What Does a Business Professor Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a business professor do?

Business teachers, postsecondary, teach courses in business administration, management, marketing, finance and accounting at colleges and universities, and often conduct research. The median pay is $99,080 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 5–7 years after a bachelor’s, and employment is projected to grow +5.9% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$99,080
Annual salary · May 2025
Job growth
+5.9%
2025–35, faster than average
Openings per year
7,600
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
BLS classification
Time to train
5–7 years after a bachelor’s
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
103,600
Employment, 2025

What business professors do

Business professors prepare future managers and entrepreneurs. They teach courses such as management, marketing, finance, accounting and entrepreneurship, use case studies and simulations, advise students, guide internships, research topics like leadership or consumer behavior, publish findings and consult with companies.

Most university business faculty hold a Ph.D. or DBA; community colleges often hire instructors with an MBA and professional experience. Business is one of the larger fields of college teaching.

Typical duties

Teach business courses
Design syllabi and assignments
Lead case discussions
Advise students and student clubs
Conduct and publish research
Supervise internships and projects
Serve on committees

Work environment and schedule

Business faculty work in classrooms, offices and online courses at colleges and universities.

Schedule: Schedules mix teaching, research and service; summers often allow research or consulting.

A day in the life

9:00 AMTeach an MBA strategy case.
10:30 AMHold office hours.
12:00 PMMeet a company about a class consulting project.
1:30 PMWork on a research paper.

See a full day in the life of a business professor →

Business Professor salary

Half of business professors earned more than $99,080 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $47,180 for the lowest 10% to $209,470 for the top 10%.

$47,18010th$99,080Median$209,47090th

Full business professor pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a business professor

Earn a bachelor’s and master’s
Gain business experience
Complete a doctorate
Publish research
Get hired

A Ph.D. or DBA is typical for university roles; community colleges often accept an MBA with professional experience.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a business professor →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Business strategy
Case teaching
Research methods
Statistics
Curriculum design

People skills

Public speaking
Mentoring
Organization
Industry networking

All business professor skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

High pay for academia
Flexible schedule
Consulting opportunities
Shape future leaders

Cons

Doctorate and research pressure
Competitive tenure track
Grading load
Committee work

Certifications and licenses

Ph.D. or DBA: Doctoral degree.
CPA or CFA: Valued for accounting and finance faculty.
AACSB faculty qualification: Accreditation standards.
Teaching certificate: Optional college teaching training.

Career path

Adjunct or Doctoral Student: Teach while training.
Assistant Professor: Tenure track.
Associate Professor: Earn tenure.
Professor or Dean: Lead the school.

Learn the job before day one

Our Business Professor training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as lead a business case discussion and build a class consulting project, safety and how to land your first job.

View Business Professor training Is this career right for me?

Management Analyst

Help organizations run better by finding and fixing problems.

$101,860
Less than 5 years of experience

Economics Professor

Teach how markets, money and policy work, and research the economy.

$123,920
5–6 years after a bachelor’s

Financial Analyst

Analyze financial data to guide business and investment decisions.

$102,740
4 years

Corporate Trainer

Design and deliver training that helps employees learn their jobs.

$69,280
4 years or subject expertise plus training courses

Compare: Business Professor vs. Management Analyst · Business Professor vs. Economics Professor · Business Professor vs. Financial Analyst · Business Professor vs. Corporate Trainer

Business Professor FAQ

Do business professors need a Ph.D.?

Usually for universities; community colleges often hire MBAs.

Do business professors consult?

Many do, within university policies.

Is tenure guaranteed?

No, tenure-track jobs are competitive.

How much does a business professor make?

The median annual wage for business professors was $99,080 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $47,180 and the highest 10% earned more than $209,470.

How long does it take to become a business professor?

Most people need about 5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training. A Ph.D. or DBA is typical for university roles; community colleges often accept an MBA with professional experience.

Do you need a degree to be a business professor?

Usually. BLS lists a doctoral degree as typical for postsecondary teachers. Universities generally require a Ph.D., while community colleges often hire instructors with a master’s degree and professional experience.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 25-1011 (Business teachers, postsecondary).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Business teachers, postsecondary (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Business Professor