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Job outlook for business professors in the United States
Business professor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected business professor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for business professors are projected over the next decade.
Business professor salaries have increased 14% for business professors in the last 5 years.
There are over 114,335 business professors currently employed in the United States.
There are 69,727 active business professor job openings in the US.
The average business professor salary is $84,005.
Are business professor jobs in demand?
Business professor job and salary trends over time
Business professor jobs over time
Business professor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114,335 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 118,422 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 120,372 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 119,248 | 0.04% |
| 2017 | 116,876 | 0.04% |
Average business professor salary over time
Business professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $84,005 | $40.39 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | $83,232 | $40.02 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $80,139 | $38.53 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $76,646 | $36.85 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $73,963 | $35.56 | +2.8% |
Business professor jobs by state
Most common states for business professors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 636 | 21% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 154 | 21% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 270 | 20% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 175 | 20% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 356 | 19% |
| 6 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 238 | 18% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 939 | 17% |
| 8 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 539 | 17% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 164 | 16% |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 842 | 15% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,796 | 14% |
| 12 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 414 | 14% |
| 13 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 563 | 13% |
| 14 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 399 | 13% |
| 15 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 236 | 13% |
| 16 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 710 | 12% |
| 17 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 562 | 12% |
| 18 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,255 | 11% |
| 19 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 751 | 11% |
| 20 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 76 | 11% |
Business Professor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of business professor experts
Kean University
North Carolina State University
University of Maine
Skidmore College
Ashford University
University of South Florida
Morningside University
College of Charleston
Franklin and Marshall College
AGWA - American Grant Writers' Association, Inc.
Texas State University
Kent State University
Gustavus Adolphus College
New York University
Seattle University
University of West Georgia
What general advice would you give to a Business Professor?
Alex Holte PhD: My advice for someone new to the field of academia is to learn time management skills early and learn what type of service work you find interesting and would like to contribute to. From there, learn how to say “no” to opportunities that may not align with your goals as well. I feel a lot of new professors tend to find the need to be involved in everything, which can result in burning out later in their career.
What Business Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alex Holte PhD: I would say being able to work with AI may be something that is more important in the next 3-5 years. Right now it’s a new technology and people are just now learning how to integrate it in the workplace, but I feel it is possible the future workforce of tomorrow will necessitate some form of being able to use AI technology.
What will help Business Professors increase their earning potential?
Alex Holte PhD: When you are starting out at any career, it is important to negotiate your salary. Many candidates feel that they have to accept their first offer, but in reality, at many jobs, there is some room for negotiation. Be mindful however, to not request a salary that is much higher than what is being offered as they may feel like a compromise would not be possible and move on to the next candidate.
What general advice would you give to a Business Professor?
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: First, I would tell all students that it is VERY different from teaching k-12. Unlike K-12, you are not placed in a school with a teaching job upon graduation; teaching in higher education is one of the most competitive fields, period. The next difference is that you are expected to be an expert/ master of your field. If you're also willing to accept that you will likely have to work as an adjunct professor (for low pay) first, then go for it! Teaching in higher education is the most rewarding job, especially for people who love learning.
What Business Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: Awareness and familiarity with technology has become more important, and it will continue to be more important in the next 3-5 years. With everything from peer-reviewed journals available online, to AI, technology is an important part of higher education.
What will help Business Professors increase their earning potential?
Mia Fiore Ph.D.: Maximize your salary potential by teaching at a state school- if you do you can join the PSLF program and after ten years, your student loans will be forgiven.
What general advice would you give to a Business Professor?
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: Perseverance pays off. Its worth it to pursue the career you want and not settle and be unhappy.
What Business Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: In the area of genetics and genomics, the identification of areas of the genome that can be CRISPR’d and used to add an immediate benefit is going to be very important as every cropping system races to make genome editing a reality. AI will likely play a huge role in predicting genes/regions of the genome that will provide the biggest benefits.
What will help Business Professors increase their earning potential?
Justin Whitehill Ph.D.: I wouldn’t know, I’m a professor.
Jane Kuandre
Associate ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Business Professor?
Jane Kuandre: My advice for someone looking to pursue a career in academia would be to focus on building a strong publication record, developing a network of collaborators, and continuously seeking opportunities for professional development.
What Business Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jane Kuandre: Some essential skills for success in academia include critical thinking, effective communication, time management, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
What will help Business Professors increase their earning potential?
Jane Kuandre: Networking is crucial for career advancement in academia as it allows individuals to establish collaborations, gain access to resources, and stay updated on the latest research trends.
Dr. Elizabeth Neiman
Director of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies ProgramUniversity of Maine
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Business Professor?
Dr. Elizabeth Neiman: Students interested in enhancing their program of study with a WGS minor just 3 additional courses to take in WGS so as to complete a minor. Nursing students who have taken advantage of this opportunity report to me that they are excited about the perspectives that WGS studies provides them and that they feel more prepared than ever to begin a career in Nursing.
What Business Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Elizabeth Neiman: I can reflect better on how I'd guide students to think about the work they do at UMaine in Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies so as to prepare for potential careers.
What will help Business Professors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Elizabeth Neiman: Rather than answer your questions, I'll give you some background information: Since becoming Director of the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies program at UMaine in fall 2022, I have been doing a great deal of outreach to faculty in other departments across the university.
Aurelie Matheron
Assistant Professor of FrenchSkidmore College
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What general advice would you give to a Business Professor?
Aurelie Matheron: Present yourself as a professional in your cover letter and interviews. The people who interview you will look at you as a future colleague and not a student. Use the past “I” to show what the future “I” will do. Meaning: in your interviews, say “I have developed X courses/projects and I have acquired X skills useful for a collaborative project at your institution. For instance, one project I will develop is XYZ.” You show your experience/expertise and how you will be using your skills. Don’t dwell too much on the “past I” and, I’d say, don’t use the past “we” => “at my former institution, we would do X or Z.” => this shows that you still view yourself as part of that community and don’t project yourself at your new institution. Once you have the job: observe the dynamics of your new work place. Meet with colleagues who also recently got a job at your institution. They will help you navigate the first year.
What Business Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Aurelie Matheron: Leadership: you will be in positions of leading a program/department. Learn from current chairs by observing their own skills during meetings and moments of decision. Collaboration: develop interpersonal and interprofessional relationships that will allow you to build collaborative projects (interdepartmental courses, for instance).
What will help Business Professors increase their earning potential?
Aurelie Matheron: Do some research online about how much someone earns at your stage of the career. If there is a significant gap, point out (diplomatically) that, because of your extensive experience in XYZ, you would like to get a X% increase in your salary. Be reasonable: if you want a 3% increase, ask for 5% (not 10% or more). Justify your negotiation: why should they pay me more? What experience can I show them to justify my request? If you have a higher offer from another place, you can say that “I have received another generous offer and would like to know about the possibility for matching that offer.” Salary is not the only thing you can negotiate: office space, computer/laptop, sabbaticals, course release, etc. Again, be reasonable: if you think you are entitled to XYZ requests, you also have to show why.
Fabio Lanza
ProfessorAshford University
History
What general advice would you give to a Business Professor?
Fabio Lanza: I tell them not to expect that they can achieve the same, old-style academic career (like mine, for example). A tenure-track job in a research university to be clear. Those jobs exist but they are becoming rarer and rarer. I also tell them that if they forecast incurring in serious (or even non-serious) debt in order to get a PhD, they should not do it. They should not pursue that path at all. In the program, they should take all the chances they have to learn new skills, including skills that don't seem directly related to an academic career.
What Business Professor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Fabio Lanza: To put it bluntly, if you want to make money, this is really not the career for you.
What will help Business Professors increase their earning potential?
Fabio Lanza: Difficult to say, given how quickly things change. Digital humanities was and still is fashionable and important. Public history (museum, exhibitions, outreach). And teaching.
What skills will help Business Professors earn the most?
Lee Braver: Let's see-an M.B.A., the ability to pick winning lottery numbers, being repelled by the humanities so that one goes into business-those would be pretty useful for making money. No one should go into academia for the money, not just not for wealth but even for a comfortable living, which is becoming more difficult to achieve in America in general. It is nearly impossible to make a living as an adjunct professor, which is where the profession is heading. There are many good-paying jobs, but those tend to congregate at the elite schools, the ones that emphasize research the most, and these are the fewest and hardest to get. Worse-paying jobs are also hard to come by, and the competition is just getting stiffer as more Ph.D.'s get dumped into the market each year which is itself accreting all those who did not land jobs in the previous years. At many institutions, raises are minimal since jobs are so hard to come by, and there's little else that rewards a humanities Ph.D. The only way to get a substantial raise is to get a credible offer from another institution and hope that yours wants to keep you enough to overbid them; otherwise, you're stuck, especially after getting tenure, and they know it. That's why tenure is called "golden handcuffs," though I think a better name might be something like velvet handcuffs, given gold's connotation of wealth.
Caprice Moore
Assistant ProfessorMorningside University
School of Business
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Professors?
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 experience really stands out on Business Professor resumes?
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice: The experience that most stands out on resumés, to my mind, is definitely internships or anything where the applicant has had to show initiative and exercise independent thought.
What general advice would you give to a Business Professor?
David McMahan Ph.D.: Keep open to possibilities beyond the narrow range of what your diploma lists as your major or minor. Whatever job you get trained for today, in 10-20 years, it may be very different. Or it may not exist. Focus on obtaining and maintaining flexibility, critical thinking, creativity, and passion for learning. Being an interesting person is as vital as any credential.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Business Professors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David McMahan Ph.D.: Graduates in Religious Studies don't necessarily go into careers in religion. The standard career path for those involved is going to graduate school, spending several years getting a Ph.D., and facing a tough job market. Starting salaries can vary widely depending on the college or university.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Business Professor job market given the pandemic?
John Porter Ph.D.: This will depend on what happens in the next six months or so. If the economy stays open and business can operate as it did a year ago, the trend will be more positive. When the economy is working, people are more financially secure. They have money to donate to foundations, and corporations have more profits to put into their funding resources.
If the economic shutdown increases where both businesses and individuals earn less money, there will be less money available for grant funding. The majority of grant funding comes from donations by everyday individuals.
If the economic shutdown is prolonged, then there will be an increase in government grant programs. The government gets its financial resources for things like grants by taxation. So individual taxes will likely increase.
Another line to balance is the excessive taxation of the rich. Nearly all very wealthy people have established a foundation where they give some of their wealth to grant awards to community non-profit organizations. When the government increases the taxes on this group, the excess money goes to the government to spend rather than local non-profits.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Business Professors in the next 3-5 years?
John Porter Ph.D.: There is not a lot of technology required in grant writing. The most critical and prevalent skill in grant writing, which is lacking, is appropriately writing. Over the past decade, there has been an increase in abbreviation and slang. When put into a standard text, these expressions can become confusing.
The technology is that younger, individual writers may like to stay up on the most recent software and communication methods. Whereas funders, private, corporate, and government, tend not to keep up as fast and have older software versions. This means that the newest and glitziest software may not be compatible with the funder's software when submitting grant proposals and applications.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Business Professors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rodney Rohde Ph.D.: There are large vacancy rates all over the country. This is a good news/bad news issue. However, with a degree in medical laboratory science (also known as a clinical laboratory science) AND certification, one can find employment anywhere in the U.S. One of the great things about this career is that graduates honestly can decide where they "fit best" with regard to geography and employer (urban, rural, large, or small).
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Business Professors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jay Dorfman: There are certainly some states with teacher shortages, but that is often because those states' political or economic climates make them less desirable as a place for teachers to work. If teachers' teaching conditions and salaries were improved, there would be more people interested in entering the profession. That said, I typically tell students that the broader their search for a job can be, the more likely they are to find a good fit.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Business Professors 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.
Marlene McCarty
Clinical Professor of Visual ArtsNew York University
Department of Art and Art Professions
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Business Professors to find work opportunities?
Marlene McCarty: Large universalized geographic hubs of creativity (such as NYC used to be) will not play the same importance as in the past. Anywhere that is local will offer opportunities, if someone is imaginative enough to see them. Participatory placemaking requires critical and holistic thought concerning the world around us. Communities of friends, acquaintances, and cross-disciplinary associates, some formed online - some in person, will be more important than actual geographical areas.
Alexander Mouton
Chair, Associate ProfessorSeattle University
Department of Art, Art History & Design
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Business Professors?
Alexander Mouton: It is hard to tell how the coronavirus pandemic will affect graduates. Some I know are joining the workforce or doing creative work, which is a good sign. How this will play out will be interesting to see, though it's a little hard for me to judge from the classroom!
What type of skills will young Business Professors need?
Ye Chen Ph.D.: Graduates with educational technology (Ed Tech) degrees commonly work as instructional designers, technology/media specialists, trainers, e-learning developers in k12 school, university, military, company, or government. The skills employers usually want in Ed Tech graduates include:
- Instructional design skills for analyzing instructional needs and designing & developing effective instructional solutions.
- Technical skills in utilizing technology to develop and implement instruction. At the same time, they are expected to understand how to integrate technology into instructional settings in a pedagogically meaningful way.
- Communication skills are essential as their work roles heavily rely on effective communication with content experts, clients, trainees/students, etc. throughout the instructional design process
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Business Professors to find work opportunities?
Ye Chen Ph.D.: You could go to higheredjobs.com, https://jobs.chronicle.com/, or university websites for a higher ed job, go-to company, or other organization websites (e.g., Google) industry/government jobs; or use LinkedIn, attend job fairs and professional conferences, to search for job opportunities.