Career comparison
English Professor vs. High School Teacher
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
English professors earn more at the median ($78,760 vs. $72,040), while high school teachers usually get to work faster (4 years plus licensing of training). English professors teach college students to read closely and write well. High school teachers teach teenagers a subject and prepare them for college, careers and life.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| English Professor | High School Teacher | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $78,760 | $72,040 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $48,270 – $137,250 | $48,780 – $107,600 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | 0.0% (little or no change) | -0.2% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 4,500 | 63,500 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s | 4 years plus licensing |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in English | State teaching license |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, offices and libraries.. | High school teachers work in classrooms and labs, with after-school activities, meetings and events.. |
What each job does
English Professor
- Teach composition and literature
- Give feedback on student writing
- Research and publish
- Mentor students
- Advise literary magazines
High School Teacher
- Plan and teach lessons in a subject
- Grade assignments and exams
- Prepare students for state and AP exams
- Manage classroom behavior
- Differentiate instruction
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, working with people, helping others, and high-pay. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose english professor if…
- I love books
- I love writing
- I give careful feedback
Choose high school teacher if…
- I love my subject
- I enjoy working with teenagers
- I can manage a classroom
Still torn? Take the English Professor fit quiz and the High School Teacher fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, english professor or high school teacher?
English Professors earn more at the median: $78,760 versus $72,040 for high school teachers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
High School Teachers typically train faster (4 years plus licensing) than english professors (6–8 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects english professors to grow 0.0% from 2025–35, compared with -0.2% for high school teachers.