Tutors
Tutors instruct students individually or in small groups to support formal class instruction or improve academic performance. Some tutors prepare students for standardized tests.
Is tutors a good career?
It scores 11/100 and ranks #651 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 37,100 a year
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($43,350 vs $61,390)
- Slower-than-average projected growth (+0.6%)
What tutors earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. tutors earn between $35,000 and $54,860 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live tutors jobs
No live tutors openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified tutors openings will appear here — each shown against the $43,350 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
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- Typical education
- Some college, no degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow slower than average through 2034.
Important qualities
Communication skills. Tutors must explain concepts in terms that students can understand. They may need to discuss student progress with parents or teachers.
Creativity. Tutors must be able to keep students engaged in learning. They may have to change their methods of instruction to address the needs of different students.
Instructional skills. Tutors must understand the fundamentals of teaching and lesson planning. They must adjust their teaching style and lessons to meet the needs of each student.
Organizational skills. Tutors must coordinate schedules with students, parents, or employers. They must prepare lesson plans and instructional materials for tutoring sessions.
Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult. Tutors must be patient, especially with students who may become distracted or who struggle to master the material.
Related occupations
How much do tutors make?
The national median wage is $43,350 a year, with the middle half earning between $35,000 and $54,860 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is tutors a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 11 of 100 and ranks #651 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +0.6% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a tutor?
The typical entry-level education is some college, no degree.
Where do tutors earn the most?
Among states, Wyoming pays the highest median ($82,290). Local pay for every state and metro is below.