 | 1,050 | 5.0% | 100 | $32,695 | $25,209 |
| 6 | CIP 16.1200 | 1,000 | 4.8% | 170 | — | $22,560 |
| 7 | CIP 16.0103 | 871 | 4.1% | 77 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 8 | CIP 16.0302 | 783 | 3.7% | 117 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 9 | CIP 16.0501 | 640 | 3.0% | 168 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 10 | CIP 16.0908 | 625 | 3.0% | 31 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 11 | CIP 16.9999 | 546 | 2.6% | 48 | $34,944 | $24,828 |
| 12 | CIP 16.0301 | 524 | 2.5% | 100 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 13 | CIP 13.1330 | 342 | 1.6% | 96 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 14 | CIP 16.0300 | 288 | 1.4% | 28 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 15 | CIP 13.1306 | 264 | 1.3% | 61 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 16 | CIP 16.0402 | 198 | 0.9% | 68 | $60,240 | $5,500 |
| 17 | CIP 16.1101 | 198 | 0.9% | 39 | $48,355 | $15,526 |
| 18 | CIP 16.0902 | 197 | 0.9% | 72 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 19 | CIP 16.0105 | 174 | 0.8% | 25 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 20 | CIP 16.0900 | 129 | 0.6% | 30 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 21 | CIP 16.0500 | 122 | 0.6% | 15 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 22 | CIP 16.0303 | 120 | 0.6% | 20 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 23 | CIP 16.0400 | 108 | 0.5% | 20 | $60,240 | $5,500 |
| 24 | CIP 16.0999 | 96 | 0.5% | 11 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 25 | CIP 16.1299 | 74 | 0.4% | 15 | — | $22,560 |
| 26 | CIP 16.1199 | 73 | 0.3% | 11 | $48,355 | $15,526 |
| 27 | CIP 16.1001 | 72 | 0.3% | 20 | — | — |
| 28 | CIP 16.1103 | 65 | 0.3% | 10 | $48,355 | $15,526 |
| 29 | CIP 16.0399 | 64 | 0.3% | 6 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 30 | CIP 16.0904 | 63 | 0.3% | 15 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 31 | CIP 16.1203 | 38 | 0.2% | 22 | — | $22,560 |
| 32 | CIP 16.1100 | 34 | 0.2% | 6 | $48,355 | $15,526 |
| 33 | CIP 16.1202 | 31 | 0.1% | 16 | — | $22,560 |
| 34 | CIP 13.1325 | 26 | 0.1% | 17 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 35 | CIP 16.1102 | 20 | 0.1% | 6 | $48,355 | $15,526 |
| 36 | CIP 16.0799 | 14 | 0.1% | 1 | — | — |
| 37 | CIP 16.1404 | 13 | 0.1% | 1 | — | — |
| 38 | CIP 16.1409 | 12 | 0.1% | 2 | — | — |
| 39 | CIP 16.0505 | 10 | 0.0% | 2 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 40 | CIP 16.1408 | 8 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 41 | CIP 13.1333 | 7 | 0.0% | 3 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 42 | CIP 16.1602 | 6 | 0.0% | 2 | $32,695 | $25,209 |
| 43 | CIP 16.0502 | 5 | 0.0% | 3 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 44 | CIP 16.0599 | 5 | 0.0% | 1 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 45 | CIP 16.0700 | 5 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 46 | CIP 16.1499 | 5 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 47 | CIP 13.1326 | 4 | 0.0% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 48 | CIP 16.0801 | 4 | 0.0% | 3 | — | — |
| 49 | CIP 30.4701 | 4 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 50 | CIP 16.0601 | 3 | 0.0% | 2 | — | — |
| 51 | Economics and Foreign Language/Literature CIP 30.4001 | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 52 | CIP 16.0201 | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 53 | CIP 16.1301 | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
| 54 | CIP 16.0407 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $60,240 | $5,500 |
| 55 | CIP 16.0499 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $60,240 | $5,500 |
| 56 | CIP 16.0504 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 57 | CIP 16.1401 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $99,860 | 2,170 | 0.93× | 155 | 3,884 |
| Texas | $75,090 | 1,460 | 0.81× | 57 | 1,540 |
| New York | $95,120 | 1,520 | 1.23× | 71 | 1,335 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,210 | 1,060 | 1.37× | 59 | 909 |
| Utah | $78,570 | 180 | 0.83× | 9 | 868 |
| Wisconsin | $78,490 | 450 | 1.21× | 27 | 701 |
| Ohio | $74,310 | 960 | 1.36× | 34 | 633 |
| Georgia | $73,370 | 280 | 0.45× | 22 | 583 |
| Massachusetts | $98,750 | 960 | 2.07× | 35 | 581 |
| North Carolina | $63,900 | 690 | 1.10× | 34 | 568 |
| Illinois | $81,530 | 690 | 0.89× | 39 | 564 |
| Michigan | $83,190 | 500 | 0.88× | 28 | 561 |
| Arizona | $71,230 | 360 | 0.86× | 16 | 474 |
| Washington | $78,320 | 370 | 0.81× | 18 | 454 |
| Florida | $76,230 | 430 | 0.34× | 20 | 450 |
| New Jersey | $79,060 | 850 | 1.55× | 16 | 444 |
| Idaho | — | 30 | 0.30× | 9 | 441 |
| Indiana | $74,590 | 660 | 1.63× | 31 | 437 |
| Virginia | $74,000 | 890 | 1.70× | 24 | 425 |
| Minnesota | $80,650 | 410 | 1.09× | 33 | 407 |
| Maryland | $87,280 | 280 | 0.78× | 19 | 331 |
| Oregon | $91,670 | 510 | 2.03× | 14 | 328 |
| Missouri | $76,110 | 330 | 0.89× | 23 | 306 |
| Colorado | $77,840 | 410 | 1.12× | 19 | 260 |
