Tutor salary in Columbia, SC
Tutors in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $33,780 a year ($16.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,130 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $43,350. Pay here is 2% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $33,220. There are 0.58 tutors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $39,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tutors in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,620 | $8.95 |
| 25th percentile | $27,300 | $13.13 |
| Median | $33,780 | $16.24 |
| 75th percentile | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,130 | $29.87 |
| Average (mean) | $39,180 | $18.84 |
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 | $2,815 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,407.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,299.23 |
| Weekly | $649.62 |
| Hourly | $16.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Tutor salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Florence, SC | $47,120 | 50 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $44,870 | 190 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $44,320 | 1,580 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $32,270 | 60 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $31,910 | 340 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $27,620 | 390 |
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 |
See Tutor pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $39,250 | $18.87 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $62,330 | — |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,050 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $60,280 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $27,860 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $59,400 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $61,640 | $29.64 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $31,510 | $15.15 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $61,290 | $29.47 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $80,010 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,860 | $38.39 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $102,890 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for tutors in the Columbia, SC metro area is $33,780 a year, or $16.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tutors make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of tutors in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $62,130 a year. The top 25% earn $48,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for tutors in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,620 a year, and a quarter of tutors earn $27,300 or less.
How many tutors work in Columbia, SC?
About 230 tutors are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.