Tutor Salary in Durham, NC
Tutors in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $45,350 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,318 take-home, or $3,110 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tutor salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,262
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,812
- Medicare (1.45%)$658
- North Carolina income tax$1,301
- Take-home pay$37,318
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Tutor pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,430 | $13.19 | $23,613 | $1,968 |
| 25th percentile | $33,780 | $16.24 | $28,483 | $2,374 |
| Median (50th) | $45,350 | $21.80 | $37,318 | $3,110 |
| 75th percentile | $78,070 | $37.53 | $61,146 | $5,095 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,080 | $38.50 | $62,480 | $5,207 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,350 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median tutor's $37,318 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,247 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Durham, NC has 1.5× the national concentration of tutor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for tutors, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #13 of 61 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville, TN | $62,950 | $52,760 | $54,766 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $64,710 | $51,159 | $47,253 |
| 3 | Memphis, TN | $49,640 | $42,066 | $45,635 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $56,200 | $45,031 | $43,097 |
| 5 | Virginia Beach, VA | $52,000 | $41,786 | $42,665 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $51,430 | $42,115 | $40,989 |
| 7 | Rochester, NY | $47,730 | $38,551 | $39,729 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $54,230 | $41,838 | $39,687 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $45,350 | $37,318 | $38,247 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 61 metros →
Tutor salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $44,320
- Raleigh, NC — $36,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tutor make in Durham, NC?
The median tutor salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $45,350 a year, or about $21.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,780 and $78,070.
What is a tutor’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $45,350 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $37,318 a year ($3,110 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,301 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a tutor?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $43,350. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,247 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #13 of 61 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tutor afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median tutor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $74,980
- Instructional Coordinator — $61,480
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $57,870
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $51,400
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $51,340
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $46,730
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $36,600
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $35,190
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $29,090