Media & Creative

What Can You Do With an English Degree?

Develop strong writing, analysis, and communication that transfer to many fields. We track 11 careers that an English degree commonly leads to, with median pay from $60,170 to $159,670 depending on the role and how far you take it.

How these numbers work: A major does not have its own salary. The pay above comes from the 11 careers below that an English degree commonly leads to, using each one's national median wage from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Entry-level roles sit toward the bottom of that range and advanced or graduate-level roles toward the top, so where you land depends on the specific career and any further education. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).

Careers this major leads to

Lawyer / Attorney$159,670 median · About average Technical Writer$90,390 median · Slower than average Editor$77,920 median · Slower than average Writer / Author$76,910 median · About average Public Relations Specialist$74,750 median · Faster than average Librarian$68,270 median · Slower than average Middle School Teacher$64,370 median · About average Paralegal$62,890 median · Slower than average Journalist / Reporter$62,200 median · About average Adult Education / ESL Instructor$61,540 median · About average Interpreter / Translator$60,170 median · Slower than average

Frequently asked questions

What can you do with an English degree?

An English degree commonly leads to 11 careers we track, including Lawyer / Attorney, Technical Writer, and Editor. Median pay across those roles runs from $60,170 to $159,670 a year (BLS).

How much do English majors make?

A major does not have its own salary. The 11 careers an English degree leads to have national median wages from $60,170 to $159,670 a year (BLS). Entry-level roles sit toward the bottom of that range and senior or graduate-level roles toward the top.

What jobs can an English major get?

Common roles include Lawyer / Attorney, Technical Writer, Editor, and Writer / Author. Lawyer / Attorney is among the higher-paying, at $159,670 median.

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Salary and job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034). National figures; actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.