Hiring guide · Education & Childcare
How to Hire an English Professor
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring english professors, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $78,760), recruit through college education programs and student-teaching placements, verify Ph.D. in English where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for english professors
There are about 69,300 english professors employed in the U.S., with roughly 4,500 openings each year. Employment is projected to change 0.0% from 2025–35 (little or no change). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $48,270–$60,900 | $23.21–$29.28 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,130 | $49.58 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $137,250 | $65.99 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Doctoral or professional degree (typical entry level)
- Literary analysis
- Patience
Nice-to-haves
- Ph.D. in English
- MFA in creative writing
- Composition teaching training
- Experience with learning management systems
Where to find english professors
- College education programs and student-teaching placements
- Alternative certification and residency programs
- Substitute and paraprofessional pools
- Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: English Literature Professor, Writing Professor, Composition Instructor, Creative Writing Professor
Screening checklist
- State license or certification verification where required
- Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
- CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
- A sample lesson or classroom observation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Describe your research or creative work.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
2. “How do you teach writing?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
3. “How do you handle grading load?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
4. “What courses can you teach?”
What a strong answer includes: List.
5. “How do you mentor?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Comment on a Student Essay (see the steps)
- Teach Close Reading of a Poem (see the steps)
- Run a Writing Workshop (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Composition, Close reading, Thesis
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our English Professor 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with English Professor training. Show them the path forward: Teaching Assistant → Assistant Professor → Associate Professor → Professor or Chair.
Hiring english professors: FAQ
How much should I pay an english professor?
The U.S. median wage for english professors is $78,760 per year, according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($60,900), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($103,130). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should an english professor have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Ph.D. in English and MFA in creative writing where relevant, plus skills such as literary analysis, writing instruction, and research.
How long does it take to train a new english professor?
Becoming qualified typically takes 6–8 years after a bachelor’s. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”