“You’re an English major? So, you want to be a writer or a teacher?”
If you’ve heard this question one too many times, you’re not alone. English majors face persistent stereotypes that limit their perceived career options to writing and education. While these are certainly valuable paths, they represent just a fraction of what’s possible with an English degree in today’s remote-first economy.
The reality is that remote jobs for English majors extend far beyond traditional writing roles. Your analytical superpowers—honed through years of deconstructing complex texts, crafting nuanced arguments, and understanding human motivation—are precisely what modern businesses need to thrive in the digital landscape.
This guide reveals 10 surprising remote career paths where English majors not only succeed but often outperform candidates from other backgrounds. These jobs for English majors besides writing leverage your core competencies while opening doors to lucrative, fulfilling careers in tech, marketing, and business operations.
Your English Major Superpower: Translating Analysis into Business Value
Before diving into specific roles, it’s crucial to understand why English majors are uniquely positioned for success in remote work environments. The same skills that helped you analyze Shakespeare’s character motivations or deconstruct postmodern narratives translate directly into solving complex business challenges.
Consider how your academic training has developed these invaluable competencies:
- Critical Analysis: Breaking down complex problems into manageable components—whether it’s identifying themes in Victorian literature or analyzing customer feedback patterns—requires the same systematic thinking approach.
Nuanced Communication: Your ability to craft precise, context-appropriate messaging serves businesses that need to communicate with diverse audiences across multiple channels and platforms.
Research & Synthesis: Compiling information from various sources into coherent, persuasive narratives is exactly what businesses need for market research, competitive analysis, and strategic planning.
Empathy: Understanding character perspectives and authorial intent develops the emotional intelligence that’s essential for user experience design, customer success, and community management.
Attention to Detail: Years of close reading have trained you to notice subtleties that others miss—a skill that’s invaluable in quality assurance, content strategy, and project coordination.
These capabilities represent what Harvard Business that are increasingly valuable in our technology-driven economy. Humanities remote work opportunities are expanding because companies recognize that technical skills alone aren’t sufficient for business success.
10 Surprising Remote Jobs Where English Majors Excel
1. UX Researcher Assistant
Why it Fits: Analyzing user interviews is fundamentally similar to close-reading a text for subtext and intent. When users say one thing but mean another, your literary analysis skills help you identify the underlying motivations and pain points.
What You’ll Do:
- Synthesize interview notes to identify patterns in user behavior
- Help create user personas based on research findings
- Assist in writing research reports that translate complex user insights into actionable business recommendations
- Conduct competitive analysis of user experience across different platforms
Average Salary Range: $35,000 – $55,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Text analysis, pattern recognition, empathy, research methodology
2. SEO Specialist / Content Strategist
Why it Fits: SEO is fundamentally about understanding search intent—what people really mean when they type queries into Google. This requires the same interpretive skills you’ve developed through literary analysis, combined with your ability to structure information logically.
What You’ll Do:
- Conduct keyword research to understand what your target audience is searching for
- Create comprehensive content outlines that address user intent
- Analyze competitor content to identify gaps and opportunities
- Develop content strategies that align with business goals and user needs
Average Salary Range: $40,000 – $65,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Research skills, understanding of audience and purpose, analytical thinking
3. Public Relations (PR) Coordinator
Why it Fits: PR is storytelling at scale—crafting compelling narratives that shape public perception. Your understanding of rhetoric, audience analysis, and persuasive communication makes you naturally suited for managing a company’s public voice.
What You’ll Do:
- Draft press releases that tell compelling company stories
- Build and maintain relationships with media contacts
- Monitor brand mentions and sentiment across digital platforms
- Help develop crisis communication strategies
Average Salary Range: $38,000 – $58,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Persuasive writing, audience analysis, critical thinking, research skills
4. Corporate Communications Assistant
Why it Fits: Internal communications require the same clarity, consistency, and empathy that you’ve developed through academic writing. You understand how to tailor messages for different audiences and ensure complex information is accessible.
What You’ll Do:
- Help write internal newsletters and company updates
- Edit executive communications for clarity and tone
- Manage intranet content and internal documentation
- Assist with employee onboarding materials and training resources
Average Salary Range: $35,000 – $52,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Clear writing, editing skills, audience awareness, organizational abilities
5. Social Media Community Manager
Why it Fits: Managing online communities requires understanding the “voice” and culture of different groups—similar to analyzing the social dynamics in literary works. Your empathy and communication skills help foster meaningful dialogue and engagement.
