English Language & Literature

Types of Degrees English Language & Literature Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many English language and literature graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	42,686
Master’s Degree	8,280
Associate’s Degree	3,340
Basic Certificate	2,913
Doctor’s Degree	1,303
Undergraduate Certificate	469
Graduate Certificate	308

What English Language & Literature Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to English language and literature and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for English Language & Literature Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in English language and literature should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills for English Language & Literature Majors

English language and literature majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities for English Language & Literature Majors

As you progress with your English language and literature degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

What Can You Do With a English Language & Literature Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with English language and literature:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Copy Writers	7.6%	$62,170
English Language and Literature Professors	9.8%	$66,590
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers	7.6%	$62,170
Professors	9.4%	$65,660
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	7.5%	$60,320
Technical Writers	10.9%	$71,850

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language & Literature?

The major attracts more women than men. About 72% of the recent graduates in this field are female.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of English language and literature majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	1,708
Black or African American	3,239
Hispanic or Latino	6,019
White	27,689
International Students	693
Other Races/Ethnicities	3,338

Geographic Diversity

English Language & Literature appeals to people across the globe. About 1.6% of those with this major are international students.

How Much Do English Language & Literature Majors Make?

Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary

The median starting salary of students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature was $26,900 per year. These stats come from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $23,500 (25th percentile) and $30,500 (75th percentile).

It is possible that some of these people may have taken positions that were not related to English language and literature.

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $69,480 to $76,990 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to English language and literature. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to English Language & Literature

Some degrees associated with English language and literature may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for English language and literature careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	4.9%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	2.4%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	1.1%
Some College Courses	6.0%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	6.5%
Bachelor’s Degree	45.2%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	4.6%
Master’s Degree	15.4%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	1.4%
Doctoral Degree	13.4%
Post-Doctoral Training	0.1%

Online English Language & Literature Programs

In the 2018-2019 academic year, 1,732 schools offered some type of English language and literature program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	157	24
Certificate (1-2 years)	46	5
Certificate (2-4 Years)	4	0
Associate’s Degree	318	50
Bachelor’s Degree	130	27
Post-Baccalaureate	157	24
Master’s Degree	776	75
Post-Master’s	30	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	187	1
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	2	1

Is a Degree in English Language & Literature Worth It?

The median salary for a English language and literature grad is $73,090 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 83% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $663,800 after 20 years!

Majors Related to English Language & Literature

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to English language and literature.

Major	Number of Grads
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities	547,539
Visual & Performing Arts	153,295
Foreign Languages & Linguistics	34,386
Theology & Religious Vocations	32,172
Philosophy & Religious Studies	16,252

References

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Mike Hazard under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.