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How Much to Charge for Online Tutoring
When starting out tutoring online, it can be hard to know just how much you should be charging for your time and expertise.
As there are no industry-set standard rates for online tutoring, prices can range widely depending on where you look. With this is mind, we’ve put together a guide to help you navigate online tutoring pricing and help you to decide how much to charge for your services.
The website prospects.ac.uk states that the average hourly rate for a tutor in the UK can range anywhere between £30-£60. Our own research at The Tutor Website suggests the range is even wider with rates between £15 and £45 per hour.
To help you work out where to set rates, there are a number of factors you should consider:
Qualifications
One of the key factors that will influence how much you can charge as an online tutor are your qualifications.
For example, an online maths tutor with a degree will generally be able to charge more for their services than a tutor who only has a Maths A-Level. Any additional courses or qualifications you have can also make you more valuable in the eyes of potential students, which can impact how much you charge for your services.
Experience
Your experience can also impact your online tutoring rates. The more experience you have (i.e. the more students and levels of learner you have taught), the more you’ll be able to charge as a tutor.
A great way to gauge where you should be setting your rates is to do some research. Find tutors who teach the same subject as you and have a similar amount of experience. This way you’ll have a good idea of how high or low your hourly rate should be.
The subject you teach
Another factor that will affect your rates as an online tutor is the subject you choose to teach. Subjects that are more widely catered for like English and Maths generally command lower rates. Whereas more specialist subjects like Arabic, for example, command a higher fee.
No travel expenses
If you already tutor in-person and are looking to make the move to online tuition, one factor to consider is that you won't have any travel expenses. This is one of the main reasons why online tutoring in generally less expensive than face-to-face lessons and is something to think about when deciding on your rates as an online tutor.
Tutoring platforms
Another important factor that may affect your rates as a tutor is the use of tutoring platforms. If yoou decide to sign up to a tutoring website or agency, you may be subject to commission fees from the site.
In many cases, this means the tutor will have to inflate their prices in order to compensate for the loss in earnings. The amount of commission taken by these platforms can vary widely, so it’s important to look carefully at the terms and conditions of any tutoring website before you decide to sign up.
Overall, the best way to decide how much to charge is to do your research. Look at tutors with similar experience to yourself and see how much they charge. You should also consider any charges or commission fees that you may incur from online tutoring platforms.
And remember, don’t be tempted to set your rates too low when you’re starting out in the hopes of attracting more clients. You need to make sure that you factor in the time you take to plan lessons and mark any work you set for your students. Your knowledge and skills are valuable, so make sure your rates reflect that.
For some useful advice on how to manage money in your tutoring business, watch this video from Sonia Teach:
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Natasha Saednejad
Natasha Saednejad is a French, Spanish, and ESL tutor in Surrey. A graduate of French & Hispanic Studies from King's College London, Natasha runs her own tutoring company in Surrey, NMS Tuition.
