How much does a tutor cost in 2023 | Complete Guide

Trying to figure out how much to pay for an online tutor? We've got the answers for you.

Typically, the cost of tuition sessions depends upon your location, level of study, the experience of the tutor and the qualifications of the tutor. However, as lessons take place online, online tutoring is notoriously much cheaper than traditional in-person private tutoring.

According to studies conducted by the Program for International Student Assessment and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the UK is struggling to keep up with other developed countries with its education system. As such, it comes as no shock to anyone that tutoring has become increasingly popular.

Whether you are getting a tutor for yourself, a student or simply doing a bit of market research before you leap into becoming a tutor we'll help you.

Below we have compiled some of the average costs of tutors across all subjects and levels. If you want a nice cheeky TLDR (too long didn't read), we've crafted a handy infographic at the bottom with the key findings.

How much does a tutor cost in the UK?

The average price of a tutor in the UK is £28 per hour. Depending on the qualifications of the tutor, subject and level you can expect to reasonably pay anywhere between £18 and £35 per hour for a tutor.

The standard price of a qualified UK teacher as a tutor is £30 per hour.

Additional qualifications could extend this price towards £35 per hour for tutors with SEN experience, being a qualified examiner, etc...

How much does a tutor cost for my subject?

Here are the average hourly prices for a tutor per subject:

(Averages taken directly from Sherpa lesson costs)

Most popular:

Maths £29.59

Physics £33.17

Chemistry £28.59

English Literature £25.23

Biology £30.52

Core:

English Literature £25.23

English Language £26.31

Maths £29.59

Geography £22.02

History £33.50

Sciences:

Combined Science £25.59

Physics £33.17

Chemistry £28.59

Biology £30.52

Languages:

Spanish £26.69

French £31.71

EFL £23.48

German £34.13

Mandarin £18.10

Humanities & Professional:

Business Studies £34.47

Psychology £24.97

Law £19.48

Economics £32.40

Computer Science £27.03

Sociology £19.04

Physical Education (P.E) £24.09

Admissions:

UCAS £60.00

Oxbridge £29.67

Medical £25.00

How much does a tutor cost for my level?

The average cost of tutoring sessions per hour based on the level of study:

(Averages taken directly from Sherpa lesson costs)

Primary £24.76

KS3 £24.79

GCSE £28.82

A-Level £32.92

Degree £28.91

What's the price difference between an online tutor and an in-person tutor?

In-person tutoring can cost almost 50% more than online tutoring on average. This price difference is due to the convenience and accessibility of online lessons - there are no commute costs and no need to find a tutor who lives near you.

Whilst the economic price is significant, the cost of an in-person tutor on other aspects of your life is much greater. The time spent travelling to meet the tutor is time that can be spent doing other meaningful tasks and must be factored in.

Theoretically, the cost of that hour to you could be anywhere from £10 to £100 if you have to take time off work in order to travel to the session. It is certainly something to consider.

How much should I spend on a tutor?

This is a tough question to answer as it depends on so many factors - your budget, the subject, the level and more.

A recent study showed that the average person in the UK spends 7% of their monthly income on private tutoring. This number goes up to 9% for people in London.

For context, the average monthly income in the UK is £2,700 so the average person would spend around £189 on private tutoring each month.

Of course, this number will be different for everyone based on their individual circumstances. The best way to work out how much you should spend is to consider your goals and what you want to achieve from private tuition.

What factors affect the price of an online tutor?

Experience of the tutor

The experience of the tutor will affect the price of the tutorials, regardless of the topic. It's unlikely that a tutor just starting out in the industry will charge the same rates as a tutor with 15 years of experience. You will definitely pay more to ensure quality knowledge right from the very beginning.

If the tutor has specialist knowledge in a particular area, they will likely charge more for their services. This is because their expert knowledge is in high demand and they can command a higher price.

Qualifications of the tutor

The qualifications of the tutor also play a vital role in how much they will charge for their services. A tutor with just a Bachelor's degree is likely to charge less than a tutor with a Master's or Doctorate. On Sherpa, we pride ourselves in providing UK-qualified teachers who have secured a QTS or completed a PGCE as our tutors as they have classroom experience.

It's important to note that the price isn't always an indicator of quality. A more experienced and unqualified tutor could be just as good, if not better than a less experienced and qualified tutor but mileage may vary and it's always best to value qualifications and experience when making a decision.

The subject being taught by the tutor

Depending on the subject or the specialisation, supply and demand can significantly impact the price. But why? Well, topics widely studied with a personal tutor such as maths and science cannot charge as much as specialised disciplines such as zoology or skateboarding, to name a few simply because the supply of tutors in these subjects is much greater. (Boom. Economics.)

Student Level

When it comes to the level of the student, this is one area where there is a significant difference in pricing. A tutor teaching primary school students will most likely charge less than a tutor teaching A-Level students. This is due to the nature of the work required - primary school tutoring generally involves more support in core subjects such as literacy and numeracy, whereas A-Level students are likely to need more help with specific topics in their chosen subjects.

The level of the student will also affect the number of hours required for each session. A-Level students may need 2-3 hour long sessions each week, whereas primary school students may only require 1 hour per week.

What about location?

The location of the lessons, you and your tutor have a large impact on pricing for more traditional in-person tutoring due to the additional costs involved. However, online tutoring has significantly subsidised those costs and as such is notably much cheaper and convenient for everyone!