Tutoring Rates Per Hour: Choosing the Right Option
reviewed by Jo-ann Caballes
Updated on February 13, 2025
Tutoring rates per hour depend on a myriad of factors, while you, as a parent, naturally want to achieve clarity to determine your monthly tutoring budget. I understand it, that’s why I want to tell you what is the average cost for tutoring per hour and what factors affect final prices. After my article, you’ll be able to calculate your future study expenses.
Key points
- Private tutor rates vary from $20 to $80 per hour.
- The exact hourly rate a tutor can offer to you varies on their expertise, the amount of resources they provide to you, and course duration.
- You can buy classes in bulk to get a cheaper hourly rate.
- Online studies from home are cheaper than offline sessions both for a student and a tutor due to the absence of commuting.
How much is math tutoring per hour?
According to the TutorCruncher, the average tutoring rate per hour ranges from $20 to $80 per hour. The cost of group classes is usually lower due to the fact that the tutor’s rate splits up between multiple students. Meanwhile, private tutoring fees for test prep can cost up to $100+.
Source: TutorCruncher
If you’re wondering about the average cost of private tutoring per hour for different cases, let’s explore this topic.
What is the rate for a private math tutor per hour?
When answering “How much is a math tutor per hour?”, you need to remember that rates change due to tutors’ qualifications and the platform where they work. Outschool charges from $30/hour and Cuemath offers classes starting at $22.5/hour. Meanwhile, an hourly rate tutor in Brighterly costs from $19.50 per session.
Below, we’ll show the pricing and specifics of each platform in more detail.
Brighterly vs average price for math tutors
Brighterly offers affordable online math tutoring with rates starting at $19.50 per lesson, significantly lower than the $25–$80 per hour charged by private offline tutors. Unlike more traditional classes, Brighterly math tutors on this platform provide interactive and fun lessons. Brighterly math worksheets allow you to teach your child outside the sessions for free, unlocking even more capabilities.
Brighterly cost
- Learning Membership of 1 month: minimum 1 lesson per week for $124/month, maximum 3 lessons per week for $298/month.
- Learning Membership of 3 months: minimum 1 lesson per week for $118/month, maximum with 3 lessons per week for $279/month.
- Learning Membership of 6 months: minimum with 1 lesson per week for $112/month, maximum with 3 lessons per week: $269/month.
- Learning Membership of 12 months: minimum 1 lesson per week for $105/month, maximum with 3 lessons per week: $234/month.
The more lessons you book, the more affordable each lesson becomes. You can examine the desired Brighterly Learning Membership period to find which suits you most.
Brighterly benefits
Brighterly benefit #1: Personalized 1:1 tutoring
Brighterly math program focuses on personalized attention, so their tutors teach students only in 1:1 sessions. These certified tutors tailor lessons to a child’s unique strengths and weaknesses to ensure that students actually grasp concepts.
Brighterly benefit #2: Flexible pricing that aligns with Common Core
Parents can choose from various membership plans based on the child’s learning goals. With lower costs compared to traditional Common Core tutor classes, they can offer a cost-effective math education. So, answering “How much is Brighterly lesson?” it’s safe to say that it depends on the plan, but in any case, it’s affordable.
Brighterly benefit #3: Tracking a child’s progress
It’s easy to track your child’s study progress since the Brighterly math tutoring platform provides you with progress reports even on the shortest plans. The frequency of report issuing depends on the chosen learning plan and amount of lessons per week. Usually, it’s one report per 3-4 lessons. That way, you can compare reports to see gained progress and potential improvement areas for your specific case.
Outschool tutoring hourly rate vs average price for math tutors
The average price range for academic, online tutoring for kids in Outschool is $60-100 per hour. The minimum hourly rate tutors here cost $30. In contrast, the average private tutoring rates per hour on other platforms vary from $25–$80 per hour, making Outschool a service on the higher end.
Outschool benefits
- Certified and experienced educators
- Access to specialized math topics
- Group and pre-recorded lessons
Outschool benefit #1: Certified and experienced educators
Outschool tutors undergo a vetting process, so you can be sure that all their tutors are certified to solve the chosen study issue. Their deep expertise helps students easily grasp even the most complex concepts.
