Careers for English Majors - Department of English

What Can I Do with an English Major?

If you major in Nursing, you’re going to be a nurse. If you major in Accounting, you’re going to be an accountant. If you major in Education, you’re going to be a teacher.

If you major in English, you’re going to be . . . anything you want.

That’s right. Rather than preparing for one, set career, you’re developing a broad, valuable skillset that will prepare you for many, many careers and open all kinds of doors for you.

Listed below are different career categories for you to explore. Within each category, various careers are described along with which of our concentrations in the English major will prepare you for them: Creative Writing (CW), Literature (LIT), and/or Professional Writing (PW). Finally, you’ll see the salary range and a link to more information.

As you plan your English major and future career, be strategic with your minor. For example, if you aspire to a political career as a speechwriter, then you’ll probably want to minor in Political Science, Public Administration, or History.

Lastly, some careers require higher degrees. If you want to be an attorney, law school is in your future. Or, if you want to be an English professor, you’ll need a Ph.D. So, also be sure to do more research and talk to your advisor about potential career paths.

Publishing Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Production Manager	A Production Manager oversees and coordinates the teams creating content for publication in various forms and media	CW, LIT, PW	$59,586 average	Glassdoor
Permissions Manager	A Permissions Manager is responsible for securing the rights and permissions licenses required to publish certain content	LIT, PW	$70,594 average	Glassdoor
Publicist	A Publicist creates the public image of a company or individual through interviews, media, interviews, etc.	CW, LIT, PW	$125,780 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Blogger	A Blogger manages and writes content for a web log (“blog”), which may be for an individual, company, or business, with the goal of engaging its audience.	CW, PW	$73,199 average	ZipRecruiter
Literary Agent	A Literary Agent may find and sign writers for a publishing company, or represent a writer and assist them in signing contracts with publishing companies.	CW, LIT	$51,355 average	ZipRecruiter
Print Editor	A Print Editor ensures the quality and accuracy of content in print publications	CW, LIT, PW	$84,820 average	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Digital Content Editor	A Digital Content Editor ensures the quality and accuracy of content in digital publications, such as websites, blogs, social media, etc.	CW, LIT, PW	$54,440 average	Glassdoor

Authorship Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Author of Fiction, Poetry, Drama	An Author writes original works of fiction, poetry, or drama for publication in various media.	CW, LIT	$69,510 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Grant Writer	A Grant Writer is responsible for the research, documentation, and writing of grant proposals, which bring funding to anything from public schools to scientific research to nonprofit organizations. Grant Writing is a form of Technical Writing.	LIT, PW	$86,760 average	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Author of Nonfiction	An Author of Nonfiction writes factual content for newspapers, magazines, websites, books, etc.	CW, LIT, PW	$69,510 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Scriptwriter	A Scriptwriter writes original scripts for movies, television, commercials, or other venues for the screen or stage.	CW, LIT	$69,510 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Video Game Writer	A Video Game Writer creates compelling characters, narratives, plots, and storylines for video games.	CW, LIT	$76,083 median	Salary.com

Entertainment Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Actor	An Actor portrays various characters for the stage and screen in plays, films, TV shows, commercials, etc.	CW, LIT	$46,960 median	U.S. News & World Reports
Critic	A Critic assesses and writes reviews of anything from art, music, film, and books to consumer products, restaurants, and vacation spots, which are then published in print and other media	LIT	$116,707 average	Glassdoor
Director	A Director manages the creative aspects of a production, including interpreting scripts and directing actors and camera work	CW, LIT	$79,000 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Producer	A Producer makes the business and financial decisions for a creative work (film, TV show, music, etc.) and has final say on decisions relating to its overall production	CW, LIT	$79,000 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Screenwriter	A Screenwriter writes original scripts for movies, television, commercials, or other venues for the screen.	CW, LIT	$69,510 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Education Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Higher Education Administrator	A Higher Education Administrator oversees one or more aspects of a college or university, such as academics, student life, fundraising, admissions, among many others	LIT, PW	$96,910 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Writing Center Director	A Writing Center Director runs the Writing Center at a college or university, overseeing curriculum, tutors, scheduling, and student success	LIT, PW	$59,097 average	ZipRecruiter
English Professor	An English Professor holds a Ph.D. and conducts research and teaches college-level courses in their field, as well as performs service work at their college or university	CW, LIT, PW	$81,380 average	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
English Instructor	An English Instructor holds a master’s degree and teaches entry-level college courses	LIT, PW	$44,863 average	Higher Ed Jobs
Librarian	A Librarian collects, organizes, and distributes library resources in a variety of settings from public libraries to schools	CW, LIT	$61,190 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Archivist	An Archivist oversees an institution’s special collections, appraises and researches to document their value, and prepares and restores items in the collection	LIT	$63,980 average	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Journalism Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Editor	An Editor “plans, reviews, and revises written material of all kinds”	LIT, PW	$63,350 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Reporter	A Reporter researches, writes, and delivers news, updates, and analysis to the public	CW, PW	$48,370 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Podcast Producer	A Podcast Producer researches, writes, and manages the production of a podcast, including all business decisions	CW, LIT, PW	$64,279 average	ZipRecruiter
Fact Checker	A Fact Checker confirms the accuracy of content, including data, statistics, facts, details, historical information, etc.	LIT, PW	$61,890 median	The Balance Careers
Copyeditor	A Copyeditor reviews and revises, if necessary, all written content before publication	LIT, PW	$63,350 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Photographer	A Photographer plans, composes, and edits photographs as needed for various purposes	CW, LIT, PW	$38,950 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Science Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Medical Scribe	A Medical Scribe “listens to voice recordings that physicians and other healthcare workers make and converts them into written reports”	PW	$30,100 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Science Writer	A Science Writer researches, writes, and edits scientific content in plain language for a general audience	PW	$69,214 average	Zippia
Technical Writer	A Technical Writer “prepares instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily	PW	$78,060 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Marketing & Advertising Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Marketing Manager	A Marketing Manager “estimates the demand for products and services that an organization and its competitors offer, and they identify potential markets for the organization’s products”	LIT, PW	$135,030 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Copy Writer	A Copywriter prepares advertisements to promote the sale of a good or service, and they often work with a client to produce written content, such as an advertising slogan	CW, PW	$65,210 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Advertising Director	An Advertising Director is responsible for “research, development, and implementation of a client's media plan, and may need to perform additional tasks to achieve a positive outcome for their clients”	CW, LIT, PW	$134,799 median	The Balance Careers
Event Planner	An Event Planner coordinates all aspects of an event from venue to staff, advertising to vendors, etc.	CW, LIT, PW	$49,570 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Designer	A Designer “creates graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos”	CW, PW	$64,500 average	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Social Media Manager	A Social Media Manager facilitates a business’s “exposure through social media platforms” and “they work alongside a specialized team to reach the brand's goals”	CW, PW	$51,456 average	Glassdoor

