Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Educational Instruction and Library

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.

Also called: Academic Coach, Academic Guidance Specialist, Accounting Tutor, Finance Tutor, Grade School Tutor, Private Mathematics Tutor

Median pay in Greater Boston
$64,710
$31.11/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
3,550
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+4.3%
1,120 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Some college, no degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$36,360$47,560$64,710$85,100$101,550

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.
  • Participate in training and development sessions to improve tutoring practices or learn new tutoring techniques.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure81 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 88
  • Language-model AIOE 95
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 60

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for tutoring is higher than average, and observed AI use is substantial. That means AI tools are already being used for tasks like reviewing class material and working through problems. The parts of tutoring that rely on a real person, such as encouraging students and building their confidence, are much harder for AI tools to replace.

Likely to change

  • Reviewing material and working through practice problems
  • Checking student progress during sessions

Still relies on people

  • Encouraging and motivating students face to face
  • Building a student's confidence over time

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

    Watching people, giving feedback, and adjusting for different levels carry over. The move offers 14.0% projected Massachusetts growth and lower AI exposure.

    Pay difference
    +$480 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +14.0%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent
  • Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

    Observing people closely and tracking changes in progress carry over. This job offers a Boston median pay of $82,190 and needs a postsecondary award.

    Pay difference
    +$17,480 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +2.9%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award
  • Bus Drivers, School

    Working safely and patiently around students carries over. It needs only a high school diploma and has a Boston median pay of $65,170.

    Pay difference
    +$460 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +7.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach