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The average salary for a piano teacher in the United States stands at approximately $52,799 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and whether the teacher is employed by a school, teaches privately, or works at a music academy.
On an hourly basis, piano teachers earn roughly $25. Those just starting typically see lower rates, while experienced teachers in affluent areas may command higher fees.
States such as California and New York often offer the highest salaries for piano teachers, reflecting the demand for music education in urban centers. Additionally, teachers who specialize in advanced techniques or offer group lessons may also see increased earnings.
It’s essential to compare salary estimates from various sources to get a clearer picture of potential earnings in this profession. Websites like Glassdoor and PayScale provide valuable insights into regional salary variations and job opportunities.
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The average piano teacher salary in New York, Massachusetts, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average piano teacher salary states are Oklahoma, Nevada, and Kansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $64,736 | $31.12 |
| 2 | New York | $65,736 | $31.60 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $57,972 | $27.87 |
| 4 | Michigan | $56,901 | $27.36 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $56,167 | $27.00 |
| 6 | Florida | $57,319 | $27.56 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $65,021 | $31.26 |
| 8 | Oregon | $61,323 | $29.48 |
| 9 | Idaho | $57,035 | $27.42 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $53,922 | $25.92 |
| 11 | California | $62,103 | $29.86 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $61,403 | $29.52 |
| 13 | Alabama | $54,516 | $26.21 |
| 14 | Texas | $51,035 | $24.54 |
| 15 | Maryland | $53,326 | $25.64 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $51,156 | $24.59 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $51,419 | $24.72 |
| 18 | Georgia | $52,250 | $25.12 |
| 19 | Alaska | $57,043 | $27.42 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $52,515 | $25.25 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $52,161 | $25.08 |
| 22 | Utah | $52,910 | $25.44 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| 24 | Virginia | $52,828 | $25.40 |
| 25 | Illinois | $50,331 | $24.20 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $48,651 | $23.39 |
| 27 | Ohio | $48,824 | $23.47 |
| 28 | Iowa | $49,229 | $23.67 |
| 29 | Indiana | $47,688 | $22.93 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $50,476 | $24.27 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $48,518 | $23.33 |
| 32 | Delaware | $49,611 | $23.85 |
| 33 | Missouri | $49,341 | $23.72 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $50,768 | $24.41 |
| 35 | Washington | $51,119 | $24.58 |
| 36 | Montana | $45,771 | $22.01 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $46,209 | $22.22 |
| 38 | Arizona | $50,431 | $24.25 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $44,224 | $21.26 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $42,932 | $20.64 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $45,828 | $22.03 |
| 42 | Vermont | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| 43 | Colorado | $38,287 | $18.41 |
| 44 | Kansas | $41,143 | $19.78 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $45,699 | $21.97 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $45,114 | $21.69 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $45,586 | $21.92 |
| 48 | Maine | $44,985 | $21.63 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $38,683 | $18.60 |
| 50 | Nevada | $41,677 | $20.04 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $31,753 | $15.27 |
The highest-paying cities for piano teachers are Yonkers, NY, Shrewsbury, MA, and Davis, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yonkers, NY | $65,932 | $31.70 |
| 2 | Shrewsbury, MA | $64,819 | $31.16 |
| 3 | Davis, CA | $63,485 | $30.52 |
| 4 | Westport, CT | $61,322 | $29.48 |
| 5 | Haverford, PA | $58,162 | $27.96 |
| 6 | Ann Arbor, MI | $56,841 | $27.33 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $54,127 | $26.02 |
| 8 | Chesapeake, VA | $52,672 | $25.32 |
| 9 | El Paso, TX | $51,593 | $24.80 |
| 10 | Burnsville, MN | $51,443 | $24.73 |
| 11 | Kirkland, WA | $51,311 | $24.67 |
| 12 | Buffalo Grove, IL | $50,487 | $24.27 |
| 13 | Chesterfield, MO | $49,595 | $23.84 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $49,520 | $23.81 |
| 15 | East Brunswick, NJ | $48,508 | $23.32 |
| 16 | Brownsburg, IN | $47,615 | $22.89 |
| 17 | Spartanburg, SC | $46,469 | $22.34 |
A piano teacher's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $52,799 | $4,400 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
The highest paying types of piano teachers are professor, visiting professor, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Of Instruction | $72,536 | $6,045 | $34.87 | 4,904 |
| Art Instructor | $36,539 | $3,045 | $17.57 | 27,158 |
| Art Educator | $40,421 | $3,368 | $19.43 | 42,617 |
| Visiting Professor | $116,217 | $9,685 | $55.87 | 27,139 |
| Music Instructor | $57,930 | $4,827 | $27.85 | 26,788 |
| Music Internship | $64,045 | $5,337 | $30.79 | 49,414 |
Top companies hiring piano teachers now:
Piano teacher salaries at University of Michigan and Music Institute of Chicago are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average piano teacher salary at companies like Converse University and Saint Louis School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan | $75,216 | $36.16 |
| 2 | Music Institute of Chicago | $68,059 | $32.72 |
| 3 | Converse University | $54,670 | $26.28 |
| 4 | Saint Louis School | $54,236 | $26.07 |
| 5 | Permian High School | $53,213 | $25.58 |
| 6 | Christ's Church | $53,159 | $25.56 |
| 7 | The Suzuki School | $52,830 | $25.40 |
| 8 | The Monarch School | $52,067 | $25.03 |
| 9 | Polly's Pies | $51,124 | $24.58 |
| 10 | The Boys' Club of New York | $50,353 | $24.21 |
The average piano teacher salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $55,390 | $26.63 |
| 2 | Education | $53,003 | $25.48 |
| 3 | Retail | $51,054 | $24.55 |
| 4 | Government | $48,123 | $23.14 |
The average piano teacher salary has risen by $5,576 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average piano teacher earned $47,223 annually, but today, they earn $52,799 a year. That works out to a 2% change in pay for piano teachers over the last decade.
Compare piano teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare piano teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,800 | $25.38 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | $52,700 | $25.33 | -0.6% |
| 2023 | $53,000 | $25.48 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $50,700 | $24.38 | -2.6% |
| 2021 | $52,000 | $25.01 | +4.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Piano Place LLC | Piano Teacher (W2, Benefits Available, Lehi Studio) | Lehi, UT | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Musicologie Columbus | Piano Teacher-Musicologie Lewis Center | Centerville, OH | 06/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| Ensemble Performing Arts | Voice & Piano Teacher-Northport, Suffolk County | Northport, NY | 06/18/2025 | $62,610 |
| Ensemble Performing Arts | Piano Teacher-Tampa Music School | Tampa, FL | 06/15/2025 | $52,175 |
| Ensemble Performing Arts | Voice & Piano Teacher-Orange & Costa | Orange, CA | 06/15/2025 | $64,697 |
| The Piano Place LLC | Piano and Drum Teacher-Arts Academy (W2, Benefits Available, Tigard Studio) | King City, OR | 06/13/2025 | $52,175 |
| Payam Music | Piano Teacher | Bellevue, WA | 06/13/2025 | $52,175 |
| Ensemble Performing Arts | Advanced Piano & Cello Teacher-Bonney | Bonney Lake, WA | 06/12/2025 | $62,610 |
| Teachers To Go | Piano Teacher (Houston TX, 77055) | Houston, TX | 06/10/2025 | $104,350 |
| Camino Music Studio | Piano Teacher | Sacramento, CA | 06/10/2025 | $37,566 |
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