Occupation · SOC 25-1123
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Median wage
$78,270
$47,540–$154,800
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
59,590
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
1,330 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionInstructingWritingSpeakingLearning StrategiesActive ListeningActive LearningCritical ThinkingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationPersuasionNegotiationManagement of Personnel ResourcesCoordinationSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisOperations AnalysisMathematicsScienceTechnology DesignManagement of Material ResourcesProgrammingQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlManagement of Financial ResourcesInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
English LanguageEducation and TrainingCommunications and MediaHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologySociology and AnthropologyCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsPsychologyAdministrativeFine ArtsAdministration and ManagementForeign LanguagePersonnel and Human ResourcesLaw and GovernmentGeographyPublic Safety and SecurityTherapy and CounselingSales and MarketingMathematicsTelecommunicationsBiologyEconomics and AccountingTransportationEngineering and TechnologyMechanicalMedicine and DentistryPhysicsProduction and ProcessingChemistryFood ProductionDesignBuilding and Construction
Technology & tools
Adobe Acrobat ReaderAdobe IllustratorAdobe PhotoshopApple QuickTimeApple SafariBlackboard CollaborateBlackboard LearnBlackboard softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareCollaborative editing softwareCourse management system softwareDOC CopDesire2Learn LMS softwareEmail softwareGoogle ChromeGoogle DocsGraphics creation softwareImage scanning softwareLearning management system LMSLucidchartMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordMoodleSakai CLEVLC Media PlayerWeb browser softwareWord processing softwareiParadigms Turnitin
Representative tasks
Training and Teaching OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesThinking CreativelyMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkCoaching and Developing OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationWorking with ComputersGetting InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleScheduling Work and ActivitiesAnalyzing Data or InformationDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersProcessing InformationDeveloping and Building TeamsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsAssisting and Caring for OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsSelling or Influencing OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Course syllabi and assignment handouts — draft and organize under faculty mentorship for undergraduate English composition or literature courses.Student attendance records and grade logs — maintain accurately using institutional learning management systems in a postsecondary classroom setting.Assigned course readings and primary texts — analyze and interpret using established critical frameworks when preparing for seminar instruction.Introductory writing or communication classes — teach foundational concepts under departmental supervision at a four-year college or university.Classroom discussions on literature or rhetoric — initiate and facilitate using structured prompts and guided questioning with undergraduate students.Student written assignments and short papers — evaluate and return with formative written feedback aligned to course rubrics and learning objectives.Undergraduate lectures on introductory topics such as poetry or narrative structure — prepare and deliver using standard pedagogical formats in a postsecondary setting.Office hours and supplemental tutoring sessions — conduct to assist students who need additional coursework support outside the formal classroom.Word processing and course management software — apply to create and distribute instructional materials within a university technology environment.Active listening and social perceptiveness skills — demonstrate when responding to diverse student questions and contributions during class discussions.
developing
Writing-intensive courses at the undergraduate level — teach routinely with reduced oversight, adjusting pacing and content based on observed student progress.Student class work, papers, and multimodal assignments — evaluate and grade consistently using differentiated feedback strategies across varied genres and skill levels.Comprehensive course syllabi, reading schedules, and graded assignment sequences — prepare and refine each semester to align with departmental learning outcomes.Seminar and lecture discussions on topics such as translation, adaptation, and novel structure — facilitate with sustained intellectual engagement in graduate or upper-division settings.Institutional grade records and compliance documentation — maintain with accuracy and timeliness using database and calendar scheduling software per university policy.Existing course curricula and instructional methods — evaluate and revise periodically based on student performance data and evolving disciplinary scholarship.Graduate or advanced undergraduate lectures on canonical and contemporary literary topics — prepare and deliver with independent scholarly authority in a research university context.Individual student conferences and targeted academic coaching — conduct outside class to address writing development needs identified through formative assessment.Learning strategies and critical thinking frameworks — apply when designing assignments that require students to synthesize sources across English language and literature domains.Video creation, graphics software, and internet research tools — integrate into course delivery to support multimodal literacy instruction in a hybrid or in-person classroom.
proficient
Full-scope undergraduate and graduate writing and literature curricula — design, teach, and continuously improve autonomously across multiple course levels and formats.Complex student writing including thesis-length and seminar papers — assess with expert critical judgment, providing detailed evaluative feedback that advances disciplinary thinking.Non-routine pedagogical challenges such as student writing crises or contested textual interpretations — address independently by drawing on deep knowledge of English language, rhetoric, and literary theory.Graduate seminars on specialized topics such as philosophy of language, cultural theory, or media translation — prepare and deliver with full scholarly authority and adaptive discussion leadership.Curriculum review and course content revision cycles — lead at the program level, applying inductive and deductive reasoning to align offerings with institutional and disciplinary standards.Undergraduate and graduate record-keeping, assessment integrity, and grade appeals — manage with sound judgment and decision-making within institutional governance frameworks.Interdisciplinary course materials drawing on history, sociology, philosophy, and fine arts — develop and integrate to enrich students' critical and contextual understanding of literary texts.Mentoring relationships with students writing honors theses, capstone projects, or graduate dissertations — sustain with empathy and structured scholarly guidance across multi-semester engagements.Research-informed instructional methods including active learning and collaborative inquiry — implement and refine autonomously to address diverse learner needs in postsecondary English courses.Complex problem-solving in instructional design — apply when resolving alignment gaps between course outcomes, accreditation standards, and student competency development in English and communications.
advanced
Departmental or program-wide English and literature curriculum strategy — set direction and lead revision cycles that align faculty instruction with institutional mission and accreditation requirements.Emerging and junior faculty in postsecondary English instruction — mentor and develop through structured observation, feedback, and co-teaching partnerships across the department.Institutional assessment frameworks for writing and communication competencies — design and implement at organizational scale, shaping evaluation standards across multiple programs.Scholarly and pedagogical innovation in English, rhetoric, and media studies — drive by translating original research into transformative course designs and discipline-wide teaching practices.Cross-departmental or interdisciplinary curriculum initiatives — lead collaboratively, persuading stakeholders and coordinating faculty to integrate English language and literary inquiry across academic units.Graduate program admissions, advising structures, and degree requirements — shape through evidence-based policy recommendations made to deans and academic senates.Departmental service orientation and professional culture — model and reinforce through public scholarship, community engagement, and sustained commitment to student success at the institutional level.Strategic deployment of educational technology platforms and information retrieval tools — advocate for and oversee adoption across the department to advance equitable, high-quality instruction.Accreditation self-study narratives and academic program reviews for English and literature — author and present to regional and disciplinary bodies on behalf of the institution.Long-range intellectual vision for the discipline within the institution — articulate and champion in faculty governance, curriculum committees, and external professional associations.
Also known as
48 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adjunct English InstructorAdjunct InstructorAdjunct LecturerAdjunct ProfessorAdjunct Writing InstructorAssistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorChildren's Literature ProfessorClassics TeacherCollege Faculty MemberCollege ProfessorComposition InstructorComposition ProfessorComposition TeacherContemporary English Literature ProfessorCreative Writing English ProfessorCreative Writing ProfessorCreative Writing TeacherDevelopmental English InstructorDevelopmental Reading InstructorEnglish AdjunctEnglish Adjunct InstructorEnglish Composition InstructorEnglish Faculty MemberEnglish InstructorEnglish Language InstructorEnglish LecturerEnglish ProfessorEnglish TeacherEtymology ProfessorEtymology TeacherFaculty MemberHumanities ProfessorInstructorLanguage Arts TeacherLanguages InstructorLecturerLiterature InstructorLiterature ProfessorMedieval English Literature Professor