Jobs Similar to Foreign Language and Literature Teachers
Also called: Foreign Language Teachers, Postsecondary
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to foreign language and literature teachers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, English Language and Literature Teachers and Philosophy and Religion Teachers.
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers: $79,350 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Foreign Language and Literature Teachers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 84% | $85,020+7% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 83% | $78,760−1% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 83% | $80,260+1% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 82% | $99,650+26% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | History Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 82% | $83,820+6% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Political Science Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 80% | $98,070+24% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Sociology Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 79% | $84,290+6% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 78% | $61,540−22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Geography Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 78% | $97,590+23% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 77% | $78,620−1% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 77% | $72,040−9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Communications Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 77% | $78,580−1% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Social Work Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 76% | $77,570−2% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Education Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 76% | $75,350−5% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Law Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 75% | $128,500+62% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Library Science Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 75% | $80,340+1% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 75% | $63,970−19% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 75% | $62,680−21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 75% | $75,870−4% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Instructional Coordinators | 75% | $77,440−2% | Graduate degree |
- 1Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
84% similar · $85,020 (+7%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
83% similar · $78,760 (−1%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
83% similar · $80,260 (+1%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
82% similar · $99,650 (+26%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5History Teachers, Postsecondary
82% similar · $83,820 (+6%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $98,070 (+24%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $84,290 (+6%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
78% similar · $61,540 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
78% similar · $97,590 (+23%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
77% similar · $78,620 (−1%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
77% similar · $72,040 (−9%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
77% similar · $78,580 (−1%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
76% similar · $77,570 (−2%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Education Teachers, Postsecondary
76% similar · $75,350 (−5%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Law Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $128,500 (+62%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 16Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $80,340 (+1%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
75% similar · $63,970 (−19%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
75% similar · $62,680 (−21%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $75,870 (−4%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Instructional Coordinators
75% similar · $77,440 (−2%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than foreign language and literature teachers.
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary75% similar · $128,500 (+62%)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary82% similar · $99,650 (+26%)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary80% similar · $98,070 (+24%)
- Geography Teachers, Postsecondary78% similar · $97,590 (+23%)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary84% similar · $85,020 (+7%)
- History Teachers, Postsecondary82% similar · $83,820 (+6%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education77% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education75% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education75% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for foreign language and literature teachers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where foreign language and literature teachers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like foreign language and literature teachers
What jobs are most similar to foreign language and literature teachers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (84% similar), English Language and Literature Teachers (83% similar), Philosophy and Religion Teachers (83% similar), Anthropology and Archeology Teachers (82% similar) and History Teachers (82% similar).
Which jobs like foreign language and literature teachers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Law Teachers ($128,500, +62%; usually a graduate degree), Anthropology and Archeology Teachers ($99,650, +26%; usually a graduate degree) and Political Science Teachers ($98,070, +24%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with foreign language and literature teachers ($79,350). Without more preparation than foreign language and literature teachers usually need: Law Teachers, Anthropology and Archeology Teachers and Political Science Teachers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.