| Tennessee | $76,350 | 310 | 0.75× | 21 | 255 |
| Connecticut | $80,630 | 340 | 1.56× | 12 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $77,790 | 320 | 1.07× | 19 | 228 |
| District of Columbia | $78,930 | 360 | 3.97× | 6 | 218 |
| Kansas | $65,890 | 140 | 0.78× | 13 | 214 |
| Vermontmoderate | — | 170 | 4.44× | 3 | 186 |
| New Mexico | $71,720 | 60 | 0.55× | 7 | 183 |
| Iowa | $79,880 | 210 | 1.07× | 18 | 171 |
| North Dakota | $64,540 | 30 | 0.58× | 7 | 151 |
| Alabama | $70,580 | 110 | 0.42× | 11 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $65,630 | 180 | 0.72× | 14 | 135 |
| Arkansas | $62,900 | 120 | 0.75× | 11 | 128 |
| Oklahoma | $61,580 | 80 | 0.37× | 13 | 126 |
| Rhode Island | — | 100 | 1.57× | 7 | 123 |
| Mississippi | $54,670 | 60 | 0.38× | 11 | 107 |
| Nevada | $84,980 | 90 | 0.43× | 5 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $75,410 | 130 | 0.52× | 10 | 89 |
| Delawarelimited | $101,100 | 70 | 1.20× | 2 | 69 |
| New Hampshire | $101,750 | 150 | 1.74× | 5 | 64 |
| Maine | $96,970 | 70 | 0.80× | 7 | 54 |
| West Virginiamoderate | $76,340 | 40 | 0.46× | 4 | 41 |
| Montana | $79,970 | 80 | 1.18× | 5 | 38 |
| Alaskamoderate | $76,490 | 80 | 1.96× | 3 | 37 |
| South Dakota | $81,080 | 40 | 0.70× | 6 | 37 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as how to speak and write a foreign language and the cultural aspects of areas where a particular language is used.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media.
- Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Skills
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Learning Strategies4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Monitoring3.6
Knowledge areas
- Foreign Language5.0
- English Language4.4
- Education and Training4.1
- History and Archeology3.3
- Philosophy and Theology3.3
- Sociology and Anthropology3.1
Abilities
- Speech Clarity4.6
- Oral Expression4.3
- Oral Comprehension4.1
- Written Comprehension4.0
- Speech Recognition4.0
- Written Expression4.0
Core activities
- Training and Teaching Others4.4
- Thinking Creatively4.3
- Working with Computers4.3
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.1
- Getting Information3.9
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.9
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Foreign Language
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary18 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.1306Foreign Language Teacher Education
- 13.1325French Language Teacher Education
- 13.1326German Language Teacher Education
- 13.1330Spanish Language Teacher Education
- 13.1333Latin Teacher Education
- 16.0101Foreign Languages and Literatures, General
- 16.0102Linguistics
- 16.0103Language Interpretation and Translation
- 16.0105Applied Linguistics
- 16.0201African Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- 16.0300East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
- 16.0301Chinese Language and Literature
- 16.0302Japanese Language and Literature
- 16.0303Korean Language and Literature
- 16.0304Tibetan Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0399East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
- 16.0400Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
- 16.0401Baltic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics(no graduates reported)
- 16.0402Russian Language and Literature
- 16.0404Albanian Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0405Bulgarian Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0406Czech Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0407Polish Language and Literature
- 16.0408Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian Languages and Literatures(no graduates reported)
- 16.0409Slovak Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Foreign Language?+
Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Spanish Language and Literature, which awarded 6,320 degrees in 2024-25, 30.1% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Foreign Language?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 57 programs to this occupation. The largest are Romance Languages, Linguistic, East Asian Languages, Classics and Classical Languages, plus 15 more. Together they graduate about 20,998 people a year.
How much do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary earn?+
The median is $79,350 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $49,060 at the 10th percentile to $136,050 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary growing?+
BLS projects a -0.2% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 1,900 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
1,055 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 57 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, French Professor, Spanish Professor, Spanish Instructor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1124.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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