Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Career, Salary and Skills
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $79,350 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 19,830. Wage data is published for 113 locations.
Occupation description
Teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English. Includes teachers of American Sign Language (ASL). Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
O*NET code
25-1124.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$79,350
Hourly median
Not published
Employment
19,830
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.12 | 4.75 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.88 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Instructing | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.50 | 3.62 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in scholarly journals, books, or electronic media.
- Keep abreast of developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and activities.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Technology
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe PageMaker
- Adobe Photoshop
- American Sign Language ASL browser
- Audacity
- Blackboard Learn
- Blackboard software
- Collaborative editing software
- Computer assisted language learning CALL software
- Course management system software
- Desire2Learn LMS software
- DOC Cop
- Email software
- Google Docs
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in CAMedian $99,860 · Employment 2,170
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in NYMedian $95,120 · Employment 1,520
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in TXMedian $75,090 · Employment 1,460
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in New York, NYMedian $98,600 · Employment 1,460
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in PAMedian $77,210 · Employment 1,060
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in OHMedian $74,310 · Employment 960
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in MAMedian $98,750 · Employment 960
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in VAMedian $74,000 · Employment 890
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in NJMedian $79,060 · Employment 850
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $83,310 · Employment 800
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in ILMedian $81,530 · Employment 690
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in NCMedian $63,900 · Employment 690
Related careers
- Special Education Teachers, Elementary SchoolNational median not published
- Education Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $75,350
- Special Education Teachers, KindergartenNational median not published
- Geography Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $97,590
- Self-Enrichment TeachersNational median $46,800
- TutorsNational median $43,350
- Political Science Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $98,070
- Communications Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $78,580
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.