English teachers play a vital role in the education system across the United States. Still, many prospective students may be scared to pursue an English education or similar degree because they worry about job stability or long-term career value. Luckily, The good news is than an English education degree remains
valuable, flexible, and relevant.
By understanding job outlook trends, salary ranges, and transferrable skills, prospective and current students can make informed decisions about this major.
Projected Job Growth
Measuring job growth for English teachers requires looking at multiple education levels. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all high school teachers are predicted to decline by 2% over the next ten years. However, Career One Stop expects postsecondary English language and literature teachers to remain the same over the next ten years.
Even with a slow or slightly declining growth, English teachers are still in demand. State and region location highly influence growth rates. If teachers are willing to relocate or teach in different settings may find strong opportunities despite a competitive market.
Jobs and Salaries
Listed is data collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics portraying annual median salaries. The jobs listed are not English teaching-specific, but English is included in the careers.
Teaching Focused Careers
- Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers ($62,000)
These teachers instruct young students, typically K-6 grades.
- Middle School Teachers ($64,300)
This level of teaching focuses on middle grades, typically sixth through eighth grades.
- High School Teachers ($64,500)
These teachers prepare students, typically ninth though twelfth grade, to attend college and enter the job market.
- Postsecondary Teachers ($83,900)
This level of teaching focuses on subjects beyond high school level.
- Adult Basic and Secondary Education and ESL Teachers ($60,000)
These teachers instruct adults in fundamental reading and speaking English. ESL teachers help students learn English as a second language.
Non-Teaching and Education-Related Careers
A few other non-teaching centered roles that an English Education degree can apply to include:
- Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers ($57,100)
Archivists and curators oversee collections that can contain historical items or artwork. Museum workers include technicians and conservators.
- Instructional Coordinators ($74,700)
This career focuses on overseeing school curriculum and teaching standards. They develop and implement instructional material. - Librarians and Library Media Specialists ($64,300)
These jobs help people find information and conduct research.
Valuable Skills Developed by English Education Majors
English education and English-related skills foster highly transferrable and versatile skills that apply across many industries. The University of Washington and Middle Tennessee State University highlight several skills developed by English-related majors:
- Written and verbal communication
- Information literacy and research
- Managing information
- Organization and time management
- Creativity and problem-solving
These skills are widely sought-after in modern job fields, making an English Education degree transferrable and versatile if one were to pursue something other than teaching English.
Takeaways for Students Considering English Education
Despite common misconceptions, pursuing an English education degree can lead to stable and meaningful careers. The job growth is relatively stable, as long as the teacher is flexible on what area they wish to teach in. The salaries are consistent across teaching fields, and graduates can apply their skills to both teaching and non-teaching roles. Strong language, communication, and analysis skills remain valuable in many growing fields, making English education a practical and adaptable major.
Sources
High School Teachers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Available Workforce Tool: Build Profiles - CareerOneStop
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Careers for English Majors | Department of English | University of Washington
Graduating from an English Major: Resume Building & Transferable Skills