How to hire a peer tutor

How to hire a peer tutor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step peer tutor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a peer tutor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new peer tutor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a peer tutor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the peer tutor you need to hire. Certain peer tutor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A peer tutor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, peer tutors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of peer tutors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Peer Tutor	Description	Hourly rate
   Peer Tutor		$9-15
   Student Instructor	Typically, a Student Instructor engages students in learning the assignments, materials, pacing, resources, and activities. Student Instructors learn and enforce questioning and discussion strategies in promoting knowledge acquisition and student participation... Show more	$15-35
   Learning Center Instructor	Learning center instructors' primary goal is to give direct mediation instruction for recognized students. They cooperate with staff members on suitable student placement for constructive learning... Show more	$10-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Math
   • GPA
   • Organic Chemistry
   • Academic Support
   • Study
   • Mathematics Courses
   • Course Materials
   • Course Content
   • Linear Algebra
   • Economics
   • Anatomy
   • Physiology
   • Calculus II
   • Academic Performance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide individualize student help and teaching in anatomy & physiology, microbiology, and chemistry.
   • Provide one-on-one instruction to students in various courses, direct them towards more efficient time-management and better-design study habits.
   • Tutor subject-specific material, primarily anatomy and physiology via interdisciplinary collaboration
   • Tutor math and chemistry, communicating ideas effectively and helping students understand basic concepts.
   • Assist fellow students with subjects including introductory chemistry and math courses from introductory algebra to differential equations.
   • Implement exercises and visuals to facilitate academic development in a variety of subjects, including calculus and chemistry.

   More peer tutor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the peer tutor job description is a good way to get more applicants. A peer tutor salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a peer tutor in Pennsylvania may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level peer tutor. Additionally, a peer tutor with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average peer tutor salary

   $12.73hourly

   $26,473 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level peer tutor salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average peer tutor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$28,936	$14
   2	California	$28,871	$14
   3	New Jersey	$28,817	$14
   4	New York	$28,048	$13
   5	Oregon	$27,662	$13
   6	Louisiana	$27,493	$13
   7	Florida	$26,088	$13
   8	Nevada	$26,085	$13
   9	Utah	$25,805	$12
   10	Wisconsin	$25,643	$12
   11	Illinois	$25,626	$12
   12	Delaware	$25,315	$12
   13	North Carolina	$24,880	$12
   14	Kansas	$23,949	$12
   15	Idaho	$23,885	$11
   16	Pennsylvania	$23,872	$11
   17	Tennessee	$23,249	$11
   18	Missouri	$22,727	$11
   19	Texas	$21,010	$10

   Average peer tutor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Saint Xavier University	$36,859	$17.72
   2	Oregon Health & Science University	$33,528	$16.12
   3	Lancaster General Health	$31,371	$15.08
   4	The University of Kansas Health System	$31,349	$15.07	1
   5	Chippewa Valley Schools	$30,102	$14.47	6
   6	Geisinger Medical Center	$29,782	$14.32	4
   7	Monroe Community College	$29,523	$14.19	19
   8	PSEA	$28,860	$13.88	6
   9	Perris Union High School District	$28,636	$13.77	1
   10	North Shore Community College	$28,296	$13.60
   11	West Hills College Lemoore	$28,227	$13.57	6
   12	Sandhills Community College	$27,612	$13.28
   13	University of Georgia Small Business Development Center	$27,593	$13.27	7
   14	AdventHealth	$27,102	$13.03	1
   15	Delaware Systems Technology, Inc.	$27,094	$13.03
   16	LA State University Continuing	$26,981	$12.97	4
   17	Chrysalis	$26,961	$12.96
   18	Westchester Community College	$26,752	$12.86	1
   19	State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia	$26,162	$12.58	13
   20	Tempe Elementary School District	$25,854	$12.43	7

4. Writing a peer tutor job description

   A good peer tutor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a peer tutor job description:

   Peer tutor job description example

   This position is for Spring 2023.
   
   Postings are open through 10/10. Interviews will occur on a rolling basis for qualified candidates from the week of November 14th. Applications submitted earlier will be given priority consideration.
   
   Peer Tutors assist fellow undergraduates in UK courses through Transformative Learning's Peer Tutoring Program at The Study. There are no appointments and tutoring is offered in small, informal groups. Peer Tutors help tutees fully understand concepts, complete assignments, and study for exams. Peer Tutors are responsible for greeting tutees and making them feel welcome and included, providing guidance in course content, and helping tutees hone study skills and strategies.
   
   Peer Tutors guide tutees to deeper understanding of course material and are never expected to give answers or replace course instructors.
   
   Peer Tutors receive extensive training in preparation for being effective peer tutors, so no prior tutoring experience is needed.
   
   Because the Peer Tutor position is a professional position, it includes responsibilities beyond working regular shifts, including professional development sessions, performance evaluations, regular team meetings, and promotional activities.
   
   PLEASE NOTE: By applying to this position you will automatically be considered for any Peer Tutor position with Transformative Learning, for which you are qualified. You do not need to apply to multiple positions.
   
   Given the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to protect our university community including our students, staff, faculty and visitors, the University of Kentucky is requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all new hires prior to starting employment. Therefore, as of October 18, 2021, all new hires prior to their first day of employment must submit appropriate documentation showing, i) completion of the first vaccination against COVID-19, or ii) completion of the full vaccination series against COVID-19, or iii) approved exemption (medical contraindications or a sincerely held religious belief) through the formal exemption process from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. For those employees who have completed the first vaccination against COVID-19 prior to their first day of employment, the second vaccination (if applicable) must be completed following the vaccination recommended schedule to be considered fully vaccinated.
   
   Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
   
   Applicants should enjoy helping others and sharing their experiences as students of biology. Applicants should have outstanding oral communication skills and be professional and timely. A thorough working knowledge of the Biology series is also required.
   
   Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No Preferred Education/Experience
   
   None
   
   Deadline to Apply 11/08/2022 University Community of Inclusion
   
   The University of Kentucky is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all our students, faculty, and staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. We strive to foster a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives can feel secure and welcome. We also value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
   
   As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and all minorities to consider our employment opportunities.
   
   Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right peer tutor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with peer tutors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit peer tutors who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your peer tutor job on Zippia to find and recruit peer tutor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit peer tutors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new peer tutor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the peer tutor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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