What You’ll Do:
- Engage authentically with followers across multiple social platforms
- Respond to comments and messages in the brand’s voice
- Analyze community sentiment and provide insights to marketing teams
- Develop content calendars that resonate with specific audience segments
Average Salary Range: $32,000 – $48,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Cultural analysis, empathy, written communication, critical thinking
6. Instructional Design Assistant
Why it Fits: Structuring information for learning requires the same organizational skills you’ve used to analyze complex texts and present clear arguments. You understand how to break down complicated concepts into digestible pieces.
What You’ll Do:
- Help outline training modules and educational content
- Write scripts for educational videos and e-learning courses
- Edit learning materials for clarity and engagement
- Assist with assessment design and learning outcome measurement
Average Salary Range: $40,000 – $60,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Information organization, clear writing, analytical thinking, pedagogy understanding
7. Grant Proposal Coordinator
Why it Fits: Grant writing combines persuasive writing with rigorous research—skills you’ve mastered through academic essays and thesis work. You understand how to build compelling arguments supported by evidence.
What You’ll Do:
- Research funding opportunities that align with organizational goals
- Help write and edit grant applications and proposals
- Maintain databases of funding sources and application deadlines
- Assist with budget development and project planning
Average Salary Range: $38,000 – $55,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Research skills, persuasive writing, attention to detail, project management
8. Digital Project Coordinator
Why it Fits: Managing projects is like tracking multiple narrative threads in a complex novel—you need to understand how different elements connect while ensuring clear communication among all stakeholders.
What You’ll Do:
- Track project timelines and deliverables using tools like Asana and Trello
- Take detailed meeting notes and distribute action items
- Facilitate team communication across different departments
- Help identify potential project risks and develop mitigation strategies
Average Salary Range: $42,000 – $62,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Organizational skills, attention to detail, communication abilities, analytical thinking
9. Customer Success Associate
Why it Fits: Customer success requires empathy, clear communication, and problem-solving skills—all strengths you’ve developed through literary analysis and understanding character motivations. You excel at seeing situations from multiple perspectives.
What You’ll Do:
- Onboard new customers and guide them through product adoption
- Answer complex support tickets that require nuanced solutions
- Create help documentation and user guides
- Analyze customer feedback to identify improvement opportunities
Average Salary Range: $35,000 – $55,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Empathy, problem-solving, clear communication, analytical skills
10. Podcast Producer / Story Editor
Why it Fits: Podcast production combines narrative structure with audio storytelling—perfect for English majors who understand pacing, character development, and story arcs. You can identify the most compelling moments in raw content.
What You’ll Do:
- Listen to interview recordings and identify key story moments
- Help outline episodes for maximum narrative impact
- Write compelling show notes and episode descriptions
- Assist with guest research and interview preparation
Average Salary Range: $35,000 – $50,000 annually
Skills You Already Have: Narrative analysis, storytelling skills, attention to detail, creative thinking
How to Frame Your English Degree on a Resume
The key to landing these roles is translating your academic experiences into business language that hiring managers understand. Here are proven before-and-after examples:
Before: “Analyzed 19th-century literature for thematic elements” After: “Synthesized complex historical texts to identify key themes and present nuanced arguments—a skill directly applicable to market research analysis and competitive intelligence”
Before: “Wrote research papers on various topics” After: “Conducted extensive research using primary and secondary sources, then synthesized findings into persuasive, evidence-based reports—experience that translates directly to grant writing and business proposal development”
Before: “Participated in class discussions and presentations” After: “Facilitated group discussions and delivered presentations to diverse audiences, developing communication skills jobs require in client-facing and team leadership roles”
Before: “Completed coursework in critical theory” After: “Applied analytical frameworks to deconstruct complex problems and evaluate multiple perspectives—skills essential for user research, content strategy, and business analysis”
The key is connecting your academic work to business outcomes. Employers want to see how your skills solve their problems, not just what you studied. Focus on the cognitive processes you’ve mastered rather than the specific content you analyzed.
Your Next Step: From English Major to Remote Professional
Understanding what to do with an english degree in today’s remote economy starts with recognizing that your analytical and communication skills are in high demand across multiple industries. The roles outlined above represent just the beginning of what’s possible when you strategically position your English major as a business asset.
These humanities remote work opportunities are growing rapidly as companies recognize that human-centered skills can’t be automated or outsourced. Your ability to understand nuance, communicate clearly, and think critically makes you invaluable in our increasingly complex digital economy.
The remote work landscape offers English majors unprecedented opportunities to build meaningful careers that leverage their intellectual strengths while providing financial stability and professional growth. By reframing your degree as a collection of valuable business skills rather than just academic achievements, you open doors to careers you may never have considered.
Ready to take the next step? Now that you have career ideas, the next crucial step is building the perfect application. Learn exactly how to frame these skills and create compelling application materials in our comprehensive guide: How to Write a Resume for Your First Remote Job (With Examples) — Coming Soon
For more remote opportunities across all majors and experience levels, explore our complete resource: The Definitive Guide to Remote Jobs for College Students (2025 Edition).
Your English degree isn’t a limitation—it’s your competitive advantage in the remote workforce. The question isn’t whether you can succeed in these roles, but which path you’ll choose to begin your journey.
Top Remote Jobs for English Majors
UX Researcher Assistant
Synthesize interview notes to identify patterns in user behavior and translate complex insights into actionable recommendations. Average salary: $35k – $55k annually.
Fits because analyzing user interviews is fundamentally similar to close-reading a text for subtext and intent, leveraging your literary analysis skills.
Editor’s Rating:
Visit WebsiteSEO Specialist / Content Strategist
Conduct keyword research, create content outlines to address user intent, and analyze competitor content. Average salary: $40k – $65k annually.
Fits because SEO is about understanding search intent, which requires the same interpretive and information structuring skills developed through literary analysis.
Editor’s Rating:
Visit WebsitePublic Relations (PR) Coordinator
Draft press releases, build media relationships, and monitor brand mentions to shape public perception. Average salary: $38k – $58k annually.
Fits because PR is storytelling at scale. Your understanding of rhetoric, audience analysis, and persuasive communication is a natural advantage.
Editor’s Rating:
Visit WebsiteCorporate Communications Assistant
Write internal newsletters, edit executive communications, and manage intranet content to ensure clear messaging. Average salary: $35k – $52k annually.
Fits because internal communications require the clarity, consistency, and empathy you've developed through academic writing and audience analysis.
Editor’s Rating:
Visit WebsiteSocial Media Community Manager
Engage with followers, respond to comments, and analyze community sentiment to provide insights to marketing teams. Average salary: $32k – $48k annually.
Fits because managing online communities requires understanding group voice and culture, similar to analyzing social dynamics in literary works.
Editor’s Rating:
Visit WebsiteInstructional Design Assistant
Help outline training modules, write scripts for educational videos, and edit learning materials for clarity and engagement. Average salary: $40k – $60k annually.
Fits because structuring information for learning requires the same organizational skills used to analyze complex texts and present clear arguments.
Editor’s Rating:
Visit WebsiteGrant Proposal Coordinator
Research funding opportunities, help write and edit grant applications, and maintain databases of funding sources. Average salary: $38k – $55k annually.
Fits because grant writing combines persuasive writing with rigorous research, skills you've mastered through academic essays and thesis work.
Editor’s Rating:
Visit WebsiteDigital Project Coordinator
Track project timelines and deliverables, take detailed meeting notes, and facilitate team communication. Average salary: $42k – $62k annually.
Fits because managing projects is like tracking multiple narrative threads; you need to understand connections and ensure clear communication.
Editor’s Rating:
Visit WebsiteCustomer Success Associate
Onboard new customers, answer complex support tickets, and create help documentation to guide users. Average salary: $35k – $55k annually.
Fits because it requires empathy and clear communication to solve problems, strengths developed through understanding character motivations.
Editor’s Rating:
Visit WebsitePodcast Producer / Story Editor
Listen to recordings to identify key story moments, help outline episodes, and write compelling show notes. Average salary: $35k – $50k annually.
Fits because podcast production combines narrative structure with audio storytelling, perfect for those who understand pacing and story arcs.
