Career comparison
Foreign Language Professor vs. High School Teacher
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Foreign language professors earn more at the median ($79,350 vs. $72,040), while high school teachers usually get to work faster (4 years plus licensing of training). Foreign language professors teach college students to speak, read and understand another language and culture. 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
| Foreign Language Professor | High School Teacher | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $79,350 | $72,040 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $49,060 – $136,050 | $48,780 – $107,600 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +0.2% (little or no change) | -0.2% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 1,600 | 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 the language | State teaching license |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, language labs and abroad on study programs.. | High school teachers work in classrooms and labs, with after-school activities, meetings and events.. |
What each job does
Foreign Language Professor
- Teach language courses
- Teach literature and culture
- Lead study abroad programs
- Run conversation hours
- Conduct research
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 working with people, creative work, helping others, and high-pay. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose foreign language professor if…
- I speak another language well
- I love other cultures
- I like teaching
Choose high school teacher if…
- I love my subject
- I enjoy working with teenagers
- I can manage a classroom
Still torn? Take the Foreign Language Professor fit quiz and the High School Teacher fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, foreign language professor or high school teacher?
Foreign Language Professors earn more at the median: $79,350 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 foreign language professors (6–8 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects foreign language professors to grow +0.2% from 2025–35, compared with -0.2% for high school teachers.