Japanese Language and Literature: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program engage in an advanced study of the Japanese language and its literary traditions, developing strong linguistic proficiency alongside deep cultural and historical understanding. The curriculum emphasizes both classical and contemporary forms of Japanese, preparing learners for professional, academic, or creative applications in global contexts.
- Philology: The scholarly analysis of language structure, historical development, and textual interpretation, focusing on the evolution of Japanese as a written and spoken system.
- Ancient Japanese: Study of early forms of the language, including classical texts from the Nara and Heian periods, with attention to syntax, vocabulary, and literary conventions.
- Medieval Japanese: Exploration of linguistic and literary developments during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, including the emergence of new writing systems and narrative forms.
- Modern Japanese: Comprehensive instruction in contemporary spoken and written Japanese, covering grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, and stylistic usage in everyday and formal contexts.
- Dialects: Examination of regional variations across Japan, including pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical differences that reflect historical, geographical, and social diversity.
- Applied Language Studies: Practical training in using Japanese in specialized domains such as international business, science, technology, diplomacy, and cross-cultural communication.
Japanese Language and Literature Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Japanese Language and Literature Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Japanese Language and Literature degrees, including Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education and Interpreters and Translators. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,147,070 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1124 | $77,010 | $47,090 - $134,960 | 21,170 | N/A |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
| Interpreters and Translators 27-3091 | $59,440 | $35,630 - $99,830 | 53,360 | $28.58 |
Japanese Language and Literature Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,357 in Mississippi to $92,850 in California—a 92% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,147,070 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Japanese Language and Literature by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Japanese Language and Literature programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Japanese Language and Literature is found at The University of Texas, Austin (55 graduates), University of Hawaii (UHM), Manoa (34 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (33 graduates), University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (30 graduates), and Los Angeles City College (LACC) (22 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 883 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas |
Other Award
|
55 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
33 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Los Angeles City College (LACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Los Angeles, California | Public | lacitycollege.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
17 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Diablo Valley College (DVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Pleasant Hill, California | Public | dvc.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| Foothill College |
Associate's
|
12 | Los Altos Hills, California | Public | foothill.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Glendale, California | Public | glendale.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Residency
Other Award
|
12 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| California State University (CSUMB) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Seaside, California | Public | csumb.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Middlebury College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Middlebury, Vermont | Private | middlebury.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Irvine Valley College (IVC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Irvine, California | Public | ivc.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Elizabethtown College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania | Private | etown.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Other Award
|
9 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Bakersfield College (BC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Bakersfield, California | Public | bakersfieldcollege.edu |
| Palomar College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | San Marcos, California | Public | www2.palomar.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Hamilton College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Clinton, New York | Private | hamilton.edu |
| Central Washington University (CWU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | cwu.edu |
| Whitman College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Walla Walla, Washington | Private | whitman.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAF) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Fairbanks, Alaska | Public | uaf.edu |
| San Diego Mesa College |
Associate's
|
6 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmesa.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| El Camino Community College District (ECC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Torrance, California | Public | elcamino.edu |
| Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Woodland Hills, California | Public | lapc.edu |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| St Olaf College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Northfield, Minnesota | Private | wp.stolaf.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Rowan University |
Other Award
|
5 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| University of Mount Union |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Alliance, Ohio | Private | mountunion.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| University of Puget Sound (UPS) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | pugetsound.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Grossmont College |
Associate's
|
4 | El Cajon, California | Public | grossmont.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Gustavus Adolphus College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Saint Peter, Minnesota | Private | gustavus.edu |
| Temple University |
Other Award
|
4 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Beloit College (Beloit) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Beloit, Wisconsin | Private | beloit.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| Crafton Hills College (CHC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Yucaipa, California | Public | craftonhills.edu |
| Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Monterey, California | Public | mpc.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
|
3 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Other Award
|
3 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| North Central College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Naperville, Illinois | Private | northcentralcollege.edu |
| DePauw University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Greencastle, Indiana | Private | depauw.edu |
| Bates College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lewiston, Maine | Private | bates.edu |
| Williams College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Williamstown, Massachusetts | Private | williams.edu |
| Macalester College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | macalester.edu |
| Colgate University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Hamilton, New York | Private | colgate.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Kenyon College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Gambier, Ohio | Private | kenyon.edu |
| Pacific University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Forest Grove, Oregon | Private | pacificu.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| Bennington College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Bennington, Vermont | Private | bennington.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Japanese Language and Literature programs
How much can I earn with a Japanese Language and Literature degree?
Salaries for Japanese Language and Literature graduates vary by role and location. Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,010 annually, while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn around $64,580. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $92,850 compared to $48,357 in Mississippi. Approximately 1,147,070 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Japanese Language and Literature programs?
Currently 127 accredited institutions offer Japanese Language and Literature degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include The University of Texas, Austin (55 graduates), University of Hawaii (UHM), Manoa (34 graduates), and University of Wisconsin-Madison (33 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Japanese Language and Literature growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 892 in 2010 to a peak of 1,043 in 2020, before declining slightly to 920 in 2023-24. This represents a 3% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Japanese Language and Literature degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, and Interpreters and Translators. Related occupations employ approximately 1,147,070 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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