Career comparison
English Professor vs. Writer
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. $76,910), while writers usually get to work faster (Years of practice of training). English professors teach college students to read closely and write well. Writers write books, scripts, ads and articles for readers and audiences.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| English Professor | Writer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $78,760 | $76,910 ($36.98/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $48,270 – $137,250 | $44,310 – $139,870 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | 0.0% (little or no change) | -0.3% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 4,500 | 11,900 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s | Years of practice |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in English | MFA in creative writing |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, offices and libraries.. | Writers work at home, in offices and on location.. |
What each job does
English Professor
- Teach composition and literature
- Give feedback on student writing
- Research and publish
- Mentor students
- Advise literary magazines
Writer
- Research topics
- Write drafts
- Revise
- Pitch ideas
- Meet deadlines
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, working independently, desk work, and high-pay. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and arts, media & design, but share transferable skills such as patience and discipline.
Which should you choose?
Choose english professor if…
- I love books
- I love writing
- I give careful feedback
Choose writer if…
- I love writing
- I’m self-disciplined
- I handle rejection
Still torn? Take the English Professor fit quiz and the Writer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, english professor or writer?
English Professors earn more at the median: $78,760 versus $76,910 for writers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Writers typically train faster (Years of practice) 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 -0.3% for writers.