by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Portuguese covers Portuguese Language And Literature. A Program That Focuses On The Portuguese Language And Related Dialects. Includes Instruction In Philology; Metropolitan Portuguese; Luso-Brazilian Portuguese; Dialects; And Applications In Business, Science/technology, And Other Settings. Continue reading for the important information every portuguese major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering portuguese programs.
Nationwide, portuguese is a widely-pursued major, with 64 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Portuguese Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for portuguese students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of portuguese programs later in this article.
Studies in Portuguese develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations portuguese graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a portuguese program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a portuguese major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several portuguese degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 43 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 15 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to portuguese tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.8% |
| Master’s degree | 21.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in portuguese careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in portuguese opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to portuguese.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to portuguese.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of portuguese graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,134 |
| 4 years | $47,838 |
| 5 years | $56,094 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for portuguese graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers portuguese grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 17 different portuguese programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased portuguese school rankings to help you.
Students interested in portuguese, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
