Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median $79,350 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
U.S. median
$79,350
$38.15 per hour
Range
$49,060 – $136,050
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
19,830
across the U.S.
▲3.0%
Pay trend: The median for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary in the U.S. rose from $77,010 (May 2024) to $79,350 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 0.6%.
What foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary do
Teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.2% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 1,600
Employment of foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary is projected to grow 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$64,653
per year · effective tax rate 18.5%
$5,388Monthly
$2,694Twice a month
$2,487Every 2 weeks
$31.08Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,627
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,920
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,151
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,653
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,060 | $23.59 | $41,600 |
| 25th percentile | $62,510 | $30.05 | $52,407 |
| Median (50th) | $79,350 | $38.15 | $64,653 |
| 75th percentile | $102,730 | $49.39 | $81,101 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,050 | $65.41 | $104,256 |
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $101,750 | +25.8% | $80,411 | $64,220 – $157,090 | 150 |
| Delaware | $101,100 | +60.5% | $74,622 | $63,230 – $125,070 | 70 |
| California | $99,860 | −6.1% | $72,726 | $45,580 – $208,410 | 2,170 |
| Massachusetts | $98,750 | +3.2% | $73,583 | $63,100 – $164,060 | 960 |
| Maine | $96,970 | — | $71,611 | $58,280 – $151,460 | 70 |
| New York | $95,120 | +0.9% | $71,175 | $59,290 – $208,840 | 1,520 |
| Oregon | $91,670 | +9.3% | $66,128 | $72,240 – $140,450 | 510 |
| Maryland | $87,280 | +9.3% | $66,449 | $51,920 – $131,060 | 280 |
| Nevada | $84,980 | +4.2% | $68,613 | $64,710 – $107,630 | 90 |
| Michigan | $83,190 | +4.2% | $64,069 | $51,320 – $131,640 | 500 |
| Illinois | $81,530 | +5.7% | $62,295 | $48,920 – $127,070 | 690 |
| South Dakota | $81,080 | +19.3% | $65,870 | $60,430 – $103,830 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $80,650 | +3.0% | $61,606 | $59,820 – $133,440 | 410 |
| Connecticut | $80,630 | −24.2% | $62,694 | $61,610 – $127,900 | 340 |
| Montana | $79,970 | +1.5% | $61,931 | $49,280 – $131,660 | 80 |
| Iowa | $79,880 | +4.7% | $62,642 | $62,470 – $153,640 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $79,060 | +0.9% | $61,603 | $32,220 – $152,430 | 850 |
| District of Columbia | $78,930 | −3.3% | $60,617 | $63,170 – $120,200 | 360 |
| Utah | $78,570 | +20.8% | $61,534 | $37,510 – $122,720 | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $78,490 | +16.6% | $61,268 | $52,340 – $134,470 | 450 |
| Washington | $78,320 | +3.2% | $63,928 | $51,380 – $105,390 | 370 |
| Colorado | $77,840 | +13.5% | $60,874 | $51,780 – $128,910 | 410 |
| South Carolina | $77,790 | +10.4% | $60,045 | $57,620 – $100,190 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,210 | +1.6% | $60,777 | $47,360 – $120,290 | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $76,490 | +65.1% | $62,641 | $47,300 – $79,990 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $76,350 | +18.2% | $62,542 | $48,330 – $105,170 | 310 |
| West Virginia | $76,340 | +21.0% | $59,791 | $50,310 – $90,810 | 40 |
| Florida | $76,230 | +20.7% | $62,458 | $48,550 – $98,810 | 430 |
| Missouri | $76,110 | +14.5% | $59,734 | $46,840 – $146,900 | 330 |
| Louisiana | $75,410 | — | $60,005 | $49,220 – $123,620 | 130 |
| Texas | $75,090 | −2.9% | $61,656 | $39,170 – $126,920 | 1,460 |
| Indiana | $74,590 | +11.5% | $59,133 | $49,840 – $130,970 | 660 |
| Ohio | $74,310 | +20.9% | $59,846 | $38,260 – $103,810 | 960 |
| Virginia | $74,000 | +16.6% | $57,448 | $49,290 – $131,190 | 890 |
| Georgia | $73,370 | +13.9% | $57,261 | $45,550 – $128,580 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $71,720 | −1.3% | $57,080 | $51,350 – $133,860 | 60 |
| Arizona | $71,230 | +4.2% | $57,368 | $60,350 – $118,910 | 360 |
| Alabama | $70,580 | +7.2% | $55,219 | $52,750 – $95,300 | 110 |
| Kansas | $65,890 | +4.2% | $52,246 | $46,190 – $109,250 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $65,630 | −6.4% | $52,734 | $43,920 – $106,600 | 180 |
| North Dakota | $64,540 | — | $54,038 | $42,480 – $94,350 | 30 |
| North Carolina | $63,900 | +5.2% | $51,483 | $46,670 – $105,310 | 690 |
| Arkansas | $62,900 | −0.9% | $50,480 | $45,300 – $82,130 | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $61,580 | +0.1% | $49,434 | $34,640 – $79,940 | 80 |
| Mississippi | $54,670 | +4.5% | $44,653 | $45,380 – $80,860 | 60 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,760 | Doctoral or professional degree | 0.0% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,620 | Master's degree | +2.2% |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,580 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.1% |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,260 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.0% |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,820 | Doctoral or professional degree | 0.0% |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,940 | Doctoral or professional degree | +1.7% |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,250 | Doctoral or professional degree | +17.1% |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,340 | Doctoral or professional degree | +4.0% |
| Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,340 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.7% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $77,640 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary make?
The national median salary for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary is $79,350 a year ($38.15 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,060 and the top 10% earn over $136,050. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary the most?
New Hampshire has the highest median pay at $101,750.
How many foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary are there in the U.S.?
About 19,830 people work as foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary nationwide.