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.
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 |
Best cities for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $99,100 | $73,812 | $68,176 | 630 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $98,600 | $73,418 | $65,224 | 1,460 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $82,890 | $64,598 | $62,990 | 500 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $80,940 | $61,910 | $59,761 | 490 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $79,510 | $60,975 | $56,000 | 650 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $83,310 | $62,837 | $55,331 | 800 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Boston, MA — $99,100
- New York, NY — $98,600
- Los Angeles, CA — $83,310
- Philadelphia, PA — $82,890
- Chicago, IL — $80,940
- Washington, DC — $79,510
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $101,750 | $80,411 | $64,220 – $157,090 | 150 |
| Delaware | $101,100 | $74,622 | $63,230 – $125,070 | 70 |
| California | $99,860 | $72,726 | $45,580 – $208,410 | 2,170 |
| Massachusetts | $98,750 | $73,583 | $63,100 – $164,060 | 960 |
| Maine | $96,970 | $71,611 | $58,280 – $151,460 | 70 |
| New York | $95,120 | $71,175 | $59,290 – $208,840 | 1,520 |
| Oregon | $91,670 | $66,128 | $72,240 – $140,450 | 510 |
| Maryland | $87,280 | $66,449 | $51,920 – $131,060 | 280 |
| Nevada | $84,980 | $68,613 | $64,710 – $107,630 | 90 |
| Michigan | $83,190 | $64,069 | $51,320 – $131,640 | 500 |
| Illinois | $81,530 | $62,295 | $48,920 – $127,070 | 690 |
| South Dakota | $81,080 | $65,870 | $60,430 – $103,830 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $80,650 | $61,606 | $59,820 – $133,440 | 410 |
| Connecticut | $80,630 | $62,694 | $61,610 – $127,900 | 340 |
| Montana | $79,970 | $61,931 | $49,280 – $131,660 | 80 |
| Iowa | $79,880 | $62,642 | $62,470 – $153,640 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $79,060 | $61,603 | $32,220 – $152,430 | 850 |
| District of Columbia | $78,930 | $60,617 | $63,170 – $120,200 | 360 |
| Utah | $78,570 | $61,534 | $37,510 – $122,720 | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $78,490 | $61,268 | $52,340 – $134,470 | 450 |
| Washington | $78,320 | $63,928 | $51,380 – $105,390 | 370 |
| Colorado | $77,840 | $60,874 | $51,780 – $128,910 | 410 |
| South Carolina | $77,790 | $60,045 | $57,620 – $100,190 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,210 | $60,777 | $47,360 – $120,290 | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $76,490 | $62,641 | $47,300 – $79,990 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $76,350 | $62,542 | $48,330 – $105,170 | 310 |
| West Virginia | $76,340 | $59,791 | $50,310 – $90,810 | 40 |
| Florida | $76,230 | $62,458 | $48,550 – $98,810 | 430 |
| Missouri | $76,110 | $59,734 | $46,840 – $146,900 | 330 |
| Louisiana | $75,410 | $60,005 | $49,220 – $123,620 | 130 |
| Texas | $75,090 | $61,656 | $39,170 – $126,920 | 1,460 |
| Indiana | $74,590 | $59,133 | $49,840 – $130,970 | 660 |
| Ohio | $74,310 | $59,846 | $38,260 – $103,810 | 960 |
| Virginia | $74,000 | $57,448 | $49,290 – $131,190 | 890 |
| Georgia | $73,370 | $57,261 | $45,550 – $128,580 | 280 |
| New Mexico | $71,720 | $57,080 | $51,350 – $133,860 | 60 |
| Arizona | $71,230 | $57,368 | $60,350 – $118,910 | 360 |
| Alabama | $70,580 | $55,219 | $52,750 – $95,300 | 110 |
| Kansas | $65,890 | $52,246 | $46,190 – $109,250 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $65,630 | $52,734 | $43,920 – $106,600 | 180 |
| North Dakota | $64,540 | $54,038 | $42,480 – $94,350 | 30 |
| North Carolina | $63,900 | $51,483 | $46,670 – $105,310 | 690 |
| Arkansas | $62,900 | $50,480 | $45,300 – $82,130 | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $61,580 | $49,434 | $34,640 – $79,940 | 80 |
| Mississippi | $54,670 | $44,653 | $45,380 – $80,860 | 60 |
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. After taxes and local prices, Boston, MA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
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.