Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary by state
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary is a professional role within the function in the Educational Instruction and Library job family.
What Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondarys do
Typical education: Doctoral Degree
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as how to speak and write a foreign language and the cultural aspects of areas where a particular language is used.
Top skills:SpeakingWritingReading ComprehensionLearning StrategiesInstructingActive Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary pay by experience level
Entry level$51,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$64,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$82,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$106,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$141,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-0.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,900
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary by industry
Educational Services
19,740 workers
$93,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
15,580 workers
$91,000
Educational Services, State Government Owned
8,860 workers
$85,500
Educational Services, Privately Owned
7,500 workers
$91,000
Junior Colleges
3,820 workers
$105,000
Educational Services, Local Government Owned
3,390 workers
$118,500
Other Schools and Instruction
320 workers
$53,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
70 workers
$77,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
70 workers
$77,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary pays 5% above the average across 65 roles in the Educational Instruction and Library job family (family average $88,500).
Similar-paying roles in Educational Instruction and Library
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary make?
The average base salary for a Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in the United States is $93,000 per year, or about $44.71 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $64,500 and $106,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Educational Instruction and Library roles?
The Educational Instruction and Library job family averages $88,500 across 65 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
