Jen David 
What opportunities are open to you when you graduate with an English major?
You know you have a talent for words. Whether writing or speaking, your skill in finding just the right way of phrasing something is something you're interested in pursuing on a professional level. In this article, we'll explore some of the avenues that will open up to you when you've completed an English degree and take an in-depth look at some creative jobs for English majors.
Is an English Major a valuable degree?
If you've not yet embarked on your degree course, you may be wondering if there are any interesting or well-paying careers in English. The good news is that studying English opens up many different pathways, so you're bound to find a role that appeals.
English degrees come in various shapes and sizes. You'll have to decide whether you're interested in an English Literature degree, an English Language degree, or an English Linguistics degree, for starters. There's also the option of combining an English degree with other subjects – for example, you could combine English with Film Studies or Creative Writing.
English is a good major, as it can open many doors and enable you to develop some skills that are very in demand in the current job market. With so many options open to you, it's worth investigating jobs for English Majors before you embark on a course so you can be certain you're choosing one that will allow you to pursue your chosen profession upon graduation.
Skills gained during an English Major
First up, let's look at some of those in-demand skills that you're likely to develop during your studies. The good news is that an English Major will develop some of the most sought-after skills for the workplace, including:
Verbal and Written Communication
Naturally, at the top of the list is communication. As an English Major, you'll be able to write and speak clearly and articulately to convey your point, influence others, engage your audience, and entertain.
Analytical and critical thinking
Want to win an argument or persuade someone around to your point of view? The skills you develop in analytical and critical thinking will be invaluable in the workplace, especially as you begin to work your way up the career ladder.
Editing
Attention to detail is always in demand. Couple that with the ability to bring finesse and structure, and you'll be looked up to as the go-to person for ensuring that communications maintain reputation and professionalism.
Research
As you pursue your degree, you'll become adept at working independently to carry out your own research. Taking a fact-based approach to decision-making, investigating different options to solve problems, and continually developing your own knowledge will stand you in good stead in the workplace.
Creativity
For those pursuing degrees in Literature or Creative Writing, your imagination and novel approach to situations can bring a breath of fresh air. What's more, while artificial intelligence may be taking the most mundane and routine jobs off the table, it can't match humans in terms of originality and creativity. If you have this skill in your arsenal, you'll be employed for years to come.
Expert tip: Don't forget to highlight the most relevant skills for your chosen career on your resume! In addition to adding keywords to your Skills section, you'll also need to add concrete examples to your Professional Experience section too.
Best jobs for English Majors
We've shown that English is a valuable degree and one that will ensure you leave university with a briefcase full of skills that make you extremely hireable.
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But which are the best jobs for English Majors?
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What should you do next?
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And which role has the most earning potential?
We've explained a few jobs for English Majors below, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. English graduates find themselves in a very wide range of positions and in countless industries. Here are some of the more popular, sorted into six broad categories:
Marketing roles
The marketing team is tasked with building awareness of products and imbuing trust in brands, which then translates into sales. They'll launch new products, as well as promote existing ones. There are many jobs for English Majors under the marketing umbrella, including:
Marketing Assistant
As a new graduate, you could begin a marketing career in an entry-level role such as Marketing Assistant. Your exact responsibilities will vary from company to company, but you're likely to be doing things such as analyzing research, providing copywriting for marketing materials, maintaining social media accounts, developing creative ideas for marketing campaigns, organizing events, and liaising with external agencies.
SEO Specialist
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is an important marketing function that helps brands get seen in the noisy online marketplace. You might write optimized website copy, carry out keyword research, build links, and advise on on-page optimization to increase engagement.
Social Media Manager
Twenty years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who'd heard of the role of Social Media Manager. But here we are, in the internet age, where social media is one of the most powerful marketing tools around. You'll be able to combine creativity and a talent for writing in this job, as you'll be conceptualizing, developing, editing, and uploading visual, audio, and textual content across all social media platforms.
Content Manager
If you have skills in digital tools, SEO, and marketing, you may find yourself progressing into a Content Manager role. Your focus will be on using your professional and academic skills to develop an online brand identity for a company or its products.
Brand Strategist
If a career in marketing is for you, then you might find yourself working your way up into a Brand Strategist position. Combining skills in communication, research, and creativity, you'll have full control of building a brand in terms of voice, positioning, and tone across all marketing channels.
Teaching roles
If you fancy sharing your love of language and literature with others, a career in teaching might be for you. You'll be able to indulge your passion every day – and hopefully ignite the same passion in others!
School teacher
The most obvious role when considering jobs for English Majors is a school teacher. Whatever age you choose to teach, you'll be shaping young minds and helping people from all walks of life come to grips with the nuances of the English language and the imaginations of our finest writers.
Lecturer
If kids aren't your thing, you can still indulge your love of words by sharing your expertise at the university level. You'll get the opportunity to carry out research and specialize in a particular area, all while knowing that the people you're teaching have chosen to be in your class.
TEFL Teacher
Of course, not all learning happens in a classroom – or even in a formal education setting. Teaching English as a Foreign Language is another career path open to you – and one which could help you see the world! TEFL teachers can teach in the US, in other countries, or even online. You could find yourself working with refugees, businessmen, or international students. Of all the teaching roles after graduation, this is one of the most diverse and flexible.
Corporate communications roles
Businesses will always have a need to communicate. Whether that's with their staff, their shareholders, their customers, or the wider world, there will always be corporate communications jobs for English Majors.
