Top 10 Jobs for English Majors

English is one of the most popular liberal arts majors, available at almost every college and university. By choosing English, you’ll gain many transferable skills that can open the door to many different career paths. Whether you’re already majoring in English or thinking about it, it’s important to know the best jobs for English majors you can choose from.

In this blog, we’ll break down the top ten jobs for English majors along with their average salaries, and typical responsibilities so you can see for yourself if this field is right for you.

• What Are the Top 10 Jobs for English Majors?
• What Is an English Degree All About?
• Best Schools for an English Degree
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Top 10 Jobs for English Majors?

Many jobs require someone who can communicate effectively, solve problems, quickly pick up new information, and collaborate well with others. As an English major, you’ll develop all these skills, which means you can apply your education to various fields. The following are the best jobs for English majors with their average salaries: 

1. Copywriter

Average salary: $66,133

Copywriters work across various industries, creating short-form content that promotes and sells a company’s products or services. This can include things like slogans, social media posts, and website copy. When exploring jobs for English majors, copywriting stands out as a role where you’ll need to consider the company’s goals, brand voice, and the needs and desires of the target audience to be successful.

As an English major, honing your literary analysis or persuasive essays and understanding story structure, character development, and rhetoric can help you connect with your audience and create engaging content. Also, your strong grasp of grammar and vocabulary will make your short-form copy even more impactful.

2. Editor

Average salary: $84,537

Editing is a versatile career path and one of the top jobs for English majors, with opportunities in everything from magazines and newspapers to various editorial roles at book publishing companies. As an editor, you’ll work closely with writers and content creators to make sure their work is polished, error-free, and aligned with the company’s goals. You might also manage a team of writers, offering guidance and support, while deciding which pieces are ready for publication.

3. Translator

Average salary: $57,200

Translators are multilingual professionals who accurately convert written text from one language to another, ensuring it reads just like the original. As one of the many jobs for English majors, translation offers opportunities in various industries, handling everything from books and articles to legal documents and research papers. Most translators earn a bachelor’s degree in fields like translation, interpreting, international studies, English, or a foreign language.

4. Librarian

Average salary: $65,193

Librarians are information science professionals who help people find, compile, organize, and update information. As one of the many jobs for English majors, you can work as a librarian in public libraries, schools, universities, research institutions, or even government agencies. Most librarians need a Master’s in Information Science, and a bachelor’s degree in English is a great way to prepare for that advanced program.

5. Social Media Manager

Average salary: $64,845

Social media managers help companies grow their online presence by using various platforms to attract new customers. As one of the buzzing jobs for English majors today, this role involves analyzing data to see which campaigns and strategies are working. 

You might manage a team of social media marketers and collaborate with other marketing or advertising teams within the company. Your writing skills can be a huge asset, allowing you to create content that boosts website rankings while refining the tone, voice, and style of different marketing materials.

6. Professor

Average salary: $102,095

Being an English professor at university is considered to be one of the highest paying jobs for English majors. English professors teach college-level courses in literature, writing, and literary theory. In this role, you’ll develop course curricula, create and grade assignments, and work closely with students to support their academic progress.

Professors also often conduct research and write articles for scholarly journals. Most English professors specialize in a specific area of literature and typically need a PhD in English to teach at the university level.

7. Content Manager

Average salary: $68,617

As a content manager, one of the popular jobs for English majors, you’ll oversee the creation and management of content on websites. This can involve researching, sourcing, writing, editing, and posting new material, as well as updating or removing outdated content. 

You might work independently or lead a team of writers and editors to ensure the site’s content is accurate, up-to-date, and engaging for the target audience. To succeed in this role, you’ll need creativity, leadership, analytical skills, and strong communication abilities.

8. Publisher

Average salary: $69,432

As a publisher, you’ll oversee the entire process of bringing written materials to life. This includes commissioning content, approving submissions, arranging writer contracts, managing editing and design, and handling marketing efforts to promote sales.

Publishers work in a range of industries, from book publishing and magazines to online content. You might specialize in a particular genre, like novels, journal articles, or biographies, or focus on a specific subject, such as science or poetry—making it one of the best jobs for English majors.

9. Lawyer

Average salary: $100,626

As a lawyer, you’ll be a legal expert who utilizes your knowledge of the legal system. You might work as a government prosecutor, a defense attorney, or specialize in civil areas like divorce, contracts, or intellectual property, among many others. To become a lawyer, you need to attend law school, and many aspiring attorneys earn an undergraduate degree in English to help prepare for their advanced studies. Being a lawyer is considered to be one of the highest paying jobs for English majors.

