Tutors: Job Description
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.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Tutors Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of tutors cover:
- Provide feedback to students, using positive reinforcement techniques to encourage, motivate, or build confidence in students.
- Review class material with students by discussing text, working solutions to problems, or reviewing worksheets or other assignments.
- Assess students' progress throughout tutoring sessions.
- Teach students study skills, note-taking skills, and test-taking strategies.
- Provide private instruction to individual or small groups of students to improve academic performance, improve occupational skills, or prepare for academic or occupational tests.
- Participate in training and development sessions to improve tutoring practices or learn new tutoring techniques.
- Collaborate with students, parents, teachers, school administrators, or counselors to determine student needs, develop tutoring plans, or assess student progress.
- Monitor student performance or assist students in academic environments, such as classrooms, laboratories, or computing centers.
Skills and Knowledge
Top tutors combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- ACT Instructor (American College Testing Instructor)
- ACT Tutor (American College Test Tutor)
- Academic Coach
- Academic Guidance Specialist
- Academic Mentor
- Academic Teacher
- Academic Tutor
- Accounting Tutor
Job Outlook
There are about 793,891 tutors working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +4.5% over the projection horizon.
Tutors Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $45,784 |
| Hourly median | $22.01 |
| 10th percentile | $30,887 |
| 25th percentile | $38,336 |
| 75th percentile | $53,233 |
| 90th percentile | $60,682 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $64,450 |
| Rhode Island | $59,340 |
| Massachusetts | $57,230 |
| Connecticut | $55,690 |
| Mississippi | $52,060 |
| Virginia | $49,380 |
| New Hampshire | $49,210 |
| Maine | $49,110 |
| Vermont | $47,860 |
| Maryland | $47,010 |
| Oregon | $46,770 |
| Indiana | $46,670 |
| Ohio | $44,640 |
| Washington | $44,450 |
| Arizona | $44,220 |
| New York | $43,270 |
| California | $42,840 |
| Colorado | $42,560 |
| West Virginia | $42,420 |
| Alaska | $42,090 |
| Minnesota | $41,600 |
| North Dakota | $41,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,560 |
| Georgia | $41,540 |
| Tennessee | $40,680 |
| Montana | $40,660 |
| North Carolina | $39,900 |
| Nebraska | $39,800 |
| Florida | $38,120 |
| South Dakota | $37,330 |
| New Jersey | $37,220 |
| Wisconsin | $37,100 |
| South Carolina | $36,860 |
| Hawaii | $35,990 |
| Kentucky | $35,930 |
| Michigan | $35,870 |
| Utah | $35,460 |
| Illinois | $35,350 |
| New Mexico | $35,180 |
| Iowa | $34,940 |
| Idaho | $34,100 |
| Kansas | $33,420 |
| Missouri | $33,300 |
| Delaware | $31,200 |
| Alabama | $31,160 |
| Arkansas | $30,670 |
| Oklahoma | $30,540 |
| Louisiana | $30,100 |
| Nevada | $29,590 |
| Texas | $29,200 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for tutors vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $55,844 | 5.5% | 1.24 |
| Far Western US | $42,488 | 30.2% | 2.12 |
| Middle Atlantic | $41,999 | 14.8% | 1.04 |
| Rocky Mountains | $40,428 | 3.4% | 0.86 |
| Southeast | $40,359 | 20.9% | 0.97 |
| Great Lakes | $39,418 | 13.1% | 1.00 |
| Plains States | $36,606 | 3.5% | 0.53 |
| Southwest | $32,671 | 8.5% | 0.68 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | WY | $99,590 | 110 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $72,500 | 350 |
| Cheyenne, WY | WY | $64,450 | 140 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $62,090 | 60 |
| Binghamton, NY | NY | $60,870 | 50 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $60,520 | 4,310 |
| Lawton, OK | OK | $60,350 | 100 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $59,350 | 240 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of tutors are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 155,040 | $40,370 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 10,030 | $38,230 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3,830 | $45,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,140 | $41,600 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 520 | $39,140 |
| Information | 500 | $41,570 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 250 | $35,720 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 200 | $47,360 |
Below are examples of industries where tutors work:
Software Tutors Use
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for tutors is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Sitting
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
How to Become Tutors
Entry-level tutors positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Supplemental)
- Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (Supplemental)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Short)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School (Supplemental)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Short)
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-3041.00 (Tutors).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.