How much are you making by teaching per year?

[Bob]

Ballpark figure.  Before and after taxes. 

I'm thinking more private lesson teaching, but if that's only part of the job.  Just looking for info.

[dan101]

Hi there. You probably won't get many responses as financial information is quite a private matter. My suggestion is to find out what your local music school is charging per lesson and charge a bit more. In my experience, people will be willing to pay more for a lesson that is housed in a more aesthetically pleasing environment.

Good luck.

[go12_3]

It's hard to say what I earn in a year.  It fuctuates each month due to students quitting or signing up for lessons.  I had 10 quit already this year thus far, but gained a few, and hopefully more will sign up for Fall lessons.  It's enough income to keep up with expenses;  although teachers , regular in school and otherwise, are not the highest paying jobs in the usa.  I wish I could afford to charge more for my lessons, but the fee has to meet the demand along with the economy.

best wishes,

go12_3

[Bob]

I wondered about responses on this.  I'm guessing the answer is "not much."

Anyone pulling in say... $20,000 net per year?

[lostinidlewonder]

On average 30 students a week, at $50 an average an hour. Around 40/52 weeks teaching. After tax probably $100 a year

[bluepianist]

   I was always taught that you never discussed money, sex or politics in public.  I think everyone decides their income in a personal way.

[youjean88]

really i never understood social customs. i am usually fine discussing all 3 in public unless its a total stranger.

[Bob]

Things can balance out if everyone in an area mentions their salary.  Then the potential employees know what they're worth and the employers know what they have to pay.  I've heard if everyone keeps their salary info to themself, they can lower the pay in general in their field.  That's reporting their pay to groups that collect those kinds of statistics though.

[jgallag]

Just to put in a word, I recently went to a piano conference (MTNA) where all the collegiate members were gathered together and talked to separate. One of the speakers discussed this issue, and his opinion was that, in general, piano teachers are underpaid. The reason being that (a) there are many, many useless hacks out there who will charge $10 a lesson even though they shouldn't be teaching lessons at all as they haven't ever taken lessons themselves. Students will then go to these teachers because they're cheaper, or demand that those who actually know what they're doing charge less than what they deserve. Reason (b) is that piano teachers will not discuss what they charge and they have no guild or something similar to set a floor limit on prices so that teachers aren't undercut and so teachers get what they deserve. This guy taught lessons at over $60/hour, and I'm sure he was qualified to do so. I doubt I'll be teaching lessons (privately) before I get out of college, but when I do finally finish a degree in piano pedagogy (which means I must finish my Music Ed degree first), I won't charge less than $60/hour. Private school provides for large loans that must be repaid, and I'd enjoy having a family too.

[canardroti]

Also, you have to keep in mind where you live as well.
I believe on either the West coast or East coast of the U.S , piano teachers tend to charge more.
I charge 40$ an hour..and I'm senior in college in California.
I'll go down to 35$ an hour if necessary but never go too low. Otherwise you will kill the market for piano lessons.

[mattgreenecomposer]

You can make anywhere between 30k and 50k where I live on the east coast USA easy (before taxes).   Thats if your teaching 8-10 students a day.  Although I invest heavily in the stock market so I don't live in a box on the street.  I would recommend not making all of your income just teaching piano but by other means as well if your serious about doing this for a living.  It's not for people who are not business savvy.  Keep in mind most composers before us (Beethoven and Gershwin for example) were not successful because of their enormous talent, but in reality were incredible business men as well.  Piano "Talent" is everywhere.  You can watch 8 year olds on youtube playing rachmaninoff, it doesnt mean anything in the real world if it doesn't pay.  The truth is you need talent AND a business mind to make it work.
You can be kind and gentle in the studio but you must be strict when it comes to collecting fees and dumping students who don't cooperate and pay on time.
In addition, develop skills that will make you useful in the real world and might help you get students as well.  Buy DreamWeaver and learn how to develop websites for example.  Learn recording, composing, editing for film...basically anything that can get you through those difficult times when your student body is not full.