Pros and Cons of Being a Business Teacher
Business teachers teach business classes in a wide variety of settings. Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of a business teaching career.
| Pros of Becoming a Business Teacher |
|---|
| You'll have the opportunity to prepare students for future career success in business* |
| Classes are typically held just 9 months out of the year* |
| Average annual salaries range from $56,520 to $94,570 depending upon the level of education* |
| Business teachers and professors may have the opportunity to become tenured* |
| Cons of Becomiing a Business Teacher |
|---|
| Bachelor's, master's or doctorate required* |
| May have to deal with problematic students* |
| May need to spend substantial amounts of time grading papers and working on lessons outside of class time* |
| At the college level, competition for tenure can be keen* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Info
Job Description and Career Options
Business teachers may work in middle schools, high schools, community colleges or universities. University business professors will have both teaching and research responsibilities, while teachers at other levels will spend the majority of their time just teaching. Regardless of the level you teach at, your responsibilities will likely include creating and delivering lessons, leading classroom discussions and assessing your students' understanding of the concepts you've taught.
Job Growth and Salary Information
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that between 2012 and 2022, job growth will be average for both middle school and postsecondary teachers, and it will be below average for high school teachers. The BLS also notes that universities are increasingly hiring adjunct and part-time instructors, as opposed to permanent, tenure-track faculty members. This means that, although postsecondary teaching jobs should be available, competition for tenure-track positions may be stiff.
Business teacher salaries tend to increase the higher up the education ladder you go. The BLS reports that business teachers at 4-year colleges earned mean annual salaries of about $95,000 in May 2014, while those teaching at 2-year colleges earned an average wage of about $75,000. Salaries for middle school and high school teachers averaged about $56,000 to $57,000.
What Are the Requirements?
To become a middle school or high school business teacher, most states require you to earn a bachelor's degree. Usually, you'll major in business and also take teacher preparation courses. You'll most likely be required to complete a student-teaching experience as well. After graduating, you'll need to meet your state's certification requirements. This usually involves passing written exams covering teaching skills and your content area. Most junior college and university professors need a PhD, although a master's degree is acceptable for some positions. Business teachers should also possess the following attributes:
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Ability to explain complex information in a straightforward way
- Patience (primarily for middle and high school teachers)
Job Postings From Real Employers
Some employers prefer to hire candidates with teaching experience, and a strong publication record is often a valued qualification for university business professors. To give you an idea of what employers are looking for, here are some job postings from March 2012:
- A high school in Kansas City sought a business teacher for courses in marketing, business law and web design. The employer required applicants to have a relevant teaching certificate and the ability to work an 8-hour day.
- A junior college in Kentucky planned to hire a business instructor with a master's degree and teaching experience. Candidates also needed 3 years of practical work experience to qualify.
- A university in Alabama was looking to hire a tenure-track assistant professor to teach international business classes to graduate and undergraduate students. Applicants needed a relevant PhD and teaching experience, and a strong record of publications in peer-reviewed academic journals was preferred.
How to Get an Edge in the Field
The steps you take to stand out will depend on the career level you want to achieve. For middle and high school teachers, developing a strong teaching portfolio can help you show potential employers what you have to offer. By the time you finish attending school, you'll have transcripts, test scores and sample lesson plans that you can include.
For aspiring professors, it's a good idea to get teaching experience, since this qualification is preferred by some employers. If you enroll in a PhD program, you can typically get instructional experience by working as a graduate teaching assistant. Employers also look for candidates with strong publication records, so you should try to get your work published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Alternative Career Fields
Financial Analyst
If you're looking for a business career that offers better job prospects than teaching, consider the field of financial analysis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that job growth for financial analysts would be above average from 2010-2020, and the median wage for this profession was about $76,000 as of May 2011. You'll need at least a bachelor's degree to enter this profession, but a master's degree is preferred.
Management Analyst
Another business career that is projected to experience above-average growth between 2010 and 2020 is management analysis. Management analysts, who are commonly called management consultants, earned a median annual salary of $78,000 in May 2011. Management analysts usually earn a bachelor's degree in a field like accounting or business, and some go on to earn a master's degree as well.
Credit Counselor
If helping others understand finance is important to you, you might also consider a career in credit counseling. You'll get to help people with financial problems. This profession is also anticipated to experience above-average job growth from 2010-2010. However, the median annual wage for credit counselors was just $38,000 as of May 2011, which is even less than the median salary for a middle school teacher.
