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Job outlook for business communications instructors in the United States
Are business communications instructor jobs in demand?
Business communications instructor job and salary trends over time
Business communications instructor jobs over time
Business communications instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 965 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 967 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,016 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,020 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,022 | 0.00% |
Average business communications instructor salary over time
Business communications instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $45,407 | $21.83 | +0.9% |
| 2025 | $44,989 | $21.63 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $43,318 | $20.83 | +4.6% |
| 2023 | $41,429 | $19.92 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $39,980 | $19.22 | +2.8% |
Business communications instructor jobs by state
Most common states for business communications instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 235 | 34% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 222 | 30% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 305 | 29% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 222 | 26% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 767 | 25% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 486 | 25% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 719 | 23% |
| 8 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 585 | 20% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 178 | 19% |
| 10 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 536 | 18% |
| 11 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,031 | 17% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,010 | 17% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 353 | 17% |
| 14 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,604 | 16% |
| 15 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 804 | 16% |
| 16 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 710 | 16% |
| 17 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 482 | 16% |
| 18 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 91 | 16% |
| 19 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,784 | 15% |
| 20 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 995 | 15% |
Most common cities for business communications instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Collins | 1 | 1% | $24,918 |
Business Communications Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of business communications instructor experts
Morningside University
Wilson College
University of Houston - Downtown
Louisiana State University
Concordia University
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
Gustavus Adolphus College
Linfield University
Caprice Moore
Assistant ProfessorMorningside University
School of Business
What skills stand out on Business Communications Instructor resumes?
Caprice Moore: While graduating with a business communications degree is exciting, entering an uncertain job market might not be. The “new normal” created by the COVID-19 pandemic has affected what employers are looking for. Let’s talk about what skills might give you a leg up in your quest to kick start your career.
As a recent graduate, you have a multitude of potential opportunities in front of you, even in the current climate of economic uncertainty. The ability to take advantage of such opportunities depends on how well your skills and abilities shine through on your resume. You should always adjust your resume to the description of the job you are applying for. For example, if you wish to work as a dedicated Communications Specialist, it would be wise to include things like project management, strategic planning, and content creation on your resume.
Are you looking for guidance as you navigate the ups and downs of searching for a new job? A qualified coach can help you hone your resume, define your career goals, and possibly land your dream position!
What soft skills should all Business Communications Instructors possess?
Caprice Moore: Some soft skills that appeal to many employers include:
Listening Skills
Listening has always been a high priority for business communication graduates, but that is truer now than ever. With a shifting work dynamic, an increasingly remote workforce, and constant adaptation to changing conditions, employers are looking for people who can carefully listen to supervisors, co-workers, and clients.
Simplicity
In an age of information overload and shortened attention spans, simplicity shines like a star in the communication landscape. Unless a situation calls specifically for detailed, complex reports or presentations, it is generally best to arrange information in a way that is as straightforward and uncluttered as possible. Simplicity goes hand in hand with clarity and concision. When answering questions, it is best to be brief and specific if the situation allows for it.
Transparency
Transparency is the open sharing of information. It may be particularly important when you are conveying expectations. Clearly expressing what is expected in a role can help both job candidates and prospective employers make wise decisions about whether or not a position is a good fit.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Communications Instructors?
Caprice Moore: The hard skills that you need to stand out as a job candidate can vary depending on the exact position you are aiming for. Some skills that might shine on your resume include:
The Right Vocabulary
Business communication graduates are invaluable across many different business sectors. Each sector, however, comes with a unique vocabulary. Reading relevant industry publications and news articles can help you to learn the lingo of industry and prepare you to impress at your next job interview.
You might even consider taking a brief course to get yourself up to speed on a particular industry. You might search for local college courses that are relevant or even try to earn a certificate on a platform like Coursera.
Research Capabilities
These days, many people equate “research” with typing something into Google’s search box. Real research, however, is much more involved. Being familiar with a range of research tools, and knowing how to differentiate reliable information from unreliable information, can be a huge asset in your job search.
Media and Marketing
Especially if your desired job involves sending messages to the public, you should be familiar with a variety of advertising media and marketing techniques.
What skills will help Business Communications Instructors earn the most?
Caprice Moore: The national average pay for a communications major is around $62,000. However, you might be able to make more by developing and showcasing specific skills, such as:
-Marketing. The base pay for a marketing manager is more than $100,000, while the mid-career median salary of a Vice President of Marketing is more than $162,000.
-Strategic planning. The mid-career median salary of a Director of Strategic Alliances is roughly $160,000
-Account management. The mid-career median pay of a Global Account Manager is more than $138,000.
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.
