Language Schools — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the language schools industry earns $30,212 per year ($14.53/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$30,212
Avg Annual Pay
16,811
Total Employees
2,066
Total Establishments
8
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Language Schools Workers Earn?

At $30,212/year (equivalent to $14.53/hour for a full-time worker), language schools wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical language schools business employs 8 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

26.9%

For the average language schools business generating $897K/year with 8 employees at $30,212 each, total payroll represents roughly 26.9% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a language schoolsbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $39,276/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 8 employees = ~$241,696/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $14.53/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $897K/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Language Schools revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do language schools employees make?
The average language schools employee earns $30,212 per year, which is equivalent to $14.53/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the language schools industry?
The language schools industry employs 16,811 workers across 2,066 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 8 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).