How much does an english professor make?
a year · about $38 an hour
A typical english professor in the United States makes $78,760 a year, about $38 an hour, about 1.5× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
An English professor may lead a class discussion about a poem or novel, then plan lessons and mark students’ papers. They also advise students; at large universities, some research and publish, while smaller colleges focus more on teaching.
Did you know? English professors may teach linguistics and comparative literature—not just writing and novels.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $48,270 and $137,250How do you become one?
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree and usually a Ph.D. in English or a related field; some community colleges hire teachers with a master’s. Doctoral study takes several years and includes original research, and a separate teaching license generally isn’t required.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, degree, college type, and location; universities generally pay more than community colleges. Part-time adjuncts may teach at several schools. A separate teaching license is generally not required for college professors.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($130,490), lowest in Oklahoma ($53,200).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,270 | $78,760 | $137,250 | about 58,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $130,490 | about 5,000 |
| Connecticut | $97,310 | about 940 |
| Oregon | $91,870 | about 960 |
| Michigan | $90,240 | about 2,000 |
| New York | $84,850 | about 6,000 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes251123.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1123.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.wes.org/resource-library/blog/career-pathway/postsecondary-teacher-professor
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY