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Rates Guide
Most private tutors in the US charge $25 to $80 an hour. Core K–12 subjects run about $27–$55 online and $35–$68 in person. Test prep and advanced STEM go higher, commonly $45–$110. New tutors typically start at $25–$45 and move up with experience and results.
Pick what you teach and how long you have been doing it.
Typical range $30 to $60 per hour.
Typical range
$30–$60/hr
Hourly, one-to-one. Group sessions usually run 40–60% of the per-student rate but earn more per hour overall.
| Level | Online | In person |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | $25–$40 | $30–$50 |
| Middle school | $30–$50 | $35–$60 |
| High school | $35–$55 | $40–$68 |
| College / advanced | $45–$85 | $55–$100 |
| Test prep (SAT/ACT) | $45–$90 | $60–$110 |
Experience moves your rate further than subject does.
| Band | Experience | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Just starting | 0–1 year | $25–$45 |
| Experienced | 1–3 years | $45–$75 |
| Expert | 3+ years, proven results | $75–$150 |
Most tutors are priced under market, and stay there, because the conversation is uncomfortable rather than because the number is wrong. Two signals mean you are underpriced: you have a waiting list, and nobody has questioned your rate in a year.
Give 4–6 weeks' notice
Enough time for a family to plan around it. Shorter feels abrupt; longer invites drift.
Raise new students first
Apply the new rate to every new enquiry immediately. You will find out quickly whether the market accepts it, before you have said anything to existing families.
Say it plainly, once
“Starting in September my rate will be $70 an hour. I have loved working with Maya this year and hope we can keep going.” No apology, no justification, no invitation to negotiate.
Hold long-standing families for a term
A deliberate loyalty gesture, with an end date. It converts a price rise into something generous without permanently splitting your rates.
Picking a rate is only half of it. What reaches your account depends on how your tools handle fees, and most of them quietly take a cut of the number you advertised.
On a subscription platform, card processing comes out of your side — so a $60 session nets roughly $58, before the monthly subscription. On a marketplace taking 25%, that $60 session pays you $45. In both cases your advertised rate and your real rate never match, and the gap is invisible until you reconcile.
On TutorTab there is no gap, because nothing is deducted. It handles the schedule and never touches the money, so the rate you set is the rate you and the family have agreed.
FAQ
Sources
Ranges compiled from published 2026 rate guides, including Tutors.com, Care.com and TutorCruncher. Rates vary by region and specialism; treat these as a starting point, not a benchmark.
TutorTab handles booking, reminders and invoicing, and adds nothing to the price you set. Free for tutors.
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This guide covers tutor pricing only. It is not legal, tax or financial advice.