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Piano instructor salary
Average piano instructor salary
$53,474
Understanding Piano Instructor Salaries
The salary of a Piano Instructor varies based on several factors, including location, experience, and the educational institution they are associated with. On average, instructors earn around $53,474 per year. States like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to a greater demand for music education.
Salary Breakdown by State
For example, in California, the average salary can rise significantly, reflecting the cost of living and the number of students seeking lessons. In contrast, states with lower living costs may offer salaries closer to the national average. Additionally, instructors with advanced degrees or extensive experience can command higher wages.
Job Outlook for Piano Instructors
As music education continues to gain traction, opportunities for piano instructors are expected to grow. Many instructors also supplement their income through private lessons or online teaching platforms, expanding their reach beyond local students.
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Where can a Piano Instructor earn more?
Piano instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average piano instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for piano instructors are Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. The lowest average piano instructor salary states are Arkansas, Mississippi, and Colorado.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for piano instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | $57,459 | $27.62 |
| 2 | New York | $71,119 | $34.19 |
| 3 | Nevada | $55,877 | $26.86 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $61,005 | $29.33 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $75,074 | $36.09 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $58,173 | $27.97 |
| 7 | Michigan | $55,143 | $26.51 |
| 8 | Maine | $61,781 | $29.70 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $61,591 | $29.61 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $62,558 | $30.08 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $53,629 | $25.78 |
| 12 | Illinois | $56,962 | $27.39 |
| 13 | Indiana | $57,055 | $27.43 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $54,335 | $26.12 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $53,748 | $25.84 |
| 16 | Idaho | $54,615 | $26.26 |
| 17 | Arizona | $53,015 | $25.49 |
| 18 | California | $53,886 | $25.91 |
| 19 | Vermont | $52,476 | $25.23 |
| 20 | Delaware | $52,135 | $25.06 |
| 21 | Utah | $51,569 | $24.79 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $50,925 | $24.48 |
| 23 | Washington | $54,566 | $26.23 |
| 24 | Montana | $49,679 | $23.88 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $48,192 | $23.17 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $52,388 | $25.19 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $49,618 | $23.85 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $55,970 | $26.91 |
| 29 | Georgia | $47,782 | $22.97 |
| 30 | Oregon | $49,198 | $23.65 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $51,806 | $24.91 |
| 32 | Ohio | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $49,938 | $24.01 |
| 34 | Kansas | $49,301 | $23.70 |
| 35 | Texas | $47,754 | $22.96 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $46,219 | $22.22 |
| 37 | Florida | $46,985 | $22.59 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $46,168 | $22.20 |
| 39 | Colorado | $42,123 | $20.25 |
| 40 | District of Columbia | $50,889 | $24.47 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $45,757 | $22.00 |
| 42 | Virginia | $43,726 | $21.02 |
| 43 | Maryland | $45,835 | $22.04 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $42,436 | $20.40 |
| 45 | Missouri | $47,301 | $22.74 |
| 46 | Alaska | $35,098 | $16.87 |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $44,984 | $21.63 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $46,552 | $22.38 |
| 49 | Iowa | $33,721 | $16.21 |
| 50 | Alabama | $41,096 | $19.76 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $42,886 | $20.62 |
Highest paying cities for piano instructors
The highest-paying cities for piano instructors are Boston, MA, Yonkers, NY, and Newark, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $75,123 | $36.12 |
| 2 | Yonkers, NY | $71,317 | $34.29 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $61,188 | $29.42 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $57,296 | $27.55 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $56,372 | $27.10 |
| 6 | Novi, MI | $55,254 | $26.56 |
| 7 | Appleton, WI | $54,930 | $26.41 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $54,802 | $26.35 |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $54,741 | $26.32 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,804 | $24.91 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $47,961 | $23.06 |
| 12 | Pensacola, FL | $47,529 | $22.85 |
| 13 | Omaha, NE | $46,577 | $22.39 |
| 14 | Owings Mills, MD | $46,053 | $22.14 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $45,774 | $22.01 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,240 | $21.75 |
| 17 | Ashburn, VA | $45,011 | $21.64 |
| 18 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $40,911 | $19.67 |
Piano instructor salary details
A piano instructor's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $83,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a piano instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $53,474 | $4,456 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying piano instructor jobs
The highest paying types of piano instructors are music instructor, voice teacher, and private music instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dance Teacher | $47,909 | $3,992 | $23.03 | 71,355 |
| Piano Teacher | $52,799 | $4,400 | $25.38 | 52,993 |
| Martial Arts Instructor | $34,287 | $2,857 | $16.48 | 24,925 |
| First Aid Instructor | $44,903 | $3,742 | $21.59 | 50,978 |
| Music Instructor | $57,930 | $4,827 | $27.85 | 26,788 |
| Field Instructor | $52,928 | $4,411 | $25.45 | 69,156 |
Top companies hiring piano instructors now:
Which companies pay piano instructors the most?
Piano instructor salaries at University of Rochester and Music Institute of Chicago are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average piano instructor salary at companies like University of Nevada, Reno and New England Conservatory are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Rochester | $83,669 | $40.23 |
| 2 | Music Institute of Chicago | $75,842 | $36.46 |
| 3 | University of Nevada, Reno | $74,099 | $35.62 |
| 4 | New England Conservatory | $55,773 | $26.81 |
| 5 | Omaha Public Schools | $54,609 | $26.25 |
| 6 | The University of Alabama | $54,319 | $26.11 |
| 7 | The People's Music School | $53,910 | $25.92 |
| 8 | Olivet University | $52,233 | $25.11 |
| 9 | Community Music School of Springfield | $51,098 | $24.57 |
| 10 | MacPhail Center for Music | $50,775 | $24.41 |
| 11 | The Hotchkiss School | $50,228 | $24.15 |
| 12 | Washington College | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| 13 | Pensacola Christian College | $45,785 | $22.01 |
| 14 | New Mexico School For The Deaf | $41,722 | $20.06 |
| 15 | The Salvation Army | $39,368 | $18.93 |
| 16 | Associated Recreation Council | $39,229 | $18.86 |
| 17 | Dallas Academy | $38,820 | $18.66 |
| 18 | Heid Music | $36,617 | $17.60 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Piano Instructor salary by industry
The average piano instructor salary varies across industries:
- The average piano instructor salary in the start-up industry is $50,648, the highest of any industry.
- The average piano instructor salary in the finance industry is $49,725.
- Piano instructors in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $43,387, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for piano instructors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start-up | $50,648 | $24.35 |
| 2 | Media | $49,725 | $23.91 |
| 3 | Education | $49,023 | $23.57 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $43,387 | $20.86 |
High paying piano instructor jobs
Piano instructor salary trends
The average piano instructor salary has risen by $5,166 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average piano instructor earned $48,308 annually, but today, they earn $53,474 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for piano instructors over the last decade.
Compare piano instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average piano instructor salary over time
Compare piano instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Piano instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,500 | $25.71 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $52,400 | $25.21 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $51,800 | $24.91 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $51,400 | $24.73 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $50,000 | $24.02 | +1.7% |
Recently added piano instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play On Philly | Piano Instructor-Roman Catholic High School | Philadelphia, PA | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| The Salvation Army | Piano Instructor | Philadelphia, PA | 06/11/2025 | $59,250 |
| Associated Recreation Council | Virtual Piano Instructor (High Point Community Center) | Seattle, WA | 05/23/2025 | $67,828 |
| Shoulak Music-Twin Cities | Piano Instructor | Plymouth, MN | 04/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Shoulak Music-Twin Cities | Piano Instructor | Plymouth, MN | 03/30/2025 | $37,566 |
| Orpheus Academy of Music LLC | Senior Piano Instructor | Austin, TX | 03/19/2025 | $41,250 |
| Old Town School of Folk Music | Kids' Piano Instructor | Chicago, IL | 03/14/2025 | $77,219 |
| Twelve Tone Music School | Piano Instructor | Glenview, IL | 03/12/2025 | $56,349 |
| Associated Recreation Council | Piano Instructor (Magnuson Community Center) | Seattle, WA | 03/06/2025 | $67,828 |
| Taylor Robinson Music Company | Piano Instructor Needed | Maryland | 02/20/2025 | $41,740 |
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