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Tutors

Typical education: Associate degreeLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $43,350 Median per year · $20.84/hr Most earn $29,430–$75,990

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Develop teaching or training materials, such as handouts, study materials, or quizzes.
  • Participate in training and development sessions to improve tutoring practices or learn new tutoring techniques.
  • Review class material with students by discussing text, working solutions to problems, or reviewing worksheets or other assignments.
  • Organize tutoring environment to promote productivity and learning.
  • Administer, proctor, or score academic or diagnostic assessments.
  • Administer, proctor, or score academic or diagnostic assessments.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 34,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Other schools and instruction32.9%
  • Elementary and secondary schools17.9%
  • Self-employed (their own business)12.3%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools10.1%
  • Educational support services9.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

Tutoring is a fairly accessible job that many people start with an associate degree or some college, plus a few months of related experience. It doesn't usually require a bachelor's degree, though requirements vary by employer and subject.

  1. High school diploma, then an associate degree or college coursework in the subject you want to tutor

    About 2 years

    Strong grades in the subjects you'd teach build the knowledge you need, and an associate degree signals to families and tutoring centers that you can handle the material.

  2. Teaching Assistant

    3-6 months

    Working alongside a teacher or in a learning center helps you practice explaining ideas to students who are struggling, which is the core skill tutors use every day.

  3. Tutor

    Ongoing

    You work one-on-one or with small groups, either for a tutoring company, a learning center, or on your own, to help students with class work or test preparation.

Where it can lead

  1. Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, or ESL Instructor

    Several years of tutoring experience, often with a bachelor's degree of experience first

    You move from helping individual students to teaching structured classes for adult learners, which usually requires a bachelor's degree and more teaching experience.

  2. Secondary School Teacher

    Bachelor's degree and a teaching license; requirements vary by state of experience first

    Becoming a classroom teacher means completing a bachelor's degree and a teacher preparation program, then earning a state license to teach a full class of students.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take the hardest math, English, and science classes you can handleBeing confident in the subjects you'd tutor is the foundation of the job.
  • Join a peer tutoring or homework help program at your schoolYou get hands-on practice explaining material to classmates, which is the core skill of tutoring.
  • Volunteer with a library or after-school program that helps younger kids read or do homeworkIt shows you can be patient and encouraging with students who are learning.
  • Get a summer or part-time job as a camp counselor or childcare helperWorking with kids builds the communication and patience tutors need.
  • Ask a teacher to review your study methods and explain how you'd help a struggling classmateThinking about how you learn helps you teach others more effectively.

In college

  • Choose a major or strong coursework in the subject you want to tutorDeep knowledge of a subject is what makes you credible as a tutor for it.
  • Work as a peer tutor or writing center consultant on campusCampus tutoring jobs give you paid, real experience and often a reference for future work.
  • Tutor part-time for a tutoring company or learning centerRegular sessions with students build the experience employers look for, often in just a few months.
  • Take a course on teaching, learning, or educationIt gives you practical strategies for explaining ideas and assessing what a student understands.
  • Earn a certification in tutoring or test preparation if your school or local groups offer oneA credential can strengthen your resume, especially for test prep work.

Tips for getting started

  • Keep your grades strong in the subjects you want to tutor, since families and tutoring companies often ask about them.
  • Offer to help classmates or younger students informally; this gives you real teaching practice and something to describe in job applications.
  • Look into local tutoring centers, libraries, and community programs that hire student tutors, so you can start building experience early.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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