Careers for English Majors
English Major Salaries
In "The Liberal Arts Majors That Pay the Most," The Wall Street Journal reported that the two top paying liberal arts majors are Foreign Languages and Literature as well as English Language and Literature. The National Association of Colleges and Employers also found that English majors graduate to become teachers, editors, writers, managers, paralegals, legal assistants, and more.
Below, please find more information on careers available to English majors. For proof these and more are indeed possible, take a look at our Famous English Major's page.
Creative Writing Careers
Fiction and nonfiction, poetry, plays, screenplays/scripts, websites
Employers: magazines and newspapers, broadcast media companies, large corporations, government agencies
Journalism Careers
Writing/reporting, editing, critiquing, copywriting, copyediting, freelance writing
Employers: universities and university presses, technical industries, self-employed/freelance, events management
Technical Communication Careers
Technical writing and editing, science and medical writing, grant and proposal writing, software and hardware documentation, information technology writing, human-computer interface design, communications and training, mechanical communication
Employers: consulting companies, technical industries, retailers including electronics, engineering firms, healthcare industry, computer system design company, software publishers, self-employed/freelance
Publishing Careers
Administration, advertising, boutique agency circulation, editing managing editor, marketing, promotion, production, publicity, sales
Employers: Trade publishing, special interest magazines, trade magazines, associate magazines, Sunday newspaper supplements, educational publishing, professional & scholarly publishing, university presses, and independent publishers
Education Careers
Teaching, administration, information/library science, non-classroom teaching, English as a Second Language (ESL), research, tutoring
Employers: Public and private k-12 schools, colleges and universities, language institutes (local & abroad), admissions, libraries, financial aid, museums, academic advising and support services, private learning centers, development, test preparation organizations, alumni affairs, nonprofit organizations, international education and study abroad, student affairs (residence life, student activities, orientation, and leadership)
Advertising Careers
Creative services, account management, media, account planning, production, search engine optimization, advertising creative, event planner, copy writing, art direction, web page design
Employers: Advertising agencies, house agencies of a large companies
Public Relations Careers
Account coordination, writing/editing, media relations, social media, account management, fundraising, research, proposal manager, nonprofit executive director, corporate blogger, eCommerce analyst, social media manager, communications officer, non-profit communications departments, corporate communications manager/director
Employers: Public relations firms, advertising agencies, in-house public relations departments, trade associations, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies
Business Careers
Management, customer service, sales and marketing, human resources, insurance (claims and underwriting), sales account manager, human resource generalist, marketing director, marketing communications director, business-to-business content marketing, investor relations, inside sales, stock broker, brand strategist, brand manager
Employers: Banks, real estate, insurance, large and small companies, grocery, drug, and bookstores
Law Careers
Law assistance, prosecution, defense, contractual, corporate, nonprofit or public interest, government, mediation, lobbying, public service agencies
Employers: Law firms, government agencies, state and local government, corporations, public interest organizations, private practice, colleges and universities
Professional Writing Careers
Communication specialist, marketing manager, print journalist, editor, technical writer, advertising copy writer, public relations specialist, web master/content developer, publisher, researcher, public affairs officer, editorial assistant, public opinion researcher, customer service coordinator, fundraiser, librarian, copy editor, news editor, science writer, internal/external publications, editor, public information officer, sales representative, professor, secondary school teacher, speech writer, script writer, foreign service writer, sports editor, publicity manager, promotion specialist, screen writer, productions assistant, corporate trainer, reporter, program coordinator, reviewer (books, films, etc.), media relations officer, student affairs professional, freelance writer
Employers: Advertising/marketing agencies, newspapers/magazines, publishing companies, government, universities and colleges, TV/radio stations, banks/financial institutions, public relations firms, communication firms, science related companies, consumer organizations, multimedia films, professional organizations, not-for-profit organizations, self employed
