Reading Tutor Cost: Optimizing Value for Your Child
reviewed by Franz Jerby Delos Santos
Updated on July 23, 2025
If you’re asking yourself, “How much does a reading tutor cost?”, you’ve come to the right place. Tutoring is a proven strategy to improve academic performance, but it often comes at a hefty price. As an experienced English teacher, I know that parents need to understand rates and factors to budget correctly and find affordable options. In this article, I’ll provide you with everything you need to get the most value from tutoring.
Key points
- The average reading tutor charges between $10 and $80 across the US.
- The price depends mostly on the type and format of tutoring, location, frequency, duration, and the tutor’s qualifications, among other factors.
- Brighterly offers a cost-efficient, highly effective personalized 1:1 reading tutoring starting at only $17.40 per lesson, much below the average rate.
How much does a reading tutor cost per hour?
The average English reading tutor costs $32.50 per hour, per to nationwide research conducted by TutorCruncher. However, the price can vary widely depending on numerous factors. The typical range is between $10 and $80 per hour.
How much does a reading tutor cost Reddit reviews
In discussions on Reddit, parents mention very different rates that they pay to their children’s tutors. The following quote provides a good overview of the possible ranges:
The main determinant of tutoring rates per hour is the type of tutoring. In-person and online tutoring as well as 1:1 and group sessions are charged very differently.
👇The table below offers a quick summary of the standard reading tutor cost per hour ranges for various formats.
In-person tutoring |
Online tutoring |
Group tutoring |
From $15 per hour to $80 per lesson | From $10 per hour to $50 per lesson | From $10 per hour to $50 per lesson |
In case you’re still wondering, “How much do reading tutors charge for private lessons?”, keep reading. In the next section, I’ll go over the average online reading tutor cost with some specific examples.
What are the private reading tutor rates per hour?
The typical rates for popular reading online tutoring platforms, such as Brighterly, Kumon, and Wyzant, range from $10 to $60+ per lesson. Each of these tutoring companies has a different pricing structure to reflect its unique plans and distinct advantages.
💡Below, I’ll show you a detailed breakdown of the costs of the three tutoring platforms so that you can find the most appropriate one for your child’s needs and your family’s budget.
Brighterly reading tutor cost vs average price for reading tutors
The cost of private, 1:1 reading tutoring at the Brighterly reading and math tutoring platform starts at only $17.40 per lesson. Compared to the typical range of $15-$80 for 1:1 tutoring, this is a very affordable price.
How much does Brighterly reading tutor cost?
- 1-month Learning Membership plan: From $21.00 per lesson. Excellent for building reading confidence.
- 3-month Learning Membership plan: From $20.60 per lesson. Designed for strengthening core reading skills.
- 6-month Learning Membership plan: From $19.80 per lesson. Ideal for mastering key concepts.
- 12-month Learning Membership plan: From $17.40 per lesson. It’s worth noting that this is one of the most ‘affordable reading tutors near me’ that you can find across the US. Perfect for reaching reading excellence.
Brighterly math and reading tutoring platform: Main benefits
- Interactive, 1:1 tutoring delivered by top-notch tutors
- Personalized lessons based on the Common Core State Standards
- Continuous progress tracking and feedback from tutors
Interactive, 1:1 tutoring delivered by top-notch tutors
When comparing the Brighterly cost to the average reading tutor cost, you should keep in mind that the platform offers live, 1:1 online tutoring provided by experts in the field of teaching the English language. All Brighterly reading tutors carry a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and have 5-10 years of experience in the subject matter.
Moreover, as trained professionals in pedagogy, they hold the necessary skills to make the reading program sessions fun and entertaining. This leads to outstanding results in terms of increasing reading speed and enhancing reading comprehension.
Personalized lessons based on the Common Core State Standards
Brighterly reading tutoring starts with a free assessment to test each child’s reading level, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and learn more about their interests. Afterwards, the dedicated tutor prepares an individualized learning plan with personalized reading lessons and materials that correspond to the child’s knowledge and preferences. This further raises student engagement.
Meanwhile, parents should rest assured that tutoring is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and meets the requirements of US schools. This principle guarantees a significant improvement in students’ academic performance.
Continuous progress tracking and feedback from tutors
Additionally, the Brighterly cost covers monthly progress reports as well as more frequent feedback on the student’s performance. The regular, in-depth evaluations allow you to track your child’s improvement over time.
In this way, first and foremost, you know that your child is advancing as expected in order to achieve their academic goals. Second, you know where your money is going and that it’s bringing real value to your family.
Note: With Brighterly, you get access to valuable educational resources and assessment tools, entirely free of charge. Your child can develop their language skills with free fun reading worksheets (coming soon!).
😻Here is an example of an enjoyable exercise from a reading worksheet:
Furthermore, children take free reading tests for grades 1-9 to measure progress.
Kumon reading tutor cost hourly vs average price for reading tutors
The Kumon cost per hour for reading tutoring amounts to $20+, which is at the lower end of the average range for reading tutor prices. However, the Kumon hourly reading tutor cost varies as it’s determined by a few factors, so it can be significantly more than $20.
How much does Kumon reading cost?
The Kumon reading program costs between $80 and $400 per month, depending on the students’ skill level, learning format, and educational goals. Moreover, you get a different number of lessons and hours of tutoring based on location. All in all, this adds to a rate of $20-$100 per lesson, which is a very wide range. Moreover, you should note that Kumon lessons are only 30 minutes long, so the hourly price is double, or $40-$200.
Kumon: Main benefits
- Kumon uses authorial worksheets following a proprietary programs method that develops logical and critical thinking.
- It offers a specialized reading tutor who guides children when they need support (but the focus is on self-guided study and learning).
- The platform provides a customized learning program for each student (but misses the human tutor presence).
Wyzant reading tutor cost per hour vs average price for reading tutors
How much does reading cost with Wyzant tutors?
The Wyzant reading tutor cost per hour is typically between $35 and $60 (more or less is also possible) plus a 9% platform fee. Wyzant reviews show that its pricing is rather expensive compared to the average rates for online reading tutoring.
Wyzant acts like a marketplace that connects global tutors who have different levels of expertise and qualifications with learners worldwide. The hourly rate for instruction is set by each tutor. On top of that, Wyzant takes a 9% service fee.
The total cost of Wyzant reading tutors depends on the tutor that you choose, the duration and frequency of sessions, and the length of the tutoring period. In general, parents can expect to pay more per month than with a subscription-based platform like Brighterly.
Wyzant: Main benefits
- At Wyzant, parents and students can choose from a wide variety of reading tutors with various educational levels and skills.
- Wyzant tutors offer 1:1 online sessions at times agreed upon with the student.
- The platform does not charge any upfront fees (but there is a 9% service fee on top of the reading tutor hourly rate).
Private reading tutor rates
- Elementary reading tutor rates
- Reading tutor cost for middle school
- Reading tutor cost for high school
Elementary reading tutor rates: Average tutor cost per hour
The average reading tutor cost for young readers in grades 1-5 is $25-$50 per hour. Nevertheless, during my research of well-known tutoring websites, I’ve seen rates both below and above this range.
Parents should keep in mind that to estimate how much is a reading tutor for elementary school students depends on the type of tutoring (online vs in-person and 1:1 vs group), the lesson length and schedule, the qualifications of the teacher, and the provision of reading materials.
Average reading tutor cost per hour for middle school students
The typical range of reading tutoring hourly rates for grades 6-8 struggling at school is $40-$60. Middle school reading tutoring costs more than elementary school as tutors need to have more expertise and be able to handle complex topics.
Once again, you can find different rates – both more and less affordable – according to your child’s needs and your budget.
Average reading tutor cost per hour for high school students
The standard reading tutor cost per hour for students in grades 9-12 ranges between $50 and $80. Typically, platforms charge the highest rates for this age group as tutors are required to have advanced professional knowledge and skills. Tutoring services for high school students include prep for tests like the SAT.
My experience shows that you find prices outside this range, too. It’s a good idea to determine what tutoring your child needs, how much of it, and what qualifications the reading tutor needs to have before you start searching for the most cost-efficient option.
Factors that affect reading tutor cost
- Tutoring type and style
- Tutor location
- Student grade level
- Tutor expertise and experience
- Tutoring frequency and duration
Reading tutor cost factor #1: Tutoring type and style
Reading lesson pricing highly depends on the format that you choose. In-person tutoring and 1:1 tutoring cost significantly more than online and group options, respectively.
It’s worth noting that online 1:1 reading tutoring usually offers the most flexibility, as you are not restricted to tutors near you, and your child can choose convenient times.
Reading tutor rates factor #2: Tutor location
Another factor that has a major impact on the reading tutor cost is the state and city where you and the tutor live. According to data from TutorChuncher, the average hourly rate of tutoring in Akron, OH is $38-$46, while it reaches as high as $55-$65 in Seattle, WA. Online tutoring removes this barrier to affordable prices even for students who reside in cities with high standards of living.
Reading tutor cost factor #3: Student grade level
As I’ve already mentioned before, tutors charge different rates per grade level. Elementary school students pay less per lesson than middle school and high school students. The reason for this is that tutoring a higher grade level demands deeper specializations and expertise.
Reading tutor rates factor #4: Tutor expertise and experience
One more factor that plays a major role in determining how much does a reading tutor cost per hour is their educational attainment, state licensing, additional certifications, unique specialization, and years of teaching experience. Of course, tutors with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, with certificates for online teaching, and with 5+ years of experience in the educational field charge higher rates than less qualified counterparts.
Reading tutor cost factor #5: Tutoring frequency and duration
Although most tutors ask for an hourly rate, in many cases, parents can get a better price if they agree on longer tutoring sessions (above 30 minutes), more frequent lessons (more than once a week), and longer overall duration (beyond one month of tutoring). When agreeing on a rate with a new tutor, don’t hesitate to try to negotiate a more affordable price based on the factors I’ve just mentioned.
Reading tutor cost conclusion: Getting the most value
So, considering the average cost, are reading tutors worth it? It all depends on the price that you pay, the progress that your child makes, and the value that your family gets. With the reading tutor cost per hour ranging from as low as $10 to as high as $80, most parents are able to find a reasonable, effective solution for their child.
If you want your child to boost their reading comprehension and fluency at affordable rates, then the Brighterly reading program is the right option for you. With personalized, 1:1 tutoring by highly qualified experts that starts at $17.40, your child will gain not only reading speed and skills but also a confidence and pride boost.
👇With Brighterly reading tutoring, your 1st-9th grader benefits from:
✅Individualized reading learning plan
✅Personalized reading materials aligned with both the Common Core and their own interests, included in the cost
✅Affordable price starting at $17.40 per class
✅Access to a library of additional learning materials and test questions free of charge
Ready to help your child reach their full potential at school? Get started for free! Book 1st free reading class to get a flavor of what Brighterly reading tutoring provides.