Professor of English, Program Director MAHUMWilson College
English Department
What skills stand out on Business Communications Instructor resumes?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: In the academy, we often talk about English majors teaching students vital skills in critical thinking, communication, research, and analysis. An English major can be handed a project and know how to research the necessary components, compile them together in a clear and consistent format, and present that material to a client or supervisor with confidence. And I think the skill that really unites all of these aspects of the English major is independence. In our field, we ask students to articulate the rudiments of pragmatics, identify the meaning inherent to a seventeenth-century poem, and punch back at the masterpieces of the canon. No student can tackle such a diverse learning platform without a streak of independence that teaches them that, yes, scholars have been analyzing and deconstructing Shakespeare for 500 years, but no one has quite seen the text the way you have, and that's why you need to write about it. Heck, in a national conversation about higher education that strongly suggests that any major without a specific job title in its name should not even be considered, it takes someone who is a bit of a maverick to choose a major in English. But that independent streak serves our students really well in their careers and lives beyond college.
On a resume, I look for independence in that projection completion mode: acting as editor for student media; presenting a paper at a conference; writing a theatrical work; publishing; internships; etc. Anything that shows me that the applicant can tackle a project and get it done is what I am looking for.
What soft skills should all Business Communications Instructors possess?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: Communication and care. Communication in all of its forms-written, oral, public speaking, and interpersonal, one-on-one communication abilities are all vital. A confident communicator can work wonders in many fields.
Add to that care. The study of English is not just the study of language; it is the study of those narratives that shape and dominate humanity and the means through which we make and understand them. I can't think of a better way to learn and know people. But that should come through as an ethos of care. If you want to teach, you must care for your students. No matter the field an English major may find themselves in, an ethos of care will serve them well.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Communications Instructors?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: While college-and college students-are increasingly digital, students are becoming less and less technical. Even compared to 10 years ago, my students' technical knowledge has significantly declined. That is why I encourage my students to become proficient in some useful software suite, such as Adobe Creative Cloud. Taking one or two classes in any software suite is tremendously beneficial and can help an applicant to really stand out from other English majors.
What skills will help Business Communications Instructors earn the most?
Michael Cornelius Ph.D.: Self-advocacy. I am not suggesting every English major rush to their boss and demand a big raise, but our culture continually suggests one should apologize for majoring in a liberal arts field. I don't buy it. English majors are amazing at solving problems, facilitating communication, researching ideas, developing programs-they are, in short, the total package. And they have a tremendous capacity to learn new skills and new abilities. This is why students from my college, for example, end up in a huge variety of subject fields. We need to understand the value we bring to any organization as an English major.
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.
Professor of EnglishUniversity of Houston - Downtown
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
What skills will help Business Communications Instructors earn the most?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: If you can document training in technical communication, professional writing, or rhetoric (as opposed to simply literature and/or creative writing), skills related to those sub-fields are highly valued by the corporate world and employers in the private sector -- the places that tend to pay people with backgrounds in English the most.
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of RhetoricLouisiana State University
English Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Communications Instructors?
Jonathan Osborne Ph.D.: Writing instructors must know how to use multiple computer programs proficiently and at times use them simultaneously. Long gone are the days where all you needed to know were the basics of Microsoft Word and Excel. In addition to the learning platform used by the university (Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, Google Classroom, etc.), writing instructors must know how to use Zoom or other online video conference platforms to ensure smooth experiences for students who cannot come to the physical classroom.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Business Communications Instructor job market given the pandemic?
John Norton Ph.D.: A need to communicate clearly and creatively through different medium
What Business Communications Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: Most important advice: Take initiative and be productive.
Find practical ways to use skills even if unpaid. Volunteer work is good. Use language skills. Technology skills. Exploit technology skills around the area of interest. If you want to be a teacher find out what software they are using today; what research skills are they utilize. Make sure you log your activities during the gap year especially those that relate to the area in which you want to work. If you want to go into finance, and you're working at a lawn service, understand and learn the business model and the accounting. If you're working at Starbucks (or in any commercial environment), get a chance to do inventories, learn about the ordering process and sources and suppliers for those orders; and how people are scheduled for work. All of that is relevant experience for business.
The CFO and recruiter for Keystone Staffing Solutions emphasized having evidence in your resume of of being productive during the gap time, no matter if it's one, two or three years. Evidence of being productive is what recruiters want to see on your resume: He stresses: "What did you do to expand your knowledge and skills not only in your selected area but beyond. BEING PRODUCTIVE for yourself proves to be an indicator of how productive you will be for me."
Still on gap year. How to go about it? Use teachers, friends, family, anyone in the field or related to it to provide guidance, insight, suggestions. This can lead to projects or experience that will help in learning and growth.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Business Communications Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Kathleen Keller Ph.D.: Our students find employment in various fields: business, education, non-profit, government, etc. It's hard for me to say where in the United States would be the best place to find employment. Our graduates (including 2020 grads) have had a lot of success in the Twin Cities.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Business Communications Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Carrie Kondor: Still, I can say that I believe graduates will find more job possibilities than before, given the broader continuum of teaching environments that this pandemic has opened up!