The invention discloses a preparation technology of p-tert-butyl benzoic acid, comprising the following steps: firstly, adding toluene, isobutene and concentrated sulfuric acid into a reaction kettle, carrying out alkylation reaction to obtain coarse p-tert-butyl toluene, and rectifying to obtain fine p-tert-butyl toluene; secondly, adding a composite catalyst containing the p-tert-butyl toluene,cobalt acetate and bromide into the reaction kettle, heating and introducing oxygen to obtain coarse p-tert-butyl benzoic acid, decoloring by activated carbon and diatomite , crystallizing and dryingto obtain fine p-tert-butyl benzoic acid. The prepared p-tert-butyl benzoic acid is an organic synthesis intermediate, can be used for the fields of additives, antioxidants, alkyd resin modifying agents, soldering fluid, dye, and the like of polypropylene nucleating agents, polyvinyl chloride heat stabilizers, metal machining and lubricating oil and has excellent performance. The p-tert-butyl benzoic acid has low energy consumption, high yield, simple separation, and the like and can satisfy ever-increasing market demands of the p-tert-butyl benzoic acid.