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Job outlook for piano teachers in the United States
Piano teacher job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected piano teacher job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for piano teachers are projected over the next decade.
Piano teacher salaries have increased 2% for piano teachers in the last 5 years.
There are over 13,568 piano teachers currently employed in the United States.
There are 52,993 active piano teacher job openings in the US.
The average piano teacher salary is $52,799.
Are piano teacher jobs in demand?
Piano teacher job and salary trends over time
Piano teacher jobs over time
Piano teacher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,568 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 13,650 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 15,060 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 14,659 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 14,511 | 0.00% |
Average piano teacher salary over time
Piano teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,799 | $25.38 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | $52,678 | $25.33 | --0.6% |
| 2024 | $53,003 | $25.48 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $50,708 | $24.38 | --2.5% |
| 2022 | $52,011 | $25.01 | +5.1% |
Piano teacher jobs by state
Most common states for piano teachers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 112 | 16% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 167 | 12% |
| 3 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 957 | 11% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 675 | 11% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 594 | 11% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 589 | 11% |
| 7 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,266 | 10% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 668 | 10% |
| 9 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 209 | 10% |
| 10 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 108 | 10% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 169 | 9% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 91 | 9% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 650 | 8% |
| 14 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 529 | 8% |
| 15 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 232 | 8% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 889 | 7% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 763 | 7% |
| 18 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 696 | 7% |
| 19 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 398 | 7% |
| 20 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 227 | 7% |
Most common cities for piano teachers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellesley | 1 | 4% | $64,818 |
| 2 | Northbrook | 1 | 3% | $50,495 |
| 3 | Winter Park | 1 | 3% | $57,351 |
| 4 | Orland Park | 1 | 2% | $50,339 |
| 5 | Palatine | 1 | 1% | $50,459 |
| 6 | Schaumburg | 1 | 1% | $50,428 |
| 7 | Fremont | 1 | 0% | $63,219 |
| 8 | Minneapolis | 1 | 0% | $51,480 |
| 9 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $63,441 |
| 10 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $65,004 |
Piano Teacher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of piano teacher experts
Oklahoma State University
University of Puerto Rico - Humacao
New York University
University of Michigan Dearborn
Saint Mary's College of California
Texas Woman's University
Augsburg University
University of Mary Washington
What general advice would you give to a Piano Teacher?
Dr. Sarah Donovan: A career in education begins during an accredited teacher preparation program as you cultivate a network of colleagues among peers, professors, and state and national professional organizations. Becoming a teacher is about building content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge, so accredited programs offer opportunities to observe and practice teacher in classrooms with the support of qualified, experienced mentors and faculty members.
The first year on the job, it is essential to keep open lines of communication with the colleagues and faculty with whom you've developed professional relationships so that they can offer you support and critical conversations as you navigate the new teaching context. This is also when your connections to professional networks will be vital as you will have many sites, people, and resources to draw on to support your practice.
What Piano Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Maritere Cardona Matos Ed.D.: Being able to collaborate is essential in the academia as well as in the workplace. Educators need to cultivate students' abilities to work effectively in teams and communicate their ideas clearly both orally and in writing. Educators also need to develop students' awareness of what is happening around the world to help them develop empathy and values. We live in a world that is in constant movement, so students need to be able to adapt and manage time and stress.
What general advice would you give to a Piano Teacher?
Dr. Diana Turk Ph.D.: This is for any field, but find mentors - plural - who can support and guide you, and find peers who can cheer and cajole you. Remembering your WHY - why are you teaching? what are you hoping to teach your students to do and be? is essential for the days that are particularly hard. And when you have one of those really hard days, remember that there's always tomorrow. Most of all, ignore anyone who tells you not to smile before Thanksgiving. Who wants a teacher who doesn't smile? You can be warm at the same time as you're firm; flexible while being structured; playful while being serious. Show the students how excited you are to be with them, and this will go a long way towards building relationships based on respect and rapport.
Christopher Burke PhD
Professor Science EducationUniversity of Michigan Dearborn
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
What Piano Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christopher Burke PhD: The ability to connect with and engage diverse students.
The ability to contextualize learning across disciplines.
The ability to work collaboratively and to help your students learn to work collaboratively.
What general advice would you give to a Piano Teacher?
Christopher Burke PhD: Build and tend to caring relationships with your colleagues and mentors, your students, and in the community.
Get advice and support from fellow teachers and continue to learn with and from them.
Remember why you chose teaching as a career and let that motivation guide you.
Practice empathy with your students, colleagues, and yourself.
Take your class outside whenever you can.
Know/Learn what helps you to be at your best (8 hours of sleep? Going to the gym before work? Movie night with friends).
What general advice would you give to a Piano Teacher?
Dr. Christina O'Connor Ph.D.: In teaching, salaries are generally fixed based on years of experience and credentials. So, the best way to maximize earning potential is to get additional credentials through pursuing advanced degrees or National Board certification, depending on your state's salary schedule.
What Piano Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Peter Alter Ph.D.: Public school salary systems are determined by years of teaching (sometimes called Steps) and level of education. Get a Master's degree. Add an authorization via coursework. Anything that will move you over a column on the salary schedule. Then figure out your side hustle- coaching, tutoring, doing something completely away from education. This may be challenging in your first year but as you get acclimated, you are going to have more time that you will be able to monetize.
Gina Anderson
Associate Dean for Educator Preparation and PartnershipsTexas Woman's University
TWU College of Professional Education
What general advice would you give to a Piano Teacher?
Gina Anderson: The intrinsic factors (making an impact, schedule, etc.) are often enjoyed by teachers. The paperwork, rules, regulations, and high-stakes accountability measures are often disliked by educators.
What will help Piano Teachers increase their earning potential?
Gina Anderson: Education is the most important of all careers, as educators prepare others to work in all professions. Despite the challenges associated with being an educator, it is highly rewarding, especially when student success is a result of an educator's influence. The starting pay is typically in line with other 4 year college graduates, and the schedule and holidays are conducive to family life.
J. Anthony Allen
Assistant Professor - Music, Media and ManagementAugsburg University
Music, Media and Management Department
What skills will help Piano Teachers earn the most?
J. Anthony Allen: Diversity is what you can do. If you can teach guitar, that's great. But if you can teach guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele, you will get more students. An instructor should also consider the non-instrument skills they could add to their list of abilities: music theory, songwriting, composition, beginner piano, etc.
Janine Davis Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Mary Washington
College of Education
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Piano Teachers?
Janine Davis Ph.D.: For our teacher education graduates, the impact of the pandemic will most likely work in their favor when it comes to finding jobs-the pandemic has led to many retirements, which will mean that we will need even more teachers to fill those empty positions. At the same time, the advent of increased virtual learning means that it will no longer be an option that teachers know and use technology, including teaching online and using learning management and data analysis systems-those skills will almost certainly be a non-negotiable for future teaching positions. Finally, I think that this event has highlighted the importance of working as part of a team of teachers and other school leaders.