English can be tricky. If you’re a native speaker, you may not notice the many different quirks of the language but think about it - the words through, rough, cough and though do not rhyme, while the words pony and bologna, surprisingly, do. Like we said, English can be tricky. As an English major, you’ll be well in tune with all the nuances of the language, but what do you do after your degree? Here’s a list of the 15 highest-paid jobs for English majors so you can get a better idea of what your career path could look like.
1. English Professor
Entry-level annual income – $56,000
Mid-career annual income – $79,000
Advanced level annual income – $125,000
Being an English professor at the postgraduate level is one of the highest paying jobs for English Majors. You may hear people snicker and say, “those who can’t do, teach,” but with an avg salary of around $80,000 and a vacation schedule to die for, the joke’s on them. As a professor, you’ll have the luxury to create your own syllabus, and you can teach a variety of disciplines, from screenwriting to literature. College professors get the chance to shape young minds and impact the lives of many students throughout their careers. It just takes one student coming up to you and expressing their gratitude for you to feel the utmost of satisfaction with your chosen career path.
2. Grant Writer
Entry-level annual income – $45,000
Mid-career annual income – $68,000
Advanced level annual income – $85,000
As a grant writer, you would be responsible for writing proposals that will help secure funding for different organisations. Grant writers can be self-employed and freelance with different companies, or they can even be in-house writers. The reason that this is one of the highest paying jobs for English Majors is because the job requires an immense level of attention to details and demands top-notch research skills. Big companies and non-profit organisations often ask for government grants of very large amounts, some as big as a couple of million dollars, and when asking for such large sums of money, your proposal needs to be flawless
3. Paralegal
Entry-level annual income – $45,000
Mid-career annual income – $65,000
Advanced level annual income – $85,000
If you always wanted to become a lawyer, but school seemed like too much trouble, being a paralegal may be the perfect job for you. Paralegals act as legal assistants and help out lawyers with finding materials and preparing them for their hearings or meetings. Since paralegals essentially work as support to lawyers, depending upon how busy their lawyer’s schedule gets, the days can get pretty long and hectic. The job requires a very good hold over the English language so that legal documents can be understood and analysed and effectively, which is why being a paralegal happens to be one of the highest jobs for English majors.
4. Author
Entry-level annual income – $35,000
Mid-career annual income – $55,000
Advanced level annual income – $120,000
Every English Major has dreamt of becoming an author at some point in time and hoped to come up with their own best-selling books to rival the likes of Harry Potter. Most english Majors have a flair for writing and so being an author would actually be a smart course of action. It takes time, effort and the right connections to crack the code, but once you do, you’ll quickly come to realise that being an author is one of the highest paying jobs for English Majors. As an author, you would get the chance to create your own ideas and get the chance to see them material. You may not make it big right away, but don’t let that discourage you. Who knows, you may write one of best-selling self-help books of the year!
5. Editor
Entry-level annual income – $30,000
Mid-career annual income – $60,000
Advanced level annual income – $90,000
Content editors are typically required at jobs that push out a large volume of content at short intervals of time. Editors will be in charge of proofreading and fact-checking content to ensure that content is accurate is well-written. Now, if an editor isn't actually writing all the content themselves, you be wondering why being an editor is one of the highest paying jobs for English Majors. Well, while content editors aren’t given all the credit for content pieces doing well, they are the ones that take the fall if published pieces aren’t up to the mark. They have the final say over the content that gets released to the public, so they need to ensure that it is top-notch.
6. Social Media Manager
Entry-level annual income – $25,000
Mid-career annual income – $55,000
Advanced level annual income – $100,000
Whether you like it or not, it is an undeniable fact that social media like Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and TikTok are all very instrumental in creating brand awareness and getting people interested in a company’s product. Social media managers are required to stay on top of trends and create a large volume of content in a short span of time. The job requires quick thinking, great organisational skills and a lot of creativity which is why it is one of the highest paying jobs for English majors. Different social media channels demand a different language and style of content, with a platform like Instagram being more visual than a channel like Twitter. Social media managers will be responsible for ensuring that the right style of content is pushed through the correct channels while also making sure that brand identity is maintained.
7. Copywriter
Entry-level annual income – $31,000
Mid-career annual income – $45,000
Advanced level annual income – $85,000
Copywriting essentially involves writing content that is under 100 words long. Now just because you were told you were a good writer in school, doesn’t mean you’ll make a great copywriter. Just Do It, Got Milk, Eat Fresh, I’m Loving It . These are all simple phrases that you immediately recognizes because of how brands have used them. Learning how to write short content that packs a punch and nails the brief isnt easy. Being a good copywriter requires quick wit, a great vocabulary and a good knowledge of current events which is why it is one of the highest paying jobs for English Majors.
8. Interpreter & Translator
Entry-level annual income – $38,000
Mid-career annual income – $55,000
Advanced level annual income – $80,000
If you’re wondering why being a translator is among the highest paying jobs for English majors, it may interest you to know that according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, the demand for translators is set to increase and grow by 20% between now and 2031. With the rapid rate of globalization, there is a growing need for people who have a good hold over multiple languages so they can ensure that nothing is lost in translations. From dubbing movies and TV shows to translating legal contracts, translators and interpreters have become an essential part of furthering global economy.
9. Brand Strategist
Entry-level annual income – $40,000
Mid-career annual income – $60,000
Advanced level annual income – $80,000
A brand strategist is a specialist that creates suggestions for any business and tries to grow or enhance their brand. They also help to define a company's tone and ensure that campaigns and content that are released under the brand’s name follow their tone of content and brand language. Creating and maintaining a brand language requires a very nuanced approach to understanding and using language, which is why being a brand strategist is one of the highest-paying jobs for English majors.
10. Advertising Manager
Entry-level annual income – $60,000
Mid-career annual income – $80,000
Advanced level annual income – $110,000
As an advertising manager you would be responsible for coming up ad campaigns for different companies that meet their current needs. Campaigns could be run for a number of different purposes such as increasing sales, creating brand awareness or could also simply aim to inform. This is one of the highest paying jobs for English majors as most advertising managers are forced to work in quick-paced settings, with very short deadlines and must also make sure they are meeting the briefs provided to them.
11. User Experience Writer
Entry-level annual income – $90,000
Mid-career annual income – $110,000
Advanced level annual income – $130,000
A user experience or UX writer is responsible for writing copy that is featured on websites or apps. The content for websites and apps needs to be incredibly user-focused so the product can ensure that any website or app visitors know exactly how to use their products. The job requires that the writer has a great command over the language and a good understanding of user needs and behaviour, which is why this is one of the highest paying jobs for English Majors.
12. Public Relations Manager
Entry-level annual income – $40,000
Mid-career annual income – $70,000
Advanced level annual income – $120,000
Public relations managers are responsible for maintaining a brand, organisation or person’s public persona. They are also tasked with keeping an eye on social, political and economic trends that could positively or negatively impact the public image of a company. This is one of the highest paying jobs for English majors because PR managers need to be meticulous and careful with the way that they frame their content, as they are responsible for the public image of the company.
13. Technical Writer
Entry-level annual income – $40,000
Mid-career annual income – $70,000
Advanced level annual income – $90,000
Another one of the highest-paid jobs for English majors, technical writers are in high demand across many different industries. They are specialists who are tasked with creating documents that detail the features and benefits of the product or industry that they are writing for. Technical writers must do a lot of research and need to constantly proofread their work to ensure that they are providing their readers with the best information possible.
14. Scriptwriter
Entry-level annual income – $30,000
Mid-career annual income – $55,000
Advanced level annual income – $150,000
Sorkin, Kaufman and Tarantino. Do any of those names ring a bell? These are some of the most well-known writers in Hollywood - and after your degree, you too could be on the path to becoming a scriptwriter. Scripting is one of the highest-paid jobs for English majors but it can also be a very hard profession to break into. Early on in their careers, scriptwriters may not have the best luck, but after making a few connections within the industry, their careers should take off. If you’re a movie buff who’s having a hard time in college, spend this weekend binge-watching some of the top motivational movies for students and get inspired to kick off your scriptwriting career.
15. Medical Writer
Entry-level annual income – $63,000
Mid-career annual income – $93,000
Advanced level annual income – $137,000
Medical writers are tasked with writing scientific papers and documents that are related to the medical field. Medical writing can involve writing about new medical research, cutting-edge technology, new diseases and advancements in healthcare. Medical writing is one of the highest-paid jobs for English majors because writers need to have a decent amount of medical knowledge so that they can make sure their work is not conveying incorrect information.
That was our list of the highest-paying jobs for English majors! For all those that told you you’d never make money after majoring in English, show them this list and prove them wrong. If you’ve narrowed down your dream profession, brush your interview skills with these helpful job interview tips.
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