What Is a Tutor?
Tutors supplement the work of teachers by providing hands-on assistance to students who need help in various disciplines. Although they’re not solely responsible for teaching a subject, they can offer new explanations to assist in the understanding of concepts and new methods to solve problems in an effort to better the students’ understanding of a subject.
Tutors provide practice materials that, with time, enable students to master tasks on their own. They serve as liaisons between students and their teachers or professors, helping students understand assignments and providing them with the appropriate questions to ask their teachers or professors. Tutors also specialize in providing assistance with studying for exams, such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT and MCAT, by teaching test-taking methods and practice exams.
Tutoring work can range from part time to full time. Undergraduate and graduate students may tutor fellow students or high school students in a particular subject, while full time tutors may work for a tutoring company that specializes in a particular area, such as SAT and ACT tutoring.
How to Become a Tutor
Students who wish to become part-time tutors at their colleges or universities must meet apply for the positions through the school and meet minimum academic requirements. For those who plan to pursue a career in tutoring, there isn’t a standard educational or career path, though a bachelor’s degree in education is sufficient.
Typically, the tutors who are highest in demand have achieved multiple degrees and display proficiency in one or more subjects through high academic achievement. For example, someone with a Ph.D. in physics may offer his or her services in tutoring in not only physics, but algebra, calculus and chemistry.
Once they’ve procured a tutoring job, they cultivate relationships with students and families, earning a reputation for their abilities that will result in more clients. Excellent social skills are a must, as tutors must be able to effectively communicate and connect with students. If they can tutor a subject in a manner that isn’t impersonal and boring, then the student will be more likely to request more appointments.
Tutor Career Outlook & Salary
Employment for teachers is expected to grow about as fast as the national average of all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As schools become overpopulated, more qualified individuals will be needed to fill the additional positions that will be created. The demand for teachers will translate to demand for tutors, who supplement the work of teachers.
The increasingly competitive environment among students, particularly students from middle class families and better, has made tutors a more relevant part of the educational process. For example, students who wish to gain admission to colleges that take class ranking into account put in extra work to ensure their grades are as high as possible.
With experience and an established reputation, tutors can earn handsome salaries. Those with advanced degrees from prestigious colleges and excellent social skills can earn in excess of $100,000. However, most start in the $30,000 range and earn about $50,000 with a decade of experience.