10. Consultant

Average salary: $89,521

As a consultant, one of the popular jobs for English majors, you’ll work across various industries, focusing on areas like technology, business growth, employee relations, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) to help organizations achieve their goals. 

In this advisory role, you’ll provide insights, analysis, and recommendations to decision-makers to enhance performance and prevent potential issues. Your strong written and verbal communication skills, along with any teaching or mentoring experience you have, will enable you to present your recommendations in a way that’s easy for companies or clients to implement.

What Is an English Degree All About?

A degree in English language and literature is all about diving into books, analyzing theories, critiquing prose and poetry, and taking a closer look at the words and signs that surround you every day. The goal is to encourage you to think creatively and analytically about the English language. Unlike other modern language degrees, this one is designed for students who are already proficient in both written and spoken English. With an English degree, you can choose to focus equally on literature and language, or specialize in one area; this will usually be reflected in the course title.

If you opt for a course that emphasizes English literature, you’ll have the chance to explore literary texts from various historical periods. You’ll likely start with modules that cover a diverse range of literature, so one week you could be reading Shakespeare, and the next, diving into Virginia Woolf. You’ll be focusing on the literary canon so expect numerous readings throughout the semester. Your reading assignments will challenge you to study and analyze passages, connecting them to their cultural, social, historical, and political contexts.

On the other hand, if you pursue a degree focused on English language, you’ll learn to analyze how the English language functions outside of literature. This could involve studying language-based communication in various forms and contexts, such as casual spoken conversations, text-speak, advertising techniques, or the specific uses of language in legal and medical discourse.

Career prospects with an English degree

The average salary for English majors is $88,294 and the most common occupations are elementary and middle school teachers, postsecondary teachers, and lawyers, judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers.

Best Schools for an English Degree

Interested in pursuing an English degree? The following are the top five schools in the US to become an English major: 

1. Harvard University

Acceptance rate: 3.4%

Average tuition cost: $59,100

Harvard offers a rigorous English program with a focus on both literature and creative writing. The university features a distinguished faculty and access to extensive library resources.

2. Stanford University

Acceptance rate: 4%

Average tuition cost: $62,500

Stanford is known for its creative writing program and diverse literature courses. It provides a collaborative environment with a strong emphasis on critical thinking.

3. University of California, Berkeley

Acceptance rate: 12%

Average tuition cost: $14,250 (in-state students; $44,000 for out-of-state)

UC Berkeley offers a comprehensive English program with a variety of specializations. It is known for its strong faculty and commitment to research in literary studies.

4. Columbia University

Acceptance rate: 4%

Average tuition cost: $71,200

Columbia features a renowned English and Comparative Literature department. It offers access to a vibrant literary scene in New York City, with many opportunities for internships.

5. Yale University

Acceptance rate: 5%

Average tuition cost: $91,000

Yale offers a unique English program that combines literature, drama, and creative writing. It is known for its small class sizes and close faculty-student relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do English majors need to specialize in a certain area to be successful?

While specializing can enhance your expertise and job prospects, it’s not always necessary. Many employers value the broad skill set that English majors possess.

2. What types of English degrees are available?

English degrees are offered at various levels, including associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

3. What can you do with an English degree?

As an English major, you’re developing skills like writing, editing, problem-solving, critical thinking, and analysis—all of which are highly valued by employers in nearly every field. In today’s information-driven world, the abilities you’ve honed by studying literature and writing are in greater demand than ever. Employers across different industries consistently emphasize how important strong writing, communication, and independent work skills are, along with adaptability.

Unlike students in more specialized fields, like nursing or landscape architecture, you’re gaining a broad set of transferable skills that can open doors to various career paths. While no one may pay you specifically to write poetry or dive into research about Gothic literature, the skills you’re refining are exactly what employers across industries—whether in education, communications, government, business, or even tech—are looking for. You’ll find that your English major sets you up to succeed in diverse roles, wherever your interests take you.

4. Is an English degree worth it?

Absolutely! If you have a passion for language, literature, and writing, then a degree in English is definitely worth it. It offers a strong foundation for a variety of career paths and helps you develop critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills that employers really value.

Takeaways

• Some of the best jobs for English majors include being a translator, professor, and editor.
• If you want to pursue an English degree, consider attending Stanford, Columbia, or Yale.
• Excited start your English major journey in college? We got you! At AdmissionSight, we have more than a decade of experience in helping students perfect their college application.