$Who Earns What

How much does a hobby class teacher make?

US Self-Enrichment Teachers

Answer: A typical hobby class teacher in the United States makes $46,800 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US
$46,800

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 332,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner
$30,050
10th from the bottom of 100
Typical person
$46,800
Right in the middle (median)
Higher earner
$92,840
10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

54 of 100
more than half

Hobby class teacher pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Hobby class teacher pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$30,050$46,800$92,840about 332,000
States where hobby class teachers earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
District of Columbia$66,430about 600
New Hampshire$59,880about 2,000
New York$57,790about 31,000
Connecticut$55,240about 5,000
Oregon$53,790about 6,000

Why does pay differ?

In the US, pay can depend on experience, skill, and any certificate a class or employer requires. It can also change with the subject you teach, your location, whether you work for a school, studio, or community group, how many classes you teach, and how well-known you are.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US
Whole US$46,800
District of Columbia$66,430
New Hampshire$59,880
New York$57,790
Connecticut$55,240
Oregon$53,790
Texas$36,140
Iowa$35,670
Arkansas$30,810

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a hobby class teacher do?

Teach or instruct individuals or groups for the primary purpose of self-enrichment or recreation, rather than for an occupational objective, educational attainment, competition, or fitness. Excludes “Coaches and Scouts” (27-2022) and “Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors” (39-9031). Flight instructors are included with “Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers” (53-2010).

What's a typical day like?

They lay out supplies and plan a short lesson, then demonstrate a skill—like a dance step or camera trick—and guide learners as they try it. They adjust for each student, answer questions, and suggest ways to improve.

How to get this job

In the US, finish high school and build strong skills in the hobby you want to teach; many jobs do not require college. Get practice by helping at a camp or class, and check your employer’s requirements—full-time school jobs may require teacher qualifications.

Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)

Good for people who like helping and teaching and creating.

Did you know?

A California arts teacher said he visited three different schools in a single day—some hobby-class teachers travel from class to class!

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Sources and data

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY