Tutor salary in California
Tutors in California earn a median of $45,100 a year ($21.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 45,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,790 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $43,350. California ranks 18th of 50 states for tutors pay. There are 2.5 tutors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tutors in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,550 | $17.09 |
| 25th percentile | $39,450 | $18.97 |
| Median | $45,100 | $21.69 |
| 75th percentile | $50,350 | $24.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| Average (mean) | $48,960 | $23.54 |
Half of tutors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,758.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,879.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,734.62 |
| Weekly | $867.31 |
| Hourly | $21.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Tutor salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $50,650 | 490 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,350 | 2,270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,170 | 380 |
| El Centro, CA | $49,000 | 240 |
| Vallejo, CA | $48,390 | 190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,340 | 5,240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,050 | 3,320 |
| Napa, CA | $45,570 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,400 | 18,180 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,130 | 730 |
| Yuba City, CA | $44,280 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,000 | 2,760 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $43,770 | 730 |
| Merced, CA | $43,360 | 80 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,000 | 630 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $42,290 | 180 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $42,260 | 4,270 |
| Salinas, CA | $39,800 | 330 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $39,470 | 930 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,130 | 410 |
| Fresno, CA | $37,900 | 1,250 |
| Chico, CA | $35,780 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for tutors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $82,290 |
| Rhode Island | $77,850 |
| Massachusetts | $60,900 |
| Vermont | $53,920 |
| New Hampshire | $53,790 |
| Maryland | $52,810 |
| Connecticut | $50,350 |
| Tennessee | $50,280 |
| Maine | $49,880 |
| Mississippi | $49,610 |
Related jobs in California
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tutor make in California?
The median salary for tutors in California is $45,100 a year, or $21.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tutors make in California?
The top 10% of tutors in California earn at least $63,790 a year. The top 25% earn $50,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for tutors in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,550 a year, and a quarter of tutors earn $39,450 or less.
How many tutors work in California?
About 45,370 tutors are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.