Language Studies Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Language Studies major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Linguistics, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Linguistics, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$78,068

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$123,432

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$165,882

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 3.4%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$3,122,720

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
SOC: 19-3099
Occupation: Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$100,340
36,970
N/A
N/A
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1123
Occupation: English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
$78,270
59,590
N/A
N/A
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1124
Occupation: Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
$77,010
21,170
N/A
N/A
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
SOC: 25-2031
Occupation: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$64,580
1,072,540
N/A
N/A
Interpreters and Translators
SOC: 27-3091
Occupation: Interpreters and Translators
$59,440
53,360
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other

15.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$100,34036,970
2023$95,89035,210
2022$88,90033,210
2021$84,43034,330
2020$87,26034,570

Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

10.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$77,01021,170
2023$78,76020,820
2022$76,03019,520
2021$77,03019,640
2020$69,92022,790

Colleges offering Language Studies

University of Notre Dame

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$30k

Earnings

$84k

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$15k

Earnings

$69k

Georgetown University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$38k

Earnings

$89k

San Jose State University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$14k

Earnings

$70k

Yale University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$27k

Earnings

$86k