Content strategist / UX writer
$60,000 – $95,000
Tech pays for exactly what the essay seminar trained
Degree guide
what can i do with an english degree?
The most mocked degree on the internet, quietly holding one of the most transferable skills in an AI-drenched economy: judging whether words are actually good.
The joke aged badly
Everyone can generate words now, which made the ability to judge, edit and direct words scarcer and more valuable. English grads who pair the degree with a domain — tech, health, finance, law — are having a better decade than the meme accounts predicted. The degree alone is not the plan; the degree plus a domain is a good one.
Jobs and salary context
Typical Canadian ranges from Job Bank medians, checked Oct 2026. Actual outcomes vary by role, location, experience, and employer.
Communications specialist
$50,000 – $80,000
Almost every sizeable organization staffs this
Technical writer
$60,000 – $95,000
Underrated, stable, remote-friendly
Editor / publishing
$45,000 – $75,000
Competitive and beloved; freelance widens it
Teacher (with B.Ed)
$55,000 – $105,000
English is a teachable subject — a straight path
Law (with LSAT)
wide
Close reading and argument are what the LSAT tests
FAQ
Is an English degree worthless now that AI writes?
The opposite is proving true: generation got free, judgment got expensive. Roles now center on directing, editing and verifying language at scale — trained-editor work. The degree needs a domain attached, but the core skill appreciated.
What is the highest-paying path from an English degree?
Law is the classic ceiling-raiser. Inside tech: UX writing and content design reach six figures at senior levels. Technical writing is the steadiest under-the-radar route.
English vs communications degree?
English trains depth (analysis, editing, argument); communications trains breadth (PR, media, campaigns). Employers rarely filter between them — your portfolio of published work decides.