Internal Communications Assistant
In this entry-level role, you'll be helping the Internal Communications team implement the employee communications strategy. This could involve conducting research, delivering internal events, developing content, and writing news stories.
Public Relations Manager
If external communications are more up your street, maybe a career in PR is for you. You'll be helping shape public perception of the company and its products or services, which involves, among other tasks, drafting press releases, organizing press conferences, and writing speeches.
Corporate Communications Specialist
In a corporate communications role, you can expect to be managing relations with various business stakeholders, such as investors, the media, or key clients. Under this banner, you'll be developing creative communications campaigns, leading crisis communications, and providing media training.
Journalism roles
Another natural career path for English Majors is journalism. Whether you're a roving reporter or an introverted editor, your written and spoken communication skills will find a home here. What's more, you can choose to work in a freelance or employed capacity, and the hours are often – although not always – very flexible.
News Writer
If you have an eye for a story or a nose for a trend, you'll be at home writing for newspapers or a news website. Your ability to get to the crux of the matter and present it in an engaging, informative, and enjoyable way will get you far.
Reporter
Reporting requires similar skills to news writing, but the focus is on presenting stories verbally rather than in writing. If you're confident speaking articulately, conducting interviews, and meeting strict deadlines, you could target this role when you graduate.
Editor or Proofreader
Do you have eyes like a hawk? If you can spot a typo from a mile off or fact-check a complex article, you may find your niche editing or proofreading. Often used interchangeably, an Editor carries out the preliminary checks to review and curate work, whereas the proofreader will pick over it to find those last nagging mistakes. In a newsroom, the Editor will also be tasked with assigning stories and managing news teams.
Writing roles
Author
Often viewed as the holy grail of jobs for an English Major, becoming a published author is certainly an achievement. You'll channel your creativity, imagination, and writing skills to finally see your name in print. Unless you're unquestionably the next Charles Dickens or JK Rowling, however, you may need to take a day job while you work on your first masterpiece – otherwise, you may become the cliche of a penniless author, writing by candlelight in a freezing attic.
Technical Writer
As a Technical Writer, you'll write guides that explain how to use products and services. In this role, your skill in simplifying complex information and presenting it in an easy-to-understand manner will be key.
Medical Writer
Combining your strengths in both English and science, you'll be writing documents about medicine and healthcare. Exceptional accuracy, a willingness to carry out research, and the ability to communicate that research to various audiences, will help you to succeed here.
Grant Writer
If you're interested in working for charities or non-profit organizations, you could consider moving into grant writing. You'll use skills learned during your English Major to research, draft, and write proposals to enable organizations to access grants and other funding opportunities.
Speech Writer
If you have a way with words but prefer not to be in the limelight, a career as a Speech Writer may be the way forward. You can write for people as diverse as Politicians and senior executives to nervous grooms. You'll need to be able to understand the core message that needs to be conveyed, know how to get an audience on the side, and be able to adapt your style and tone to the speaker, the situation, and the goal.
Specialist jobs for English Majors
Translator or Interpreter
Fluency in another language is unquestionably a desirable skill in today's global marketplace. Translators work with the written word, producing documents ranging from books to business reports. Interpreters work with the spoken word – it's only for those who can think on their feet and don't need regular recourse to a dictionary! Whichever you choose, you'll be at an advantage if you can bring cultural understanding, as well as linguistic understanding, to the role.
Paralegal
While you may not have law qualifications, your English skills could still be in demand in the legal sector if you can conduct research, draft documents, and communicate professionally with clients. If you choose this route, you may find it helpful to complete a Paralegal course on top of your degree.
Librarian
Librarians don't just work in public libraries; they can also be found in universities, museums, and even businesses. While you'll be working with non-fiction books – particularly in the corporate sector – you'll also have access to plenty of fiction too. If you're looking for jobs related to literature, you could do worse than surround yourself with thousands upon thousands of books. These days, it's likely you'll be working with digital resources as well. This means you'll need to top off your English Major with a master's degree from the American Library Association.
Highest-paying jobs for English Majors
While English may not be one of the highest-paying majors, the variety of roles that it can lead to is unparalleled. Certainly, there are far more career paths open to English Majors than we could ever hope to discuss here. A 2024 report by the Modern Language Association gives the median annual salary for English Majors at the peak of their careers as $83,000, with the library, education, and training sectors being the biggest employers.
Earnings within each sector and role can vary considerably, so there's no one specific job that can be considered the highest paying, regardless of degree. When specifically considering jobs for English Majors, roles such as Technical Writer, Copy- or Content Writer, and corporate communications frequently top the list. However, there's no one definitive list of high-paying jobs for English Majors, so the best advice is simply to pursue the career that most appeals to you and increase your earnings by working your way up the career ladder and evaluating your direction at every step.
Expert tip: Show off your English Major, including any skills gained and courses taken, in the Education section of your resume. If you scored a great GPA, you can include that as well.
Take your English Major in any direction you choose!
As you can see, with an English Major the world's your oyster. Whatever your personal strengths and skills, you're bound to find a career that suits you. Are you ready to take your next steps? If you're ready to move from college into the world of work, we're here to support you every step of the way.
There's plenty of career and job-search advice on our blog, or why not send your resume for a free resume review by our experts? We'll help you to spot any areas for improvement so you're communicating the true value of the skills you learned at college.