Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
English Language & Literature
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $44,564 | $31,148 to $46,614 | 5 | 60% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,374 | $39,982 to $57,012 | 149 | 84% |
| Master's Degree | $56,562 | $49,821 to $65,363 | 84 | 95% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +1% (2023 to 2033), about 48,200 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $79,870 | +1.8% | 13,500 |
| Writers and Authors | $73,690 | +3.6% | 13,400 |
| Editors | $75,020 | +0.6% | 9,800 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,130 | +0% | 5,100 |
| Technical Writers | $80,050 | +0.9% | 4,500 |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $48,790 | -0.6% | 1,900 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, so this lists where the major commonly leads, not any one graduate's job.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.