English Degree in Amarillo, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Amarillo, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
9.6 yrs
in Amarillo
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
English in Amarillo, TX Overview
Amarillo, Texas (pop. 200,393) has 14 colleges offering English programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,096/month. Although national enrollment in English has been declining, graduates with skills in Writing and Critical Analysis remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Amarillo is approximately $45,360.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$9,030/yr
Private Tuition
$43,100/yr
Room & Board
$9,166/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,360/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
66%
English Salary in Amarillo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Amarillo's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Amarillo adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Amarillo
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Amarillo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,030 | Private avg: $43,100
Amarillo avg aid: $15,360/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$72,784
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,560
vs HS diploma in Amarillo
ROI Payback Period
9.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Amarillo
$164,816
Lifetime earnings premium ($237,600) minus total education cost ($72,784)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Amarillo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Amarillo for English
West Texas A&M University
public
$9,030/yr
$36,120 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Amarillo College
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for English in Amarillo
Amarillo offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Amarillo Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$48K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$50K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$44K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$45K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$42K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$39K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$39K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$34K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Amarillo
Chinese Studies
$59K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$49K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$54K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
English Degree in Amarillo — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare English ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Amarillo.