Sign Language Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Sign Language 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
$66,563

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$97,537

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$121,487

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 2.2%

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

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$2,304,556

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
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1124
Occupation: Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
$77,010
21,170
N/A
N/A
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
SOC: 25-1199
Occupation: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
$78,490
151,530
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

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

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

9.1%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$78,490151,530
2023$79,870166,980
2022$76,920214,520
2021$78,160199,020
2020$71,950194,740

Colleges offering Sign Language

University of Rochester

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$41k

Earnings

$76k

Northeastern University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$35k

Earnings

$82k

Rochester Institute of Technology

RoEdu™

981

Net Price

$40k

Earnings

$70k

Clemson University

RoEdu™

979

Net Price

$25k

Earnings

$62k

University of Iowa

RoEdu™

949

Net Price

$21k

Earnings

$58k