How Much Do Online Tutors Earn?
What online tutors really make — from per-minute conversation rates to premium 1-on-1 tutoring — and how platform commission affects your take-home pay.
Online tutor earnings vary widely by subject, platform, experience, and where your students live. Here is a realistic picture.
Typical hourly rates
- English conversation platforms (Cambly, Engoo): roughly $10-15 per hour, paid per minute, with light entry requirements.
- Language marketplaces (Preply, italki): tutors set their own rates, commonly $10-40 per hour; specialised or exam-focused teachers charge more.
- Academic marketplaces (Wyzant): often $35-65 per hour, higher for advanced or test-prep subjects.
- Premium agencies (The Profs): roughly £60-120 per hour, but with heavy vetting.
Commission matters
The headline rate is not your take-home, because platforms take a cut:
- Preply: 18-33% depending on hours taught, and 100% of a new student’s trial lesson.
- Wyzant: a 25% platform fee.
- italki and Lessonface: around 15%.
- Superprof: no per-lesson commission, but students pay a subscription to contact you.
What drives higher pay
- Credentials and a degree
- A specialised or in-demand subject (sciences, test prep, less-common languages)
- Strong reviews and a fast response rate
- Teaching higher-income markets
A realistic monthly picture
A part-time tutor doing 10-15 hours a week might earn a few hundred dollars a month on conversation platforms, or considerably more on academic marketplaces with good rates and reviews. Full-time, experienced tutors on premium platforms can earn a professional income.