The amount you can earn as a tutor can vary quite a bit depending on several factors. Let's take a look at the key considerations that can impact your tutoring rate:
How much experience do you have?
The more experience you have as a tutor, the higher the rate you can typically command. Parents who are hiring tutors want to know that their tutor has taught before and has achieved success with previous students. Tutors with advanced degrees, specialised certifications, or many years of teaching experience are often able to charge premium rates compared to those just starting out.
In what location are you delivering the tutoring?
Where you live can also play a big role in your earning potential as a tutor. Bigger cities and affluent areas generally have a higher demand for tutoring services and can support higher hourly rates. One of the most popular customers of tutoring services are parents who are sending their children to private schools. If you are able to service students in areas near private schools, you usually can earn more?
Who are you you tutoring?
The age and academic level of your students can influence your rate significantly. Tutoring younger students in elementary or middle school may pay less than tutoring high school or college students in advanced subjects. In Australia, high school students receive a lot of tutoring because one of the biggest determinants of university entrance is your ATAR.
❗ For a complete guide to ATAR in 2024, check out this blog written by our team
Subject specialisation
Tutoring in highly specialised or in-demand subjects can warrant higher rates than more general academic subjects. This is particularly true for the subjects that are notoriously hard in Year 11 and 12 curriculums. Below is a list of subjects that are very difficult and thus often the demand for tutors is very high:
- VCE
- Specialist Maths
- Chemistry
- Languages (French, Chinese, Latin)
- HSC
- IB
- Maths Analysis and Approaches (especially HL)
- Chemistry (especially HL)
- Physics (especially HL)
But sometimes, when a subject is hard, this means there tends to be less students who are completing it. There can be also be benefit becoming a tutor for the most popular subjects as there is a larger number of available students. Some of these subjects are:
- VCE
- HSC
- IB
How do you get your students?
Tutors who work through established companies or online platforms may earn less per hour than those who find students independently. Independent tutors can set their own rates, while company-affiliated tutors are usually paid a set hourly wage. However, independent students may struggle to find consistent work whereas students who work for a company can always expect a steady pipeline of students to tutor.
According to the job site Indeed, the average tutoring wage in Australia is around $35 per hour. However, with the right combination of experience, location, subject matter, and student clientele, top-tier tutors can easily command $50 to $100 per hour or more.
The key is to research the going rates in your local market, highlight your unique qualifications, and provide exceptional value to your students. With the right approach, tutoring can be a lucrative way to share your knowledge and expertise.
Do you want more tutoring jobs?
Apex Tuition Australia is the perfect way for tutors to get more students with no work. We collect all your details and tutoring preferences and find you students that meet your preferences. Our tutors earn between $30 and $60 depending on your experience. We also give all tutors a $5 per hour bonus for all in-person tutoring.
We are growing fast and need more tutors! If you are interested in joining, please submit an application here.