Outschool benefit #2: Access to specialized math topics
Another benefit of Outschool is that it provides various classes, such as writing, coding, etc. Here, their tutors show the importance of math and general literacy and provide interesting tasks like budgeting, data analysis, and CV writing.
Outschool benefit #3: Group and pre-recorded lessons
Group lessons on Outschool allow parents to save money while still giving their children access to math education. If the cost is not affordable to you, you can just book a group session or listen to pre-recorded classes. How much do private math tutors charge here? For instance, their Minecraft math group class costs $15/hour per student.
Cuemath math tutor rates per hour vs average price for math tutors
Cuemath tutor rates per hour start from $22.5 per hour, making it a pretty affordable platform. Answering “How much is the average tutor per hour on Cuemath?”, it’s safe to say that it’s an affordable price and great tutors.
Cuemath benefits
Cuemath benefit #1: Gamified learning experience
One of the main benefits of Cuemath is that they have visual learning tools and gamified exercises to make math more engaging. Students actively participate in actual problem-solving, which keeps them motivated in the long run.
Cuemath benefit #2: Online classes
You don’t need to spend hours commuting, as Cuemath is available online. This also affects how much does a math tutor cost per hour, making such services a much better option than offline classes.
Cuemath benefit #3: Summer math course
Unfortunately, many kids forget study material during the long breaks, so Cuemath tutors decided to fight it with their summer break math course. That way, you can be sure that your child won’t forget what they’ve learned throughout the year.
Math private tutor rates
- Average tutor cost per hour for elementary school students
- Average tutor cost per hour for middle school students
- Average tutor cost per hour for high school students
Average tutor cost per hour for elementary school students
According to my research based on the most popular tutoring platforms presented in this article, the average tuition for the youngest students varies from $30 to $80 per hour. Private tutoring rates for elementary students may change due to the session format, tutor’s qualification, and study goals. Specialized classes may lead to higher tutoring rates per hour for elementary schoolers.
What is the average cost of tutoring per hour for middle school students?
TutorCruncher statistics show that the average cost of tutoring for middle school students typically ranges from $25 to $88 per hour. Tutoring rates per hour at middle school vary based on the qualification, the amount of booked lessons, and whether the sessions are in-person or online. Keep in mind that private tutoring rates per hour are usually more expensive than group sessions.
How much does a tutor cost per hour for high school students?
According to the TutorCruncher, tutoring rates per hour in high school vary from $30 to $100. These students study complex topics, so they need experienced tutors, which affects the final price. Online classes tend to be cheaper since tutors can be living in any city in the United States.
11 factors that affect math tutor hourly rate
- Expertise
- Qualifications
- Location
- Tutoring formats
- Frequency and duration
- Materials and resources
- Demand and availability
- Researching local market rates
- Consideration of your child’s needs
- Negotiating and communicating
- Trial sessions
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #1: Expertise
The math tutor’s hourly rate is mainly based on the tutor’s expertise. Generally speaking, the more experienced the tutor, the higher their hourly rate for tutoring math. If you have to choose between two similar tutors, the person with more years and deeper knowledge in a particular niche usually has a higher rate.
Another aspect that can affect tutor charges per hour is certifications and diplomas. As these tutors invested a lot of time, money, and effort in their education, the average cost of tutoring per hour would definitely be higher.
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #2: Qualifications
Qualifications refer to the tutor’s education, teaching experience, certifications, and area of expertise. Let’s say you need an educator for your child with ADHD. So, you’ll look for tutors for neurodiverse kids, which impacts the hourly tutoring rate.
Advanced degrees (Master’s or Ph. D.), teaching certifications, university teaching experience, knowledge of niche math areas, and unconventional teaching styles have a direct impact on tutoring rates per hour.
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #3: Location
The average cost of tutoring per hour will vary depending on the regional disparity. For example, tutors may be more expensive in cities with high living costