21 Great Jobs for English Majors
Updated April 18, 2024
In this video, a copywriter, brand manager and book editor describe their daily work and the skills needed to be great at their job.
What skills do English majors learn?
An English concentration involves extensive reading and writing and provides an understanding of language. By studying a wide range of literature, English majors develop excellent analytical, critical thinking and communication skills. These versatile, transferable skills can help an English major to succeed in a wide range of roles and industries and prepare for a variety of graduate studies. Some top skills an English major learns include:- Research skills
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Empathy
- Social awareness
- Writing skills
- Verbal and nonverbal communication
- How to analyze and process information
- Attention to detail
- Organization
Prepare for interviews with practice questions and tips
Jobs for English majors
Studying English can prepare you for jobs in various fields including teaching, journalism, public relations, nonprofits, medicine, law, publishing, finance, tech and entertainment. Here's a list of 21 jobs that require the skills of an English major, with average salaries and projected percent change of employment between 2021-31:1. Marketing associate
National average salary: $51,688 per yearJob growth: 19%Primary duties: Marketing associates perform day-to-day tasks in a company’s marketing department or an advertising agency to assist marketing managers. Their duties often include researching marketing trends, writing and proofreading copy and performing administrative tasks.Related: How To Become a Marketing Associate
2. SEO specialist
National average salary: $55,812 per yearJob growth: 19%Primary duties: A search engine optimization (SEO) specialist uses SEO as a marketing strategy to improve a webpage or website's traffic by making it more visible among search engine results. SEO is a marketing strategy that focuses on the algorithms used by search engines in order to generate higher rankings on the search engine results page (SERP). Prospective SEO specialists can earn a degree in a field like English, information technology, communications, marketing or business. Read more: What Is an SEO Specialist? (With Duties and Salary)
3. High school English teacher
National average salary: $53,712 per yearJob growth: 5%Primary duties: High school English teachers instruct students in grades 9-12 in reading, writing, research and grammar skills. They plan and create lessons, provide direct classroom instruction, create and grade assessments and update students and parents of students on educational progress. All public schools in the United States and many private schools require teachers to have a teaching license and requirements for earning one vary by state.Related: Q&A: Should I Be a High School English Teacher?
4. Librarian
National average salary: $56,415 per yearJob growth: 6%Primary duties: Librarians are information science professionals who assist individuals in finding information and compiling, organizing and updating information. They can work in public libraries, schools, universities, research institutions or government agencies. Librarians often need a Master of Information Science degree and can prepare well for that program by first earning a bachelor’s degree in English.Related: Should I Be a Librarian? 7 Reasons To Pursue This Role
5. Translator
National average salary: $47,985 per yearJob growth: 20%Primary duties: Translators are multilingual professionals who can accurately convert writing from one language to another. Their goal is to translate text accurately so it reads the same way as the original text. Translators can work in many different industries, and the texts they convert can range from books and articles to legal documents and published research. Most translators earn their bachelor's degree in a subject such as translation, interpreting, international studies, English or a foreign language. Read more: What Is the Job of a Translator (and How To Become One)?
6. Paralegal
National average salary: $55,228 per yearJob growth: 14%Primary duties: Paralegals assist lawyers. Their responsibilities might include researching laws, legal cases and precedents, compiling and organizing information, drafting legal documents and investigating the facts of a legal case. They help lawyers prepare for trials by researching and presenting relevant information. Paralegals need to be detail-oriented and have research, investigative, organization and communication skills.Read more: What Is a Paralegal? (Plus Duties, Salary and Skills)
7. Social media manager
National average salary: $55,933 per yearJob growth: 8%Primary duties: Social media managers use online marketing strategies to promote awareness of a company or its products and services through social media platforms. Besides typical marketing and advertising strategies, they use social media to create and develop relationships with customers through online conversations and engaging with the community. They strategize, create and publish content online. Social media managers need creativity, empathy and interpersonal skills and good communication skills.Related: How To Become a Social Media Manager With No Experience
8. Copywriter
National average salary: $58,458 per yearJob growth: 4%Primary duties: A copywriter is a professional content creator who writes the text for advertisements, websites, brochures, billboards, emails, catalogs and other promotional materials. They write with the intent of educating, persuading or influencing their audience, often with the goal of selling a product or service. If you have an English degree and enjoy writing, copywriting is a practical job that can be applied across many different industries, from advertising and marketing to tech and finance.Read more: Learn About Being a Copywriter
9. Writer
National average salary: $57,379 per yearJob growth: 4%Primary duties: Writers can use their trade in a variety of ways. They can write anything from novels, speeches and poetry to blog posts, how-to articles, advice columns or company communications. Many companies employ freelance writers or hire full-time staff writers. Besides written communication skills, writers need to have vision, creativity and close attention to detail.Related: How To Become a Professional Writer in 8 Steps (With FAQs)
10. Communications officer
National average salary: $55,279 per yearJob growth: 8%Primary duties: Communications officers facilitate accurate and effective communication between their employer, the media and the public. They plan, create and distribute content to promote or control awareness of a company, organization or individual’s brand. Communications officers need excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills and communication skills to develop and maintain relationships with executives, managers and journalists.Related: How To Become a Communications Officer
11. English professor
National average salary: $61,014 per yearJob growth: 12%Primary duties: English professors teach college-level courses in literature, writing and literary theory. They develop their courses’ curricula, create and grade assignments and communicate with their students on their academic needs and progress. They also often perform research and write articles for scholarly journals. English professors usually specialize in a certain field of literature and typically need a Ph.D. degree in English to teach at the university level.Related: How To Become an English Professor in 6 Steps
12. Editor
National average salary: $60,598 per yearJob growth: -5%Primary duties: Editors oversee written materials for publication. They can have a variety of tasks, including reviewing material and judging public interest in it, offering suggestions to writers, proofreading materials for mistakes and assisting in the publication process. Editors can work in any field that produces written publications, including for magazines, book publishers, marketing firms and online content agencies. They need excellent attention to detail and written communication skills, including knowledge of grammar and writing styles.Related: How to Become an Editor
13. Human resources generalist
National average salary: $61,685 per yearJob growth: 8%Primary duties: Human resources generalists work in a company’s HR department to communicate essential employment information to employees and recruit and hire staff. They might organize and implement training procedures and programs and create and publish company policies. HR generalists can also facilitate communications between employees and supervisors and conduct or assist with performance reviews. These professionals need discretion, decision-making and problem-solving skills and organization and communication skills.
