Tutors Salary in California
In California, tutors earn $42,840 at the median — $20.6 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in California?
About tutors
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level tutors (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Tutors salary by metro in California
24 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro | $47K | +9% | 250 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $47K | +9% | 5,760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $46K | +8% | 2,300 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $46K | +8% | N/A |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $46K | +6% | 3,270 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $45K | +5% | 280 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $45K | +5% | 700 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $44K | +3% | 4,160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $42K | -1% | 19,440 |
| Napa | $41K | -4% | 60 |
| Yuba City | $41K | -4% | 100 |
| Visalia | $41K | -5% | 320 |
| Vallejo | $40K | -6% | 300 |
| Modesto | $40K | -7% | 380 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $40K | -7% | 2,120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $38K | -11% | 790 |
| Merced | $38K | -12% | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $37K | -13% | 220 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $37K | -13% | 300 |
| Fresno | $36K | -15% | 1,420 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $36K | -16% | 820 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $35K | -18% | 170 |
| Salinas | $35K | -19% | 360 |
| Chico | $33K | -22% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 metros
Compare to other states
Track tutors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
How much do tutors make in California?
The median is $42,840 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,810, and experienced tutors can clear $80,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,964/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 83.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a tutors salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tutors salary is worth about $40,362 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tutors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.