What can you do with a Spanish Language and Literature degree?

First, some facts. Of the Spanish Language and Literature graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 383 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 43%, Spanish Language and Literature graduates have a substantially lower likelihood (-24%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, 46% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Spanish Language and Literature graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Spanish Language and Literature degree?
• What do Spanish Language and Literature graduates do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Spanish Language and Literature degree? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Spanish Language and Literature degree?
• What are the best colleges for Spanish Language and Literature?

View a random Spanish Language and Literature graduate and our analysis:

Relevance score: 5% We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2012 from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Spanish Language and Literature. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Operations Manager Whiteside County Health Dept Aug 2013 - Apr 2022 The role of Operations Manager at a health department does not require specific knowledge or skills in Spanish Language and Literature, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree. Facilities Manager Whiteside County Health Dept Jan 2021 - Apr 2022 As Facilities Manager, the job primarily involves administrative and logistical tasks that do not utilize the skills or knowledge gained from a degree in Spanish Language and Literature. Director Of Facilities Whiteside County Health Dept Mar 2022 - Mar 2023 The Director Of Facilities position focuses on management and operations rather than any relevant use of Spanish Language and Literature knowledge or skills. Public Health Administrator OGLE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Mar 2023 - Present As a Public Health Administrator, there may be some limited application of communication skills relevant to the Spanish degree, but the core qualifications of the job are primarily centered on public health rather than literature or language. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Master of Public Health - MPH Ashford University 2014 - 2015 ABOUT Experienced Operations Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Customer Service, Safety Training, and facilities management. Strong operations professional with a Master of Healthcare Administration - MHA focused in Health/Health Care Administration/Management from Ashford University.

What jobs can you get with a Spanish Language and Literature degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Spanish Teacher
• Substitute Teacher
• Law Clerk
• Administrative Assistant
• Teacher
• English Teacher
• Server
• Spanish Interpreter
• High School Spanish Teacher
• Intern

As we take a closer look at the career trajectories of individuals who earned a degree in Spanish Language and Literature, we find a diverse range of professions, spanning from teaching and interpreting to administrative roles and customer service. One notable trend is that many graduates tend to gravitate towards education-related positions, where their academic background is applied directly. Among the most common jobs held by these individuals are Spanish teachers, bilingual educators, and language tutors. These roles directly leverage the skills and knowledge acquired during their studies, involving significant daily use of the Spanish language and literature. This alignment between their education and profession clearly demonstrates the relevance of a Spanish degree in providing a career-focused pathway.

However, despite the prevalence of education-oriented positions, a substantial number of graduates have also entered fields that are less directly related to their degree. Many have pursued careers in customer service, hospitality, or general administration, where the application of Spanish language skills might be beneficial but is not central to the job's core functions. Roles such as data entry specialists, administrative assistants, and various customer service representative positions dominate this category. In these instances, while the degree may provide some competitive edge or facilitate communication in diverse environments, these jobs often do not fully utilize the in-depth expertise in Spanish Language and Literature that the graduates possess.

Overall, the analysis reveals that while many Spanish Language and Literature graduates find themselves in highly relevant teaching roles, a significant portion also occupies positions that may require some language skills but fundamentally center around different skill sets. This dual trend underlines the versatility of a Spanish degree but also highlights a potential gap where graduates may not be fully utilizing their education in their chosen careers. Hence, while the graduate's expertise is often applied successfully in some contexts, other career choices can lead them away from the core competencies gained in their academic journey.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Spanish Language and Literature graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Spanish Language and Literature graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When analyzing the career trajectories of graduates with degrees in Spanish Language and Literature, it becomes evident that their paths can vary widely, offering a mix of fulfilling positions closely tied to their field and others that seem unrelated. Typically, graduates often start in entry-level roles directly linked to Spanish language skills, such as teaching, tutoring, or working in bilingual customer service. For instance, many graduates of education programs step into teaching jobs, often as Spanish instructors or ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers. This trend makes sense given the strong demand for language teachers in various educational settings.

However, as we chart the career paths five to ten years post-graduation, the picture begins to shift. While some graduates manage to ascend into roles that still embrace their language skills—like becoming full-time professors, translators, or language specialists—many others transition into unrelated fields. For instance, one graduate became a project manager after several short-term roles, while others engage as administrative assistants or change their focus completely toward roles in marketing, event planning, or even healthcare. This suggests that while there is potential for a career tied directly to the study of Spanish, there is also a significant percentage of graduates who find their way into various sectors that may not use their degree as extensively.

In honesty, the outcomes from these degrees present a mixed bag. While it’s encouraging to see some secure relevant and stable positions, the sheer number turning toward different industries reflects a degree of lost potential for those who might have hoped for a seamless transition into language-focused careers. The reality, however, is that a Spanish degree can cultivate transferable skills—like communication, cultural understanding, and analytical reasoning—that are valuable across numerous career fields. So, while the pathway might not always lead directly to careers in Spanish language and literature, graduates remain equipped with skills relevant to a variety of professional landscapes.

How hard is a Spanish Language and Literature degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your interests and how much effort you put into it. If you enjoy diving into literature, analyzing texts, and speaking the language, it might feel more like an enjoyable journey than a struggle. That said, it involves a good deal of reading, writing essays, and understanding grammar nuances that can get tricky, especially if you’re not already fluent. So, for some, it might be easier than, say, engineering, but for others, it could definitely be a tough ride. Just find ways to stay engaged with the material, and you’ll be fine!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Spanish Language and Literature.

Do Spanish Language and Literature graduates tend to make good money?

Okay, so when looking at the career paths of these Spanish Language and Literature graduates, it’s all over the map in terms of salary and job stability. For instance, graduates from universities like University of Virginia and University of Utah have managed to land higher education roles and positions in management, suggesting they likely earn decent salaries. On the flip side, some recent graduates are starting with roles like servers or administrative assistants, which typically don’t pay well at all. The variance is huge, but generally, those who pursued more specific or advanced roles, especially in education or management, seem to be doing better financially.

Overall, it seems like those who stuck with teaching or continued onto higher degrees are finding more stable and potentially lucrative positions, while others who’ve hopped around to varying roles, especially in the hospitality or retail sectors, might not be making very good money just yet. Those early career choices can really set the pace for financial success, so juggling jobs while they figure things out seems to be common as well! Just remember, every career has its own journey, and financial success can often take time.

What buzzwords do Spanish Language and Literature graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Spanish Language and Literature. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Spanish Language and Literature?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Spanish Language and Literature (ordered by the average relevance score of their Spanish Language and Literature graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: