Elementary and Secondary Schools Revenue Benchmarks
The average elementary and secondary schools business in the United States generates $4.5M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 19,365 elementary and secondary schools businesses in the U.S., employing 1,045,805 workers with an average profit margin of 10.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $52K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Elementary and Secondary Schools Business Actually Do?
Private K-12 schools — day schools, boarding schools, religious schools, Montessori, independent college-prep. Charge tuition; some receive charter or voucher funding. Tax-exempt non-profits in most cases.
Who buys: Parents opting out of public schools; scholarship students; boarding students including international.
Average Revenue
$4.5M
per year
Profit Margin
10.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$83K
per year
Total Businesses
19,365
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$446K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$52K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
5.8
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Elementary and Secondary Schools Charge?
Private K-12 schools charge annual tuition per student, plus fees.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Elementary tuition (day school) | $8,000–35,000/year |
High school tuition (day school) | $15,000–55,000/year |
Boarding school | $40,000–75,000/year |
Elite prep school | $50,000–75,000/year |
Application fee | $50–200 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete elementary and secondary schools business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a elementary and secondary schools business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the elementary and secondary schools industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Curriculum & supplies | $3 | $156K | Textbooks, learning software, teaching aids, technology for students. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $2.5M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $9 | $390K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $156K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $19 | $858K | Insurance, licensing, IT, admin, professional development. |
Net profit | $10 | $446K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
4.95%
openings/year
Closure Rate
3.3%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.61%
annual
Businesses Closed
538
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Elementary and Secondary Schools Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
4 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a elementary and secondary schools business do?
- Private K-12 schools — day schools, boarding schools, religious schools, Montessori, independent college-prep. Charge tuition; some receive charter or voucher funding. Tax-exempt non-profits in most cases. Parents opting out of public schools; scholarship students; boarding students including international.
- How much do elementary and secondary schools charge?
- Private K-12 schools charge annual tuition per student, plus fees. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average elementary and secondary schools make per year?
- The average elementary and secondary schools business generates $4.5M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $446K per year at a 10.0% profit margin.
- How many elementary and secondary schools businesses are there in the US?
- There are 19,365 elementary and secondary schools businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 1,045,805 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a elementary and secondary schools business?
- Startup costs for a elementary and secondary schools business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the elementary and secondary schools industry?
- The average employee in the elementary and secondary schools industry earns $52K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The elementary and secondary schools industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.6% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (4.9% entry vs 3.3% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 85% of elementary and secondary schools businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 538 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the elementary and secondary schools industry earns $51,708/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 21,289 establishments employing 934,096 people, the typical business has about 44 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The elementary and secondary schools industry has grown 15% since 2000 (from 16,517 to 19,045 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Elementary and Secondary Schools revenue with other industries: