▼56%
$79,799
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$42k
MEDIAN
$80k
90%
$184k
The average salary for a Small Business Owner is $79,799 in 2025
Base Salary
$42k - $184k
Bonus
$607 - $36k
Profit Sharing
$1k - $294k
Commission
$0 - $21k
Total Pay
$42k - $217k
Is Average Late-Career Small Business Owner Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Small Business Owners?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Small Business Owner
Medical
37%
Dental
32%
Vision
21%
None
63%
Gender Breakdown for Small Business Owners
Male
56.3%
Female
40.6%
Prefer to self-define
3.1%
This data is based on 32 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Small Business Owners
What is the highest pay for Small Business Owners?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Small Business Owner is $184k / year
What is the lowest pay for Small Business Owners?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Small Business Owner is $42k / year
How can Small Business Owners increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Small Business Owner is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Small Business Owner that oversees more junior Small Business Owners, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.