14. Technical writer
National average salary: $74,296 per yearJob growth: 6%Primary duties: Technical writers take complex and highly technical information and communicate it in an easy-to-understand way. They often write user and instruction manuals, articles, how-to guides or other informative pieces to assist people in comprehending difficult subjects. They may also create diagrams. They can work in many fields, including information technology, scientific research and engineering. Technical writers need superb communication skills and the ability to understand highly complex material.Read more: HR Generalist: Job Description and Requirements
15. Content manager
National average salary: $63,669 per yearJob growth: 10%Primary duties: Content managers supervise the presence and production of content on websites. They can research, source, write, edit and post new material and update or remove outdated material. They might work alone or oversee a team of writers and editors to ensure that the site’s content is accurate, current and interesting to a target audience. Content managers need creativity, leadership and analytical skills and excellent communication skills.Read more: What Does a Content Manager Do? (Plus How To Become One)
16. Research analyst
National average salary: $66,256 per yearJob growth: 9%-35%Primary duties: Research analysts work in a specific sector to discover, analyze, interpret and present data, often for market research purposes to identify industry trends and client needs. They can specialize in any field, such as information technology or education, and can be hired for full-time positions within companies or work as independent consultants. Research analysts need acute attention to detail and analytical and communication skills.Related: 5 Steps for Becoming a Research Analyst
17. Public relations manager
National average salary: $62,530 per yearJob growth: 8%Primary duties: Public relations managers help their clients to communicate effectively with the public. They can work for organizations, the government or prominent individuals. Public relations managers develop their client’s public image by writing press releases, preparing information for the media and designating information sources. They may also identify target audiences and create marketing or promotion plans. Public relations managers might supervise a small or large staff of communications employees, depending on their employer.Read more: What Is a Public Relations Manager?
18. Publisher
National average salary: $67,459 per yearJob growth: 5%Primary duties: Publishers oversee the publication of written materials, including ordering content, accepting and approving submissions, arranging writer contracts, overseeing editing and design and engaging in marketing efforts to promote sales. Publishers can work in a variety of industries, such as book publishing, magazine production or online content. They might focus on a certain genre, such as novels, journal articles or biographies, or in a certain subject, such as science or poetry.Read more: What Does a Publisher Do? (Responsibilities and Skills)
19. Brand strategist
National average salary: $78,280 per yearJob growth: 19%Primary duties: Brand strategists work on a marketing team to create and deliver a consistent and effective brand for a company’s products. They oversee the direction of a brand, such as tone and design elements. They will often perform market research and create marketing plans and need to be creative and detail-oriented.Related: How To Become a Brand Strategist
20. Internal communications executive
National average salary: $83,219 per yearJob growth: 10%Primary duties: Internal communications personnel work to ensure accurate and efficient communication between all employees within an organization. They collaborate with other supervisors to motivate and inform employees in various ways, such as emails, reports, bulletins, social media and newsletters. They might inform employees of company goals, policy updates, human resources developments and other information necessary for every employee to perform their roles well. Internal communications executives need excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as leadership, analysis and organization.Related: How To Become an Internal Communication Specialist in 4 Steps
21. Lawyer
National average salary: $93,223 per yearJob growth: 10%Primary duties: Lawyers are legal experts who can use their knowledge of the legal system. They can be government prosecutors or defenders, or specialize in a civil area such as divorce, contracts, intellectual property or many other fields. Lawyers need to attend law school, and many earn an undergraduate degree in English to prepare them for that further study.
Related: A Day in the Life of a Lawyer: Daily Tasks and Duties
For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the link(s) provided.
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