Political Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Politician	A Politician is elected to represent the people in their area when voting on and creating policy	LIT	Varies by Level	ThoughtCo.
Lobbyist	A Lobbyist “is an advocate for a particular side of an issue; someone who articulates and communicates the views of a company or organization to outside stakeholders, such as government agencies, trade associations, and legislative bodies”	LIT	$49,735 average	CareerExplorer
Speechwriter	A Speechwriter crafts language – in written and spoken form – to communicate messaging of a company or individual	CW, LIT, PW	$79,054 average	Glassdoor
Fundraiser	A Fundraiser “organizes events and campaigns to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization”	CW, LIT, PW	$61,190 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Policy Analyst	A Policy Analyst “is responsible for examining the efficacy of existing policies and laying out the groundwork for new programs and legislation to meet objectives and goals”	LIT	$70,866 average	Glassdoor
Spokesperson	A Spokesperson crafts and delivers the messaging of a brand or company	CW, LIT, PW	$66,018 average	ZipRecruiter
Campaign Manager	A Campaign Manager “implements advertisement, sales or political strategies across a market”	LIT, PW	$52,574 average	Glassdoor

Business Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Customer Service Representative	A Customer Service Representative “Interacts with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services”	CW, LIT, PW	$41,190 average	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Administrative Assistant	An Administrative Assistant “performs routine clerical and administrative duties, and they organize files, prepare documents, schedule appointments, and support other staff	CW, LIT, PW	$39,680 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Public Relations Manager	A Public Relations Manager “plans and directs the creation of material that will enhance the public image of their employer or client”	CW, LIT, PW	$125,780 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Human Resources Director	A Human Resources Director “oversees the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new staff; consults with top executives on strategic planning; and serves as a link between an organization’s management and its employees”	PW	$126,230 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Sales Representative	A Sales Representative sells their company’s products or services to customers through excellent customer service skills and by negotiating prices.	CW, LIT, PW	$62,890 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Recruiter	A Recruiter finds ideal candidates for their company or organization.	LIT, PW	$56,186 average	Payscale
Business Analyst	A Business Analyst evaluates a company’s inner workings to improve efficiency and maximize profits.	LIT, PW	$93,000 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Counseling Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Career Counselor	A Career Counselor “helps students and other clients develop skills, explore an occupation, or choose an educational program that will lead to a career”	LIT, PW	$60,510 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Law Careers

Career	Career Description	Concentration(s) that teach the needed skills	Annual Salary	Salary Source
Law Clerk	A Law Clerk “organizes and maintains records for courts of law; prepares the calendar of cases, also known as the docket, and informs attorneys and witnesses about upcoming court appearances”	LIT, PW	$57,490 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Judge	A Judge “applies the law by overseeing the legal process in courts and conducts pretrial hearings, resolves administrative disputes, facilitates negotiations between opposing parties, and issues legal decisions”	LIT	$128,710 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Attorney	An Attorney “advises and represents individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes”	LIT	$102,053 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Legal Researcher	A Legal Researcher analyzes evidence and documents and conducts relevant research for a case	LIT	$82,430 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Paralegal	A Paralegal “performs a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents”	LIT, PW	$56,230 median	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics