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The role of a School Business Manager is pivotal in the educational sector, overseeing financial operations, budgeting, and resource management. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $62,224 per year, translating to about $30 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the specific school district.
For example, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals in education administration. Additionally, those with advanced degrees or extensive experience may command higher salaries, reflecting their expertise in managing school finances effectively.
School business managers can find opportunities across various educational institutions, including public schools, private schools, and charter schools. Job roles may expand into positions such as Director of Finance or Chief Financial Officer within educational organizations, allowing for career growth and increased earning potential. Understanding the salary landscape and job prospects in this field can help aspiring managers make educated decisions about their career paths.
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The average school business manager salary in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average school business manager salary states are Texas, Nebraska, and Kentucky.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $80,834 | $38.86 |
| 2 | Alaska | $76,003 | $36.54 |
| 3 | Michigan | $69,928 | $33.62 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $80,190 | $38.55 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $70,303 | $33.80 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $77,331 | $37.18 |
| 7 | Delaware | $79,023 | $37.99 |
| 8 | Oregon | $76,008 | $36.54 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $70,305 | $33.80 |
| 10 | Washington | $75,685 | $36.39 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $77,941 | $37.47 |
| 12 | Illinois | $71,320 | $34.29 |
| 13 | Maryland | $77,935 | $37.47 |
| 14 | Ohio | $65,672 | $31.57 |
| 15 | Vermont | $76,713 | $36.88 |
| 16 | New York | $72,565 | $34.89 |
| 17 | California | $76,381 | $36.72 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $71,439 | $34.35 |
| 19 | Indiana | $63,749 | $30.65 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $69,336 | $33.33 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $61,455 | $29.55 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $60,934 | $29.30 |
| 24 | Montana | $60,334 | $29.01 |
| 25 | Colorado | $68,850 | $33.10 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $64,636 | $31.07 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $60,896 | $29.28 |
| 28 | Georgia | $65,651 | $31.56 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $55,644 | $26.75 |
| 30 | Nevada | $55,124 | $26.50 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $60,751 | $29.21 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $58,021 | $27.89 |
| 33 | Missouri | $54,421 | $26.16 |
| 34 | Kansas | $53,575 | $25.76 |
| 35 | Virginia | $61,118 | $29.38 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $58,277 | $28.02 |
| 37 | Maine | $58,815 | $28.28 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $54,683 | $26.29 |
| 39 | Iowa | $52,002 | $25.00 |
| 40 | Idaho | $58,651 | $28.20 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $51,124 | $24.58 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $50,722 | $24.39 |
| 43 | Arizona | $54,211 | $26.06 |
| 44 | Utah | $56,755 | $27.29 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $58,229 | $27.99 |
| 46 | Florida | $55,646 | $26.75 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $49,860 | $23.97 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $49,260 | $23.68 |
| 49 | Texas | $51,255 | $24.64 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $52,318 | $25.15 |
| 51 | Alabama | $48,984 | $23.55 |
The highest-paying cities for school business managers are Sacramento, CA, Garfield, NJ, and Chicopee, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $80,462 | $38.68 |
| 2 | Garfield, NJ | $80,459 | $38.68 |
| 3 | Chicopee, MA | $77,970 | $37.49 |
| 4 | Silver Spring, MD | $77,565 | $37.29 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $76,491 | $36.77 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $72,655 | $34.93 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $71,747 | $34.49 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $69,811 | $33.56 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $68,895 | $33.12 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $67,942 | $32.66 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $63,239 | $30.40 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,879 | $29.27 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $54,475 | $26.19 |
| 14 | Scottsdale, AZ | $54,214 | $26.06 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $51,456 | $24.74 |
| 16 | Spartanburg, SC | $50,043 | $24.06 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $49,288 | $23.70 |
A school business manager's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $88,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| Average | $62,224 | $5,185 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
The highest paying types of school business managers are chairperson, principal associate, and principal.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal | $111,719 | $9,310 | $53.71 | 84,015 |
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
| Vice Principal | $88,764 | $7,397 | $42.68 | 67,974 |
| Principal Investigator | $84,635 | $7,053 | $40.69 | 44,475 |
| Educational Administrator | $67,252 | $5,604 | $32.33 | 52,917 |
| Superintendent | $82,458 | $6,871 | $39.64 | 22,580 |
Top companies hiring school business managers now:
School business manager salaries at Selective Insurance and Chicago Math and Science Academy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average school business manager salary at companies like Milwaukee math and Science Academy and Sunbeam Family Services are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selective Insurance | $77,662 | $37.34 |
| 2 | Chicago Math and Science Academy | $70,407 | $33.85 |
| 3 | Milwaukee math and Science Academy | $66,882 | $32.15 |
| 4 | Sunbeam Family Services | $63,889 | $30.72 |
| 5 | Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Colorado | $60,333 | $29.01 |
| 6 | Vail Resorts | $59,846 | $28.77 |
| 7 | Nationwide Children's Hospital | $59,113 | $28.42 |
| 8 | Denver Public Schools | $58,850 | $28.29 |
| 9 | Unified Office | $58,652 | $28.20 |
| 10 | KIPP DC | $57,917 | $27.84 |
| 11 | Meeting Street | $57,617 | $27.70 |
| 12 | Catholic Diocese of Sacramento | $56,904 | $27.36 |
| 13 | Concept Schools | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| 14 | Learning Care Group | $56,546 | $27.19 |
| 15 | University of Pennsylvania | $56,463 | $27.15 |
| 16 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $52,607 | $25.29 |
| 17 | Jostens | $51,759 | $24.88 |
| 18 | Jeffrey C Still Middle School | $48,707 | $23.42 |
| 19 | St. Edward's University | $44,945 | $21.61 |
| 20 | Archdiocese of Washington | $42,040 | $20.21 |
The average school business manager salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $62,552 | $30.07 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $61,426 | $29.53 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $58,965 | $28.35 |
| 4 | Start-up | $58,568 | $28.16 |
| 5 | Government | $51,157 | $24.59 |
The average school business manager salary has risen by $6,962 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average school business manager earned $55,262 annually, but today, they earn $62,224 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for school business managers over the last decade.
Compare school business manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare school business manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $62,200 | $29.92 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $60,900 | $29.28 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $60,200 | $28.95 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $59,600 | $28.67 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $58,400 | $28.10 | +2.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Services Group, Inc. | School Custodian Manager | Kane, PA | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Healthcare Services Group | School Custodian Manager | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $75,000 |
| Build | Manager of School-Based Mentorship | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $73,000 |
| Amergis | School-Based BT (Mon-Fri) | Torrance, CA | 06/26/2025 | $48,001 |
| Ballet HispÁNico | School Business Manger | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $70,000 |
| UNC Health Care | Manager Business Office-School of Medicine-Pediatric Nephrology | Chapel Hill, NC | 06/24/2025 | $51,612 |
| Healthcare Services Group | School Custodian Manager | Kane, PA | 06/23/2025 | $60,000 |
| Nola Public Schools | School Business Manager | New Orleans, LA | 06/18/2025 | $47,772 |
| DSST Public Schools | Campus Manager of College Success School Year) | Denver, CO | 06/16/2025 | $59,000 |
| Lakeshore Behavior Consulting | School-Based Bcba Position | Joliet, IL | 06/11/2025 | $75,000 |
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