Tutoring Income Calculator
Calculate your tutoring income after platform fees, prep time, and expenses. Compare independent vs platform earnings for Wyzant, Varsity Tutors, and more.
Using 0% platform fee, 10 min/hr prep, 5% cancellation rate
Session Details
Your per-hour tutoring rate
Total tutoring hours per week
Platform used to find students
Number of unique students you see weekly
Fees & Expenses
Your Earnings
Weekly Net
$468
After fees & expenses
Monthly Net
$2,027
4.33 weeks average
Effective Hourly
$40
Including prep time
Weekly Breakdown
Annual Projection
$24,340
52 weeks
Total Weekly Hours
11.7
Including prep time
Using 0% platform fee, 10 min/hr prep, 5% cancellation rate, $30/mo materials.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do private tutors make per hour?
Private tutors typically charge $25-$80 per hour for K-12 subjects and $50-$150+ for test prep, college-level, or specialized subjects. Rates vary by location, subject expertise, and experience. Online tutoring rates tend to be slightly lower than in-person.
How much do tutoring platforms take?
Most platforms take 20-25% of your earnings. Wyzant takes 25%, Varsity Tutors takes approximately 25%, and Tutor.com takes about 20%. Independent tutoring keeps 100% of earnings but requires self-marketing and client acquisition.
Is tutoring a good side hustle?
Tutoring is one of the highest-paying side hustles per hour, especially for those with expertise in STEM, test prep, or language instruction. It offers flexible scheduling, low startup costs, and predictable recurring income from regular students.
How do I get more tutoring students?
Start with a tutoring platform to build reviews and experience. Ask satisfied students for referrals. Create a simple website and list on local directories. Specialize in high-demand subjects like SAT prep, calculus, or coding. Transition repeat students off-platform to keep the full rate.
How to Use the Tutoring Income Calculator
Enter your hourly rate and weekly tutoring hours to see your estimated earnings after expenses. Select your tutoring platform to automatically apply the correct fee percentage, or choose Independent if you find your own students. Add the number of unique students you see each week to calculate travel-related costs accurately.
Switch to Advanced mode to fine-tune your projections. Adjust the platform fee percentage, set your prep time per tutoring hour, and add travel and materials costs. The cancellation rate accounts for no-shows and last-minute cancellations that reduce your actual earnings. Most tutors experience a 5-10% cancellation rate without a strict cancellation policy.
Pay attention to the effective hourly rate, which factors in your unpaid prep time. If you spend 15 minutes preparing for every hour of tutoring, your effective rate drops by about 20%. This metric helps you decide whether to raise rates or streamline your preparation process. Consider creating reusable lesson plans and worksheets to reduce per-session prep over time.
For tax planning, remember that tutoring income is self-employment income. Set aside 25-30% for federal and state taxes, including the 15.3% self-employment tax. If you earn more than $400 annually from tutoring, you must file a Schedule SE. Platform tutors receive a 1099 if they earn over $600, but all tutoring income is taxable regardless of whether you receive a form.
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