BUSINESS Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Business Teachers

Business Teachers earn $99,080 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $64,150 and $141,710. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

About Business Teachers

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.


Median Wage
$99,080
Employed Nationally
82K
Openings / Year
8,100
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Also known as:

Accountancy Professor Accounting Instructor Accounting Professor Accounting Teacher Adjunct Instructor

How Much Do Business Teachers Make?

Business Teachers earn $99,080 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $64,150 and $141,710. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$99,080
National Median (Annual)

Well above average for college graduates.

$64K–$142K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

The mean wage for this occupation is $114,720, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.

What Do Business Teachers Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Business Teachers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as financial accounting, principles of marketing, and operations management.
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and conferences.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Speaking Instructing Reading Comprehension Active Listening Writing

Who Thrives Here

S
Social

Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.

I
Investigative

This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.

E
Enterprising

Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.

Where Do Business Teachers Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
Low

Low time pressure. Work pace is typically steady and self-directed.

What Is the Job Outlook for Business Teachers?

The BLS projects +5.7% employment change for Business Teachers through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 8,100 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↗ +5.7%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

About as fast as average.

8,100
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

82K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Business Teachers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $99,080 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 New York 8,640 $108,700 +9.7%
2 Texas 7,120 $99,480 +0.4%
3 California 4,800 $125,310 +26.5%
4 Massachusetts 4,520 $99,600 +0.5%
5 Pennsylvania 4,280 $92,780 -6.4%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Business Teachers positions require a doctoral or professional degree to qualify. The 10 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Doctoral or professional degree
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Business Administration 395,227 $68,257 2,611
2 Health Administration 85,302 $58,716 1,975
3 Accounting 84,760 $76,194 2,112
4 Finance 58,013 $83,343 949
5 Business 57,204 $68,407 933
6 Management Sciences 56,747 $86,176 593
7 Marketing 52,820 $69,303 1,164
8 Teaching Specific Subjects 40,101 $51,389 1,276
9 Human Resources 25,350 $68,069 812
10 Hospitality Management 14,076 $56,726 658

Top Colleges for Aspiring Business Teachers

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT 96
2 United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO 96
3 United States Military Academy West Point, NY 96
4 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 93 $3,033 $75,971
5 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 93 $12,548 $82,511
6 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 93 $12,470 $84,943

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Business Teachers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Business Teachers Pros & Cons

Strong earnings and growing demand make Business Teachers a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.

PROS
  • Very high median salary The national median of $99,080 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
  • Steady job outlook The BLS projects +5.7% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
  • High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $141,710 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
  • High education requirement Most employers require a doctoral or professional degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
  • Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $64,150 is considerably below the $99,080 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.

Business Teachers Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Business Teachers professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Business Teachers is $99,080, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $64,150 and $141,710. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Business Teachers a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $99,080 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +5.7% through 2034 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to become a Business Teachers?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A doctoral or professional degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Business Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $99,080 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a doctoral or professional degree worth it to become a Business Teachers?
For in-state public programs, generally yes. The margin tightens significantly at private schools with heavy debt loads. A $99,080 median may take 15 to 20 years to recover at high-cost programs. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Business Teachers?
The BLS projects +5.7% employment change for Business Teachers through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 8,100 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 82K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Business Teachers salaries vary so widely?
The $77,560 gap between the 25th ($64,150) and 75th ($141,710) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Business Teachers professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Business Teachers roles: Speaking, Instructing, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Writing. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.

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