Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. is $79,350, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $79,350
- Mean annual wage
- $89,990
- Median hourly wage
- —
- Employment
- 19,830
19,830 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,060 | — |
| 25th percentile | $62,510 | — |
| Median (50th) | $79,350 | — |
| 75th percentile | $102,730 | — |
| 90th percentile | $136,050 | — |
Highest-paying states for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $101,750 | 150 |
| Delaware | $101,100 | 70 |
| California | $99,860 | 2,170 |
| Massachusetts | $98,750 | 960 |
| Maine | $96,970 | 70 |
| New York | $95,120 | 1,520 |
| Oregon | $91,670 | 510 |
| Maryland | $87,280 | 280 |
| Nevada | $84,980 | 90 |
| Michigan | $83,190 | 500 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $54,670 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $61,580 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $62,900 median annual wage
- North Carolina: $63,900 median annual wage
- North Dakota: $64,540 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- 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.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 2.0% |
| Associate's degree | 1.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 15.1% |
| Master's degree | 30.6% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 48.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,780
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.