Career comparison
Cultural Studies Professor vs. Foreign Language Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Cultural studies professors earn more at the median ($85,020 vs. $79,350), while cultural studies professors usually get to work faster (6–8 years after a bachelor’s of training). Cultural studies professors teach the history, culture and politics of regions and communities. Foreign language professors teach college students to speak, read and understand another language and culture.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cultural Studies Professor | Foreign Language Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $85,020 | $79,350 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $52,070 – $160,420 | $49,060 – $136,050 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.7% (about as fast as average) | +0.2% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 1,000 | 1,600 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. | Ph.D. in the language |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, offices, archives and communities.. | Faculty work in classrooms, language labs and abroad on study programs.. |
What each job does
Cultural Studies Professor
- Teach interdisciplinary courses
- Develop curricula
- Mentor students
- Conduct research
- Publish articles and books
Foreign Language Professor
- Teach language courses
- Teach literature and culture
- Lead study abroad programs
- Run conversation hours
- Conduct research
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, creative work, working independently, and helping others. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose cultural studies professor if…
- I care about culture and identity
- I enjoy discussion
- I like research and writing
Choose foreign language professor if…
- I speak another language well
- I love other cultures
- I like teaching
Still torn? Take the Cultural Studies Professor fit quiz and the Foreign Language Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cultural studies professor or foreign language professor?
Cultural Studies Professors earn more at the median: $85,020 versus $79,350 for foreign language professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Cultural Studies Professors typically train faster (6–8 years after a bachelor’s) than foreign language professors (6–8 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cultural studies professors to grow +2.7% from 2025–35, compared with +0.2% for foreign language professors.