How much should tutors charge?

Tutoring is almost always priced hourly, but the right rate depends heavily on subject, level, and your credentials.

Estimate your rate

A starting point for tutoring — adjust to your own numbers.

Target annual income ($)Billable hours / weekBusiness expenses / year ($)

~$60.50 / hour

Formula: (target income + expenses) ÷ (billable hours/week × 50 working weeks). This is a starting estimate, not a guarantee — adjust for local market rates.

What moves the rate

Subject and difficulty (standardized test prep and advanced math/science command higher rates than general homework help)
Your credentials: teaching license, advanced degree, or specialized certification
Student level: elementary vs high school vs college/grad
Format: in-person vs online, one-on-one vs small group
Session length and package discounts
Local cost of living and competitor rates

Set a base rate for general subjects, then add a premium for test prep, advanced subjects, or last-minute scheduling. The $500/yr expense default assumes professional liability insurance (~$200-300), a Zoom/scheduling subscription (~$150-200), and workbooks/practice materials — one of the lowest-overhead professions on the site since it needs no vehicle or physical equipment beyond a laptop.