English language and literature teachers at the postsecondary level design courses, lead classroom discussions, and guide students through writing and critical analysis. You'll need a doctoral degree and a passion for helping others develop communication skills.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You teach English language and literature to college and university students. Your work includes designing syllabi and lesson plans, delivering lectures and seminars, grading assignments and exams, and mentoring students one-on-one. You establish strong relationships with your students and peers, interpret complex texts and ideas for your classes, and think creatively about how to engage learners. You also communicate regularly with department supervisors and colleagues, make decisions about curriculum and student progress, and stay current in your field through research and professional development.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $78,760 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 0 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 5,100 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
This career requires a doctoral degree in English, literature, or a related field. You'll spend years in graduate study, often beginning with a master's program before pursuing a doctorate. During your studies, you'll develop expertise in literature, writing, history, and communication theory. Many programs include teaching assistantships that let you gain classroom experience while you study. After completing your degree, you'll typically apply for faculty positions at colleges and universities, where hiring committees review your academic credentials, teaching philosophy, and research interests.
The path to this career runs through graduate education, and the timeline depends on which doctoral program you choose and how quickly you complete it. If you're exploring whether this fits your goals, Pathly can map the english language and literature teacher, postsecondary path that fits you and work through the steps with your school counselor or academic advisor.
You do not need a license to work as an english language and literature teacher, postsecondary, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to work that centers on helping others learn and grow. You enjoy building relationships, communicating ideas clearly, and thinking through complex problems with creativity and care.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).