Tutoring Rate Calculator
- You keep
- Self-employment tax
- Expenses
You'll work about 600 hours a year, counting prep and travel. Income tax is not included; set some of what you keep aside for it.
How the tutoring rate calculation works
Start with what you want to keep
Say $30,000 a year after expenses and self-employment tax. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of profit, so keeping $30,000 takes about $34,936 of profit.
Add your expenses and any platform cut
With $1,200 of books, software and insurance, you need about $36,136 in fees. If a tutoring site keeps 20%, divide by 0.8: about $45,170.
Count the sessions you can really fill
12 sessions a week for 40 weeks is 480 sessions. Leave out school holidays and the weeks students cancel.
Divide fees by sessions
$36,136 ÷ 480 is about $75 per one-hour session. With 15 minutes of prep, that's about $60 for each hour you work.
Worked example. To keep $30,000 a year from 12 one-hour sessions a week over 40 weeks, with $1,200 of expenses and no platform cut, charge about $75.28 per session. That covers $4,936 of self-employment tax and works out to $60.23 per hour once 15 minutes of prep per session is counted.
Tutoring Rate FAQ
How much should I charge to tutor?
Divide the yearly fees you need (the income you want, plus expenses and self-employment tax) by the sessions you can realistically fill in a year. Then compare that number with what local tutors in your subject charge.
How much should I charge for tutoring per hour?
Use the per-hour figure above, then adjust for your subject and experience: test prep, advanced math and certified teachers usually charge more than homework help.
Should I charge for prep and travel time?
Build it into your price rather than billing it separately. The calculator shows what you earn per working hour once prep and travel are counted.
How much should a high school or college student charge to tutor?
Usually less than a certified teacher. Set a lower income goal or fewer weeks, and check what other student tutors near you charge.
Do I pay taxes on tutoring income?
Yes. Self-employed tutors owe self-employment tax on profit of $400 or more a year, plus income tax. This calculator covers self-employment tax; set aside extra for income tax.
How much do tutors charge?
There is no single going rate. Tutoring rates depend on the subject, the grade level, your experience and where you live, so the same hour can sell for very different prices. Use this calculator to find the lowest rate that meets your income goal, then check what tutors in your subject and area list before you set your price.
How do online tutoring rates compare with private tutoring?
Tutoring sites and agencies keep a share of each fee, so you need a higher list price to keep the same income. Enter that share as the platform cut. In the example above, a 20% cut raises the price from $75.28 to $94.11 per session. Teaching online can also save travel time, so lower your prep and travel minutes.
Should math and test-prep tutoring cost more?
Often, yes. Advanced math, science and test prep usually need more prep and more skill, and clients tend to pay more for them. Add the extra prep minutes here, then compare your result with local rates for that subject.
Sources: IRS: Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes) · IRS Topic 554: Self-employment tax (92.35% of net earnings)