{"id":3360,"date":"2025-09-22T17:54:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T17:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/s37407.p1377.sites.pressdns.com\/resources\/how-much-does-a-tutor-cost\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T17:55:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T17:55:59","slug":"how-much-does-a-tutor-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/how-much-does-a-tutor-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"How much does a tutor cost?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to hiring a tutor, there&rsquo;s a great range in terms of tutoring prices &mdash; on average, the low end starts around <strong>$18-21 per hour<\/strong>, and that can soar upwards of $100 per hour or more, based on a variety of factors (more on this shortly). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwisetutoring.com\/about-our-founder\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lindsey Wander<\/a>, professional tutor and founder and CEO at WorldWise Tutoring, notes that she charges $75 an hour for in-person elementary school tutoring in both the Chicago and Houston areas and $10 less for virtual lessons. But, depending on the help a student needs, prices can be significantly more or less.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Looking for the latest tutoring prices? Read on to learn the average rate for tutoring based on grade level, subject matter, location, as well as more specialized tutoring and more.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-custom-dynamic-list key-takeaways-block\"><h3>Key takeaways<\/h3><div class=\"key-takeaways-container\"><ul><li>Tutoring rates range from $18 to over $100 per hour, depending on factors like subject, grade level and format. <\/li><li>Private tutors charge more, while centers and online options are typically cheaper.<\/li><li>Average rates for a tutor are around $24 per hour, while costs for college tutors and SAT\/ACT test prep tutoring rates can start as high as $60-$100 per hour.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-much-does-a-tutor-cost\" data-toc-id=\"49e2fba5\">How much does a tutor cost?<\/h2><p>Here are the average tutoring prices by grade level and type, based on posted rates from tutors on Care.com, as well as pricing shared by tutoring experts Lindsey Wander and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thinkandevolve.academy\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Greg Freebury<\/a>, owner of Think &amp; Evolve Tutoring.&nbsp;<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-average-posted-tutoring-rates-by-grade-level-and-type\">Average posted tutoring rates by grade level and type<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Grade Level\/Type<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Rates from*<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/elementary-school-tutors\">Elementary school tutors<\/a><\/td><td>$24.40\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/middle-school-tutors\">Middle school tutors<\/a><\/td><td>$24.37\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/high-school-tutors\">High school tutors<\/a><\/td><td>$24.22\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/college-tutors\">College tutors<\/a><\/td><td>$60\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/test-prep-tutors\">Test prep tutors<\/a><\/td><td>$100\/hr<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">*Based on average posted starting rates from tutors listed on Care.com, as of September 22, 2025.<br>**Rate information, according to interviews with experts in February 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>&ldquo;The range of prices will be somewhat similar for students in elementary school, middle school and high school,&rdquo; says  Freebury. &ldquo;However, for college level students, the floor of tutoring rates will increase because college requires more specialized knowledge from tutors.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p><p>&ldquo;College tutoring rates generally start at <strong>$60-70 an hour<\/strong>,&rdquo; Freebury says, noting that &ldquo;college students can receive help for free at tutoring centers provided by the colleges and universities.&rdquo;<\/p><p>SAT\/ACT test prep tutoring, on the other hand, starts at about <strong>$100 an hour<\/strong>, according to Freebury. &ldquo;Standardized test prep is generally one of the more expensive types of tutoring because these tests are very high stakes,&rdquo; he says.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-factors-impact-tutoring-cost\" data-toc-id=\"6b7922f0\">What factors impact tutoring cost?<\/h2><p>While the hourly rates above are the averages across the country, it&rsquo;s important to keep in mind that a number of factors can &mdash; and will &mdash; impact a tutor&rsquo;s hourly rate, including:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Type of tutoring: <\/strong>Prices vary if it&rsquo;s private, center based or through an agency.<\/li><li><strong>Number of students: <\/strong>One-on-one tutoring often costs more than group tutoring.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Online vs. in-person: <\/strong>Virtual tutoring can cost a little less.<\/li><li><strong>Your location: <\/strong>Tutoring usually costs more in bigger cities with a higher cost of living.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Tutor&rsquo;s experience: <\/strong>The more teaching hours a tutor has under their belt, the more they can charge, according to Freebury.<\/li><li><strong>Subject matter: <\/strong>&ldquo;Math and science tutors tend to be the most expensive&rdquo; because these subjects are so technical, says Freebury. Same goes for test prep.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Specialized needs: <\/strong>&ldquo;Not all tutors are equipped to work with kids with learning differences such as ADHD, dyslexia and autism,&rdquo; Freebury says. &ldquo;You can expect to pay more for tutors with special education degrees or experience teaching these types of special needs students.&rdquo;<\/li><\/ul><p>Taking note of these possible variables, let&rsquo;s take a look at price breakdowns for some of the popular types of tutoring.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-much-does-a-private-tutor-cost\" data-toc-id=\"5b249460\">How much does a private tutor cost?<\/h2><p>&ldquo;In a region like the Midwest, you might be able to find a tutor that will meet in person for as little as <strong>$30 an hour<\/strong>, [whereas] in places like New York and Los Angeles, tutoring rates can be between $100-$200 an hour,&rdquo; Freebury explains, adding that private tutors set their own rates and these rates can &ldquo;have great range.&rdquo;<\/p><p>For reference, here&rsquo;s the average posted tutoring rates in 15 U.S. cities, according to recent Care data.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-current-posted-tutoring-rates-per-hour-in-top-u-s-cities\">Current posted tutoring rates per hour in top U.S. cities*<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>City, State<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Hourly Tutoring Rate<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/brooklyn-ny\">Brooklyn, New York<\/a><\/td><td>$25.66\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/seattle-wa\">Seattle, Washington<\/a><\/td><td>$26.21\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/portland-or\">Portland, Oregon<\/a><\/td><td>$23.51\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/denver-co\">Denver, Colorado<\/a><\/td><td>$24.19\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/chicago-il\">Chicago, Illinois<\/a><\/td><td>$23.09\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/philadelphia-pa\">Philadelphia, Pennsylvania<\/a><\/td><td>$21.84\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/atlanta-ga\">Atlanta, Georgia<\/a><\/td><td>$21.29\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/minneapolis-mn\">Minneapolis, Minnesota<\/a><\/td><td>$22.02\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/charlotte-nc\">Charlotte, North Carolina<\/a><\/td><td>$20.59\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/salt-lake-city-ut\">Salt Lake City, Utah<\/a><\/td><td>$20.15\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/kansas-city-mo\">Kansas City, Missouri<\/a><\/td><td>$20.33\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/orlando-fl\">Orlando, Florida<\/a><\/td><td>$20.71\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/richmond-va\">Richmond, Virginia<\/a><\/td><td>$21.45\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/san-antonio-tx\">San Antonio, Texas<\/a><\/td><td>$18.86\/hr<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/cost\/tutors\/des-moines-ia\">Des Moines, Iowa<\/a><\/td><td>$19.26\/hr<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">*Based on average posted starting rates from tutors listed on Care.com, as of September 22, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-much-does-a-tutoring-center-charge\" data-toc-id=\"077f7db8\">How much does a tutoring center charge?<\/h2><p>Tutoring centers such as Kumon or Tutor Doctor &ldquo;typically charge <strong>$50-$75 an hour,<\/strong>&rdquo; Freebury notes, explaining that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/tutoring-services-center-versus-private-tutor\/\">tutoring centers<\/a> are generally one of the more affordable options.&nbsp;<\/p><p>&ldquo;However,&rdquo; he adds, &ldquo;students do not get individualized attention like they would in a private one-on-one session. Tutoring centers tend to focus more on simply providing a space where students can receive tutoring assistance and homework help instead of focused and dedicated assistance, so they tend to be less expensive than an agency.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p><p>Because of this, Freebury generally advises against going with a tutoring center in favor of a private tutor, if it&rsquo;s in your budget.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-much-does-a-tutoring-agency-charge\" data-toc-id=\"324bcb17\">How much does a tutoring agency charge?<\/h2><p>Freebury, who previously worked at a tutoring agency that charged $200 an hour, notes that this is generally most expensive kind of tutoring.<\/p><p>&ldquo;A tutoring agency is an organization that specializes in comprehensive tutoring services such as multi-subject tutoring, integration of psychologist reports and learning difference diagnoses for students and a case manager,&rdquo; explains Freebury. &ldquo;Each student receives a great amount of individualized attention and accommodation; therefore, these types of companies tend to be more expensive.&rdquo;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-much-does-an-online-tutor-cost\" data-toc-id=\"09caef94\">How much does an online tutor cost?<\/h2><p>&ldquo;If you are open to online lessons, this can reduce the cost significantly,&rdquo; Freebury says. &ldquo;Using sites like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyzant.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wyzant<\/a> [which offers one-on-one tutoring], it is not difficult to find highly rated tutors for <strong>$20 to $30 an hour<\/strong>.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you&rsquo;re using a private tutor virtually, Wander notes, you can expect to pay about $10 less per hour than you would for tutoring in person.<\/p><p>Generally, tutoring costs are straightforward, but Freebury notes that sometimes there may be a service fee for each lesson when using an online service (such as Wyzant).<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-are-there-discounts-available-for-tutoring\" data-toc-id=\"d9b2e367\">Are there discounts available for tutoring?<\/h2><p>There are a number of organizations that offer free tutoring for low income families, according to Freebury, who personally volunteers for <a href=\"https:\/\/schoolonwheels.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">School On Wheels<\/a>, an organization that offers free tutoring to Southern California students that are unhoused or live in temporary housing.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To find organizations that offer <a href=\"https:\/\/schoolchoiceweek.com\/free-tutoring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free tutoring<\/a> in your areas, Freebury recommends checking out the website <a href=\"https:\/\/schoolchoiceweek.com\/free-tutoring\/\">School Choice Week<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>In addition to free tutoring organizations, Freebury also recommends asking about package deals.&nbsp;<\/p><p>&ldquo;Most private tutors don&rsquo;t offer financial aid or scholarships, but sometimes they&rsquo;ll offer package deals where the student can get a discount on lessons if they are willing to buy multiple lessons upfront,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t hesitate to ask if a prospective tutor is willing to offer a bulk deal. Many tutors will be enticed by the idea of being paid upfront.&rdquo;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How much do tutors cost? The average rate depends on grade level, subject, experience and other factors. Here\u2019s what you can expect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1273,"featured_media":96576,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"enable_toc":true,"care_reviewed_by":0,"care_post_updated_flag":false,"care_updated_date":"2025-09-22T17:54:35.246Z","last_update":"2025-09-22","view_count":365877,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1080,1084,1087],"member-type":[3],"vertical":[6,17,16,15],"platform":[2],"class_list":["post-3360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-school-aged-kids","tag-teens","tag-tutors","member-type-seeker","vertical-children","vertical-child-care-advice","vertical-child-care-options","vertical-money-work","platform-resources"],"acf":[],"created":"2013-04-25","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1273"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3360"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":221996,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3360\/revisions\/221996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3360"},{"taxonomy":"member-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/member-type?post=3360"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=3360"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=3360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}