Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary · California

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in California

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in California earn a median annual wage of $99,860 —25.8% above the national median of $79,350. That ranks CA #3 of 45 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$99,860
Median hourly
—
Entry level (P10)
$45,580
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$208,410
90th percentile
Employment
2,170
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+25.8%
U.S. $79,350

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$45,580
$64,680
$99,860
$166,400
$45,580$99,860$208,410
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $99,860.

Employment concentration (0.93×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

All 45 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New Hampshire$101,750—1501.74
2Delaware$101,100—701.20
3California$99,860—2,1700.93
4Massachusetts$98,750—9602.07
5Maine$96,970—700.80
6New York$95,120—1,5201.23
7Oregon$91,670—5102.03
8Maryland$87,280—2800.78
9Nevada$84,980—900.43
10Michigan$83,190—5000.88

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary make in California?

The median annual wage for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary in California is $99,860, or — per hour. That is 25.8% above the national median of $79,350.

What is the entry-level foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $45,580 per year (—/hour). The 25th percentile is $64,680.

How many people work as foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary in California?

About 2,170 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary?

California ranks #3 of 45 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.93x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary the most?

New Hampshire has the highest median wage at $101,750 per year, followed by Delaware ($101,100) and California ($99,860).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes