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Public Universities
University of California, Penn State, University of Texas at Austin
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
Business teachers at the college level teach future managers, entrepreneurs, and analysts how organizations work, while also advising students and often doing research of their own. The job stands out because it mixes classroom instruction with publishing, curriculum design, and industry outreach, so the tradeoff is strong pay and autonomy in exchange for a long education path and pressure to stay academically current.
Also known as Business ProfessorProfessor of BusinessBusiness Administration ProfessorBusiness Faculty MemberLecturer in Business
Median Salary
$97,270
Mean $113,840
U.S. Workforce
~82K
8.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.7%
103.1K to 109K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Business Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~82K workers, with a median annual pay of $97,270 and roughly 8.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 103.1 K in 2024 to 109K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral Degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Teaching Assistant and can progress toward Full Professor or Department Chair. High-value skills usually include Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Platforms, Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel & Office Suite, and Google Scholar, JSTOR & Academic Research Databases, paired with soft skills such as Speaking, Instructing, and Active Listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Help students choose classes, plan a degree path, and think through business career options.
- Prepare lectures, readings, homework, and exams for business courses.
- Teach classes and explain business concepts in a way that students can apply to real companies.
- Update course websites and post assignments, slides, and announcements online.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Help students choose classes, plan a degree path, and think through business career options.
02 Prepare lectures, readings, homework, and exams for business courses.
03 Teach classes and explain business concepts in a way that students can apply to real companies.
04 Update course websites and post assignments, slides, and announcements online.
05 Work with other faculty and local employers to improve course content and line up internships or guest speakers.
06 Keep up with new business research, attend conferences, and publish findings in journals or books.
Industries That Hire
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Private Universities and Business Schools
Harvard University, Stanford University, Northwestern University
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Santa Monica College, Houston Community College
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Online Higher Education
Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, University of Phoenix
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Corporate Executive Education
Deloitte, PwC, Accenture
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong for teaching work, with a median annual salary of $97,270 and a mean of $113,840.
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There are about 8.1 thousand annual openings, so the occupation has a steady flow of hiring rather than just occasional vacancies.
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No prior work experience or on-the-job training is required, so the main barrier is education rather than an apprenticeship.
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The work is varied: you teach, advise students, update courses, and help shape business programs.
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You can build deep expertise in a business niche and stay intellectually active through research, journals, and conferences.
Challenges
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The entry bar is high: the typical requirement is a doctoral or professional degree, and 72.77% of workers already have a doctorate.
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Growth is moderate at 5.7% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is expanding but not rapidly.
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Academic hiring depends on department budgets, enrollment, and tenure lines, which can make openings uneven and competitive.
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The job is not just teaching; publishing research and staying active in the field can take a lot of time and create pressure.
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Pay is much lower in many adjunct or early-career roles than the headline salary, so it can take years to reach the stronger compensation levels.
Career Progression
Graduate Teaching Assistant
0-3 years
$30K-$45K
Supports faculty, leads discussion sections, grades assignments, and builds classroom experience while completing graduate study.
Assistant Professor of Business
3-7 years
$65K-$89K
Teaches undergraduate or graduate courses, advises students, starts a research record, and helps with committee work.
Postsecondary Business Teacher THIS ROLE
7-15 years
$90K-$120K
Runs courses, mentors students, updates curriculum, and balances teaching with research or publishing; this tier includes the occupation's median salary of $97,270.
Associate Professor of Business
12-20 years
$121K-$150K
Takes on larger classes, serves on more committees, publishes more consistently, and often mentors junior faculty.
Full Professor or Department Chair
18+ years
$151K-$190K
Leads programs, shapes hiring and curriculum decisions, maintains a strong publication record, and represents the department inside and outside the school.
Education Paths
Doctoral Degree
The most common path, held by 72.77% of workers in this role, and it lines up with the BLS typical entry requirement.
Master's Degree
A major alternative path, held by 20.39% of workers, often paired with strong industry experience or teaching experience.
Bachelor's Degree
A smaller path, held by 5.39% of workers, usually backed by substantial business experience or a later move into graduate study.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate or Teaching Credential
A niche route, with 0.6% of workers holding a post-baccalaureate certificate, but it usually helps more as a supplement than as a replacement for graduate study.
Key Skills
Technical
Canvas, Blackboard & LMS Platforms 88%
Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel & Office Suite 84%
Google Scholar, JSTOR & Academic Research Databases 82%
Zoom, Microsoft Teams & Video Conferencing Tools 80%
Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey & Course Assessment Tools 76%
Soft Skills
SpeakingInstructingActive ListeningLearning StrategiesReading ComprehensionWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+5.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
8.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 103.1K to 109 K over the next decade, representing 5.7% growth. Around 8.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.