Tutor salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Tutors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $42,290 a year ($20.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,150 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $43,350. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $45,100. There are 1.9 tutors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tutors in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| 25th percentile | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| Median | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| 75th percentile | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,150 | $28.44 |
| Average (mean) | $46,180 | $22.20 |
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 | $3,524.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,762.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,626.54 |
| Weekly | $813.27 |
| Hourly | $20.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,290 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tutor salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Tutor pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $49,120 | $23.62 |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $101,050 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $47,430 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,260 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $98,810 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,780 | $22.97 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $79,490 | — |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $99,230 | $47.71 |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $75,710 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $101,060 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $80,100 | — |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $91,090 | $43.80 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for tutors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $42,290 a year, or $20.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tutors make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of tutors in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $59,150 a year. The top 25% earn $50,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for tutors in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,490 a year, and a quarter of tutors earn $38,400 or less.
How many tutors work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 180 tutors are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.