← All careers

Education

Tutors

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$43,350

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$29k – $76k

Job outlook

+1% (about average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $85,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Tutors

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$8,100–$22,700

Time to qualify

2.3 yr

Renewal

$20/yr

  1. 1

    Associate degree (community college)

    Degree

    Two years at in-district rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $4,050/yr, plus ~$1,200/yr books & supplies.

    $8,000–$22,000 · 2 years source

  2. 2

    State teaching certification

    License

    Approved educator-prep program, pedagogy & subject exams, background check, and a state application.

    $100–$700 · 3 months · varies by state · renews every 5 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Tutors" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Tutors

    Entry / Junior

    $29,430

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Tutors

    Established

    $43,350

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Tutors

    Senior

    $59,670

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Education

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.