How much does a tutor make?
a year · about $21 an hour
A typical tutor in the United States makes $43,350 a year, about $21 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A tutor sets out a worksheet, then works through homework or tricky problems with one student or a small group. They check progress, give encouraging feedback, and plan the next lesson around what each learner needs.
Did you know? Surprise: In the US, a tutor can be a high-school student; some start before taking college courses if they already know a subject well.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $29,430 and $75,990How do you become one?
US requirements vary: tutors commonly take college courses in their subject, and some employers prefer a bachelor's degree, teaching experience, or a teaching license. Some people start tutoring in high school if they know a subject well.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like helping and teaching and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the US, tutors with more experience, in-demand subject skills, or a degree or teaching certificate may earn more. Pay also varies by employer and location, and total earnings depend on how many sessions or evening and weekend hours they work.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Massachusetts ($60,900), lowest in Nevada ($30,420).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a tutor averages $29,469. Tutor salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $29,430 | $43,350 | $75,990 | about 175,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $60,900 | about 5,000 |
| New Hampshire | $53,790 | about 700 |
| Maryland | $52,810 | about 4,000 |
| Connecticut | $50,350 | about 3,000 |
| Tennessee | $50,280 | about 3,000 |
Official definition: Instruct individual students or small groups of students in academic subjects to support formal class instruction or to prepare students for standardized or admissions tests. Excludes “Postsecondary Teachers” (25-1000), “Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Special Education Teachers” (25-2000), “Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors” (25-3011), and “Self-Enrichment Teachers” (25-3021).
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
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/tutors.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-3041.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY