GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Tutors
Best States to Be a Tutors
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a tutors salary goes furthest in Wyoming — a $82,290 BLS median worth $88,779 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 205.8).
Which US states are best for a tutors after cost of living and tax?
For a tutors, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Wyoming #1: a $82,290 BLS median becomes $88,779 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 205.8). Nevada ranks last ($30,426, index 70.5). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Wyoming ranks #1 of 50 states for a tutors. Index 100 = the average state; 205.8 means pay goes 105.8% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedTutors — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $82,290 | — | 92.7 | $88,779 | 205.8 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $77,850 | $2,319 | 102.3 | $73,847 | 171.2 |
| 3 | Mississippi | $49,610 | $1,378 | 87.0 | $55,469 | 128.6 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $60,900 | $2,825 | 105.8 | $54,914 | 127.3 |
| 5 | Tennessee | $50,280 | — | 91.9 | $54,730 | 126.9 |
| 6 | Vermont | $53,920 | $1,388 | 98.0 | $53,628 | 124.3 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $46,190 | — | 89.0 | $51,923 | 120.4 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $53,790 | — | 104.2 | $51,639 | 119.7 |
| 9 | Maine | $49,880 | $1,752 | 97.0 | $49,591 | 115.0 |
| 10 | Maryland | $52,810 | $2,176 | 105.0 | $48,242 | 111.9 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $44,070 | $1,257 | 89.5 | $47,837 | 110.9 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $50,350 | $1,341 | 103.6 | $47,302 | 109.7 |
| 13 | Georgia | $47,380 | $1,907 | 96.3 | $47,224 | 109.5 |
| 14 | Ohio | $43,610 | $417 | 92.8 | $46,557 | 107.9 |
| 15 | Alaska | $45,990 | — | 102.4 | $44,930 | 104.2 |
| 16 | Colorado | $47,420 | $1,426 | 103.1 | $44,631 | 103.5 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $44,800 | $1,597 | 98.6 | $43,807 | 101.6 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $38,760 | — | 88.6 | $43,754 | 101.4 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $42,390 | $1,260 | 94.3 | $43,604 | 101.1 |
| 20 | Oregon | $48,280 | $3,421 | 103.4 | $43,401 | 100.6 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $41,340 | $1,059 | 94.1 | $42,808 | 99.3 |
| 22 | Washington | $45,360 | — | 107.0 | $42,387 | 98.3 |
| 23 | Montana | $41,380 | $1,303 | 94.6 | $42,344 | 98.2 |
| 24 | New York | $47,100 | $1,986 | 107.9 | $41,803 | 96.9 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $38,470 | $921 | 90.1 | $41,673 | 96.6 |
| 26 | Iowa | $36,790 | $1,358 | 87.8 | $40,373 | 93.6 |
| 27 | California | $45,100 | $816 | 110.7 | $39,997 | 92.7 |
| 28 | Indiana | $38,090 | $1,113 | 93.3 | $39,620 | 91.9 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $36,660 | $656 | 92.2 | $39,044 | 90.5 |
| 30 | Virginia | $40,750 | $1,543 | 101.1 | $38,778 | 89.9 |
| 31 | Alabama | $35,500 | $1,510 | 88.8 | $38,267 | 88.7 |
| 32 | Arizona | $38,940 | $499 | 100.7 | $38,183 | 88.5 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $42,270 | $788 | 108.8 | $38,125 | 88.4 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $34,510 | $1,102 | 87.8 | $38,032 | 88.2 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $33,780 | $638 | 88.2 | $37,573 | 87.1 |
| 36 | Michigan | $37,380 | $1,342 | 96.2 | $37,455 | 86.8 |
| 37 | Kansas | $34,170 | $1,113 | 90.1 | $36,702 | 85.1 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $34,240 | $1,239 | 90.2 | $36,603 | 84.9 |
| 39 | Florida | $37,310 | — | 103.4 | $36,078 | 83.7 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $36,270 | $1,113 | 97.6 | $36,031 | 83.5 |
| 41 | Idaho | $34,990 | $872 | 95.5 | $35,728 | 82.8 |
| 42 | Illinois | $37,400 | $1,710 | 100.0 | $35,705 | 82.8 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $33,220 | $452 | 93.7 | $34,953 | 81.0 |
| 44 | Missouri | $32,270 | $636 | 90.8 | $34,833 | 80.8 |
| 45 | Texas | $33,620 | — | 97.1 | $34,639 | 80.3 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $30,830 | $994 | 86.9 | $34,319 | 79.6 |
| 47 | Utah | $35,190 | $1,601 | 98.9 | $33,975 | 78.8 |
| 48 | Delaware | $33,240 | $1,168 | 99.8 | $32,134 | 74.5 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $36,590 | $1,338 | 110.0 | $32,061 | 74.3 |
| 50 | Nevada | $30,420 | — | 100.0 | $30,426 | 70.5 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Wyoming, a $82,290 salary is worth about $88,779 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $82,290 · BEA cost of living 92.7 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $92,893, a $4,114 gain over Wyoming.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $92,893 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $90,963 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $90,493 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $90,473 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $90,202 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $90,191 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $89,572 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $89,229 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $88,779 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $88,013 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $87,621 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $87,515 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Tutors — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a tutors?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Wyoming is the best state for a tutors: a BLS median of $82,290 is worth $88,779 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 92.7), an index of 205.8 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Wyoming has the highest headline BLS median for a tutors at $82,290, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 205.8). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a tutors salary go least far?
- Nevada ranks last of 50 states for a tutors: a $30,420 BLS median is worth only $30,426 after tax and cost of living (index 70.5). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a tutors is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.