English Teaching

• High schools and middle schools require that students take English classes and that they also pass English standardized exams. English teachers help students improve reading comprehension, teach grammar and mechanics, help students improve their writing, expose students to literary classics and help students analyze written texts. Students learn to think rhetorically and critically, primarily about writing but also about other kinds of texts. Modern English teachers are also sometimes expected to have students think rhetorically about technology. For example, English teachers sometimes have students think about the rhetorical decisions that videos make, such as the use of lighting and sound in the video. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for English teachers is expected to grow by 13 percent between 2008 and 2018. In 2009, middle school English teachers earned a median salary of $50,770 and high school English teachers earned $52,200.
  
  

Technical Writing

• English majors can move into writing instead of teaching writing. Careers such as technical writing and copy writing tend to earn more money than the English teaching career and both are in high demand. Technical writers create technical documentation for products. The median annual earnings for technical writers was $62,730 in 2009.
  
  

Copy writing

• Copywriters create writing intended to persuade someone to take an action, such as buying a product or donating to a charity. These writers might write direct mail copy, catalogs, website copy and advertising copy. In 2009, the median annual earnings for writers were $53,900. Between 2008 and 2018, the need for writers is expected to grow by 8 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  
  

Editing

• Writers can choose to become editors at some point. Editors have varying responsibilities depending on where they work. Some editors determine what writing gets published, while other editors work with writers to rewrite the text of the writer. Some editors rewrite text themselves. Copy editors review writing for errors.
  
  

Paralegal

• Many English students become paralegals, given that they have analysis and writing skills often needed in the profession. Students can often become paralegals immediately after college. Paralegals carry out many services needed by a legal professional. However, they cannot set legal fees, present evidence in court and give legal advice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for paralegals is expected to grow by 28 percent between 2008 and 2018. In 2009, the median annual earnings for paralegals was $46,980.