What Can You Do With an English Degree? Careers and Salaries

“What can you do with an English degree?” is a common question English majors hear before they even declare the major. The skepticism misses the point. English degrees build skills that are hard to teach on the job: close reading, clear writing and persuasive argument.

The online Master of Arts (M.A.) in English program at Campbellsville University (CU) treats those same skills as career tools, not just classroom exercises. Students graduate ready to write, edit, teach and communicate well across the ten career paths covered in this guide, without needing to start over in an unrelated field.

Harvard’s English department puts it plainly: English majors develop transferable skills such as “storytelling, writing, project management, self-teaching, communication, remote education, [and] curriculum development.” Those aren’t soft skills. They’re the reason English graduates land in law offices, tech companies and nonprofits, not just newsrooms and classrooms.

This article explores ten realistic career paths for English degree graduates, each with current salary figures and growth projections so you can compare them side by side. A graduate degree can add even more paths to that list.

10 Career Paths for English Degree Graduates

English graduates don’t follow one script. The ten paths below span publishing, marketing, law, education and research. Each one draws on the same reading, writing and analysis skills.

Salary figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other national data sources unless noted otherwise, with data current as of September 2026. Actual pay will vary by location, employer and experience. Entry-level pay in every path tends to sit below the figure shown. Specialized or senior versions of the same role often sit well above it.

1. Content Strategist

A content strategist decides what an organization publishes and why. That means aligning blog posts, web copy and campaigns with business goals. The role suits English majors who enjoy writing but also want a hand in the bigger strategic picture.

Content strategists often move into the role after working as writers or editors, once they understand what content has the biggest impact for their organization. PayScale puts the average content strategist salary at $76,425.

2. Copywriter

A copywriter crafts persuasive text for ads, websites and marketing campaigns that drive action. Copywriters work in-house at brands or on the agency side, often moving between the two over a career. Studying rhetoric and argument, a staple of English coursework, is close to direct training for the job.

According to BLS, writers and authors, the broader category copywriters fall under, build their careers by putting their name on published or produced work and taking on increasingly complex assignments. The median salary for this category is $76,910 a year.

3. Editor

An editor is a specialist who reviews and refines written work for clarity, accuracy and style before it reaches readers. Editors work at publishing houses, magazines, digital media companies and corporate communications departments. Close reading and revision, core skills in any English program, translate directly into editorial work.

According to BLS, many editors start as editorial assistants, writers or reporters before taking on full editorial responsibilities. BLS puts the median salary for editors at $77,920 a year, a figure that climbs with seniority and specialty.

4. Grant Writer

A grant writer is a specialist who researches funding opportunities and writes proposals that win grants for nonprofits, schools and universities. Grant writers work in development offices, university research departments and independent consulting practices. A strong grant proposal requires building a persuasive, evidence-based case, which is exactly what four years of English coursework trains a writer to do.

Some grant writers work independently or across multiple organizations as consultants, rather than in a single full-time role. The Grant Professionals Association reported a median grant writer salary of $66,000 a year among its members in 2023.

5. Market Research Analyst

A market research analyst studies consumer data and market trends to help companies make smarter product and marketing decisions. Market research analysts work across nearly every industry, from retail to healthcare to technology. The role leans more quantitative than most English-degree careers, but it still depends on writing clear, persuasive reports from that data.

According to BLS, communication skills are critical for market research analysts, who must convert data into clear reports and presentations, the same skills an English degree builds. The median salary is $78,760 a year, in a field expected to grow 7% through 2035, much faster than average.

6. Paralegal or Legal Assistant

A paralegal supports lawyers by researching case law, drafting documents and organizing trial evidence. Legal writing draws on the same precision and research instincts that literature and composition courses teach, which is why English majors often transition into paralegal work. Many paralegals start in this role while deciding whether to pursue law school later.

Paralegal work is also one of the more accessible paths on this list. Employers typically look for an associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies, though some hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree or provide on-the-job training. BLS puts the median paralegal salary at $62,890 a year, with about 40,800 openings expected annually from replacement needs.

7. Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist manages an organization’s public image, including writing press releases, pitching media and handling communications during a crisis. PR specialists work at agencies, corporations and nonprofits that need to control their public narrative. The job rewards fast, clear writing under pressure, something English majors practice constantly.

PR specialists who can handle a fast-moving news cycle are well positioned to move into public relations management roles. BLS reports a median salary of $74,750 a year for public relations specialists, in a field expected to grow 2% through 2035.

8. Teacher or Professor

A college-level English teacher is an instructor who leads writing, literature and composition courses at colleges and universities. According to BLS, most full-time teaching roles at colleges and universities expect applicants to have a master’s degree, and four-year universities typically prefer a doctorate for professor-level positions, which is where CU’s online M.A. in English program comes in as a realistic starting credential. This is one of the more direct paths from an English degree into a stable, credentialed career.

Community colleges and regional universities are often the most realistic entry point for new graduate-degree holders, since many four-year institutions still prefer a Ph.D. BLS data shows postsecondary teachers earn a median salary of $85,330 a year, with the job category expected to grow 7% through 2035.

9. Technical Writer

A technical writer turns complex, technical information into instructions and documentation that everyday users can follow. Technical writers work in software, engineering and healthcare companies that need complicated products explained clearly. English majors often move into this role because it rewards precise language and audience awareness over deep technical training.

According to BLS, technical writers advance by moving on to more complex projects and into roles involving training or leading junior writers. They earn a median salary of $90,390 a year, with about 3,200 openings expected annually as experienced writers retire or change fields.

10. UX Writer

A UX writer writes the words inside apps and websites, such as button labels, error messages and onboarding flows that guide users. UX writers work at tech companies and product teams that treat interface copy as part of the design process. The job rewards writers who can say a lot in very few words, a skill English programs sharpen through close editing.

UX writing is one of the newer, higher-paying paths on this list, and many UX writers build their case with a portfolio rather than a specific academic credential. PayScale puts the average UX writer salary at $89,671.

Taken together, these ten paths show just how wide the real range is. Paralegal work starts the list at a median of roughly $63,000. Technical writing tops it above $90,000, with college-level teaching, UX writing and market research analysis clustered closely behind.

Job growth also varies across these paths, from little change in editing and paralegal work to above-average growth in teaching and market research. None of that variation comes from the degree itself but from which career path a graduate chooses.

How Does an M.A. in English Expand Your Career Options?

An M.A. in English adds a credential and a specialization that a bachelor’s degree alone doesn’t provide. It’s one more answer to what can you do with an English degree once you’re a few years into a career. Graduate study opens doors a four-year degree usually can’t: full-time college teaching, senior editorial roles and advanced publishing positions.

Beyond the classroom, a graduate degree signals depth: sustained, advanced work in reading and writing, not just an introductory pass. An M.A. builds exactly that record, often including a thesis or capstone project that shows independent, publishable-quality writing, which can matter for senior editorial or content leadership roles.

A graduate degree can also change how quickly someone reaches the higher end of the salary ranges above. Editorial leadership, senior content strategy and full-time faculty roles tend to sit above the entry-level figures cited earlier. A master’s degree is often the credential required to make that jump. For English majors weighing whether to stop at a bachelor’s or keep going, that jump is often the deciding factor.

CU’s online M.A. in English program builds toward the same career paths covered above, from professional writing to editorial leadership. The 30-credit-hour program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). It runs fully online and is designed to fit around a full-time job, preventing a pause in income.

Is an English Degree Worth It?

Yes, but ROI depends less on the degree than on the career path you choose after it. For example, leadership roles built on those paths listed above climb well beyond even the highest figure there: BLS reports that the top 10% of editors earn more than $153,700 a year.

The skills argument holds up better than the salary argument alone. Written communication is one of the qualities employers say matters most in a candidate; at least 70% call it important, per a 2025 job outlook survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). An organization can train someone on software and process, but they can’t easily teach clear writing and sharp thinking. That is exactly what an English degree, especially paired with a graduate credential, can deliver.

Publishing, education, corporate communications and legal support all reward the same core abilities this degree builds: clear writing, careful reading and sound judgment under a deadline. That is why English graduates tend to land on their feet even when they change industries more than once over a career. That flexibility is itself part of the ROI calculation, even when it doesn’t show up in a simple salary comparison. The same question comes up around other majors, too: see What Can You Do With an Elementary Education Degree? for a similar breakdown of that path.

Graduates who choose one of the higher-paying paths above after a graduate degree, including technical writing, UX writing or college-level teaching, see an even stronger return relative to typical tuition costs. CU offers similar paths beyond English too. Students drawn to the teaching route above, but with a music focus instead, can explore CU’s online Master of Music in Music Education program, which serves music teachers who already hold certification and want to advance their credential, or musicians pursuing further study and college-level teaching.

Explore the online M.A. in English program at Campbellsville University and turn these career paths into your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you do with an English degree?

English graduates use the same reading, writing and analysis skills across roles like technical writing, editing, copywriting, UX writing, grant writing, teaching, public relations, paralegal work and market research analysis, with salaries ranging from a median of $62,890 to $90,390 a year, per BLS data.

Is an English degree worth it?

ROI depends more on the career path chosen after graduation than on the degree itself, since the clear writing and sharp thinking an English degree builds are hard for employers to teach on the job.

Do I need a graduate degree to get a good job with an English degree?

No. Most of the career paths in this guide are open to bachelor’s degree holders, though a graduate degree, such as an M.A. in English, mainly opens higher-paying, more senior paths such as full-time college teaching and editorial leadership.

What is the highest-paying career for English majors?

Among the paths in this guide, technical writing pays the highest median salary, at $90,390 a year, according to BLS.

How long does Campbellsville University’s online M.A. in English program take to complete?

Students can complete the fully online, 30-credit-hour program in about 12 months.

About Campbellsville University’s Online M.A. in English

Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University has built more than a century of academic history and is regularly recognized among the nation’s best Christian colleges. The online M.A. in English program extends that foundation into literature, rhetoric and professional writing, preparing graduates for roles in publishing, education, corporate communications and beyond.

Graduates leave the program ready for advanced roles across the ten career paths covered in this guide, from editorial leadership to college-level teaching. Students choose their own capstone path: a two-course thesis sequence that ends in an oral defense, or two additional electives paired with a written exit exam. Faculty bring backgrounds in both academic scholarship and professional writing, connecting classroom study to real career outcomes.