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Tutor: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$43,350median pay per year, or $20.84 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $29,430lowest 10% earn less
  2. $35,00025th percentile
  3. $43,350median
  4. $54,86075th percentile
  5. $75,990top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median pay for tutors was $43,350 a year in May 2025, below the median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to dip slightly by 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
-0.2%[3]
Openings per year
34,200[6]
Typical entry education
Some college, no degree[7]

How much do tutors make?

In May 2025 the median wage for tutors was $43,350 a year, or $20.84 an hour[1]. Half of tutors earned more and half earned less. The average was $48,050 a year, or $23.10 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980, so tutors sat below the national middle[2].

Pay varied widely:

Point Annual Hourly
Lowest-paid 10% earned less than[5][9] $29,430 $14.15
Lowest-paid 25% earned less than[5][9] $35,000 $16.83
Median[1] $43,350 $20.84
Highest-paid 25% earned more than[5][9] $54,860 $26.38
Highest-paid 10% earned more than[5][9] $75,990 $36.53

A percentile is a cut-off point, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10]. These figures cover wage and salary jobs. They leave out self-employed workers, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 12.3% of tutors were self-employed in 2025, so their earnings are not in these numbers[12].

Pay by state and city

Wyoming had the top state median at $82,290 a year, based on 200 jobs[13]. Rhode Island was next at $77,850 with 300 jobs, then Massachusetts at $60,900 with 4,610 jobs[13]. Nevada had the lowest listed median at $30,420[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Casper, WY came first at $103,420[14]. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA followed at $67,910, then Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $64,710[14].

California had the most tutor jobs by far at 45,370[15]. New York had 12,730 and Florida had 12,220[15]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area had 18,180 jobs, the most of any metro area, with a median of $45,400[16].

Show median pay in 50 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Wyoming[13]$82,290200
Rhode Island$77,850300
Massachusetts$60,9004,610
Vermont$53,920130
New Hampshire$53,790700
Maryland$52,8104,300
Connecticut$50,3503,230
Tennessee$50,2803,310
Maine$49,880340
Mississippi$49,6101,220
Oregon$48,2801,130
Colorado$47,4202,500
Georgia$47,3805,690
New York$47,10012,730
North Dakota$46,190110
Alaska$45,990550
Washington$45,3602,460
California$45,10045,370
Minnesota$44,8001,370
West Virginia$44,070280
Ohio$43,6105,760
North Carolina$42,3905,780
New Jersey$42,2705,270
Montana$41,380450
Wisconsin$41,3401,530
Virginia$40,7504,090
Arizona$38,9402,730
South Dakota$38,760250
Nebraska$38,470950
Indiana$38,0901,770
Illinois$37,4005,910
Michigan$37,3806,010
Florida$37,31012,220
Iowa$36,790610
New Mexico$36,660460
Hawaii$36,5901,130
Pennsylvania$36,2704,540
Alabama$35,500890
Utah$35,1903,150
Idaho$34,990760
Oklahoma$34,5101,220
Kentucky$34,240780
Kansas$34,1701,290
Louisiana$33,780540
Texas$33,62010,690
Delaware$33,240590
South Carolina$33,2201,510
Missouri$32,2701,670
Arkansas$30,830720
Nevada$30,4201,070

How to become a tutor

BLS lists some college with no degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience in a related job and no on-the-job training[7]. Rules differ by employer. Here is how the facts describe the path:

Some tutors, such as those still in high school, have not finished college courses but know a subject well[18]. Some employers prefer teaching experience or a state teaching certificate or license[21]. Depending on the job, training may be given on the job[22].

In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 41% said a bachelor's degree was required and 36% said some college courses[23].

What tutors do

O*NET describes tutors as people who teach individual students or small groups. The aim is to support classroom learning or prepare students for standardized or admissions tests[24]. Common tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as Private Tutor, Academic Coach and Grade School Tutor[26].

Where tutors work

Tutors work in settings such as schools and tutoring centers. Some travel to students' homes[27]. The largest employer group in 2025 was other schools and instruction, private, at 31%[28].

BLS says most tutors work part time, and schedules vary. Evenings and weekends are common. Hours can rise during the school year or before standardized tests[29]. Many tutors also hold other jobs or attend school[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of tutors to decline 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 208,400 to 208,000 jobs[3]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[4]. These counts include self-employed workers[3]. The OEWS count of 175,070 jobs covers wage and salary jobs only[30].

Even so, BLS expects about 34,200 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch fields. Each year, 8.4% of tutors leave the labor force and 8.1% move to a different occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest a job that is easy to enter. The typical education is some college, with no related experience required[7]. Median pay is below the all-occupation median, but the range is wide, from $29,430 at the 10th percentile to $75,990 at the 90th[1][2][5]. Many tutors work part time and schedules vary[29]. The number of jobs is projected to stay about flat[3]. Openings still come up each year as people move on[6][31].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a tutor make an hour?
The median hourly wage for tutors was $20.84 in May 2025, and the average was $23.10[1][8].
What education do you need to be a tutor?
BLS lists some college, no degree, as the typical entry education. Some employers prefer a bachelor's degree[7][17].
Do tutors work part time?
BLS says most tutors work part time, and schedules may vary[29].
What is the highest paying state for tutors?
Wyoming had the top median at $82,290 a year, based on 200 jobs[13]. Rhode Island was next at $77,850[13].
Is tutoring in demand?
BLS projects a 0.2% decline from 2025 to 2035, but about 34,200 openings a year[3][6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Tutors in the US was $43,350 per year and $20.84 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Tutors is projected to decline 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 208,400 to 208,000 jobs (a change of -500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Tutors: 10th percentile $29,430, 25th percentile $35,000, 75th percentile $54,860, 90th percentile $75,990. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 34,200 openings for Tutors are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Tutors: education needed for entry: Some college, no degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Tutors was $48,050 per year and $23.10 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Tutors: 10th percentile $14.15, 25th percentile $16.83, 75th percentile $26.38, 90th percentile $36.53. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 12.3% of Tutors were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Tutors in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Tutors (areas with at least 100 jobs): Casper, WY $103,420; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $67,910; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $64,710; Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $62,950; Santa Fe, NM $62,400; Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $59,150; Manchester-Nashua, NH $58,580; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $56,200. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Tutors jobs: California 45,370; New York 12,730; Florida 12,220; Texas 10,690; Michigan 6,010. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Tutors jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 18,180 (median $45,400); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 13,980 (median $46,550); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 5,240 (median $48,340); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 4,940 (median $38,500); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 4,780 (median $38,100); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 4,270 (median $42,260). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 25-3041.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 41%, Some College Courses 36%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 9%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Tutors. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Tutors. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 25-3041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Academic Coach, Academic Guidance Specialist, Accounting Tutor, Finance Tutor, Grade School Tutor, Private Mathematics Tutor, Private Tutor, Professional Tutor. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of tutors in 2025: Other schools and instruction; private 31%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 175,070 people were employed as Tutors in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Tutors: 8.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 8.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.