How much does a business teacher make?
The median business teacher in the United States earns $99,080 per year. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all business teachers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-1011.
Business teacher salary range
Pay for business teachers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $47,180 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $209,470. The average (mean) wage of $114,720 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,180 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $64,150 | |
| Median (50th) | $99,080 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $141,710 | |
| 90th percentile | $209,470 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for business teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Business teacher salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Business teachers earn the most in Alaska at $168,930 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $64,620. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $168,930 | 130 |
| Delaware | $130,370 | 280 |
| Louisiana | $129,040 | 640 |
| California | $128,470 | 5,290 |
| District of Columbia | $128,370 | 630 |
| Maryland | $126,560 | 2,280 |
| Utah | $115,870 | 460 |
| Michigan | $111,190 | 2,240 |
| North Dakota | $110,050 | 250 |
| New York | $104,490 | 7,480 |
| West Virginia | $104,480 | 420 |
| Virginia | $103,860 | 2,450 |
| Rhode Island | $103,820 | 360 |
| Connecticut | $103,750 | 1,310 |
| Massachusetts | $103,110 | 4,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,760 | 4,630 |
| Texas | $101,210 | 7,710 |
| Vermont | $101,170 | 110 |
| Washington | $100,390 | 1,190 |
| Missouri | $100,310 | 1,720 |
| Oregon | $100,180 | 940 |
| Nevada | $98,920 | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $96,680 | 1,940 |
| Minnesota | $95,820 | 980 |
| Illinois | $94,770 | 3,580 |
| Nebraska | $88,690 | 530 |
| Indiana | $86,640 | 2,030 |
| Tennessee | $85,950 | 1,260 |
| New Jersey | $85,250 | 3,190 |
| Idaho | $84,190 | 240 |
| New Mexico | $83,980 | 410 |
| Kansas | $83,310 | 660 |
| Maine | $83,250 | 300 |
| Iowa | $83,200 | 890 |
| New Hampshire | $83,070 | 580 |
| Georgia | $82,820 | 1,940 |
| Alabama | $82,170 | 1,260 |
| Oklahoma | $82,060 | 770 |
| Arizona | $81,600 | 1,240 |
| Montana | $81,490 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $80,140 | 760 |
| Ohio | $79,770 | 3,100 |
| North Carolina | $79,600 | 2,960 |
| Florida | $78,870 | 2,900 |
| South Carolina | $78,830 | 1,500 |
| Colorado | $78,210 | 2,080 |
| Hawaii | $76,860 | 390 |
| Mississippi | $75,680 | 530 |
| South Dakota | $72,650 | 260 |
| Wyoming | $69,550 | 150 |
| Arkansas | $64,620 | 450 |
State median wages for business teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for business teachers
The BLS projects employment of business teachers to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 103,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 109,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 7,600 openings a year for business teachers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a business teacher
The typical entry-level education for business teachers is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a business teacher earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Alaska, $168,930) and the lowest (Arkansas, $64,620) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 82,150 people work as business teachers in the United States. At $99,080 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Business teacher salary FAQ
How much does a business teacher make an hour?
Business teachers are generally salaried rather than paid by the hour, so the BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job. The median annual salary is $99,080.
What is the highest business teacher salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of business teachers earn more than $209,470 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a business teacher make a year?
The median annual salary for a business teacher is $99,080. The average (mean) wage of $114,720 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a business teacher a well paid job?
At $99,080 a year, a business teacher earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 82,150 people work as business teachers in the United States.
Which state pays business teachers the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for business teachers at $168,930 a year. Delaware ($130,370) and Louisiana ($129,040) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a business teacher a good career?
Employment of business teachers is projected to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 7,600 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a business teacher?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for business teachers as a doctoral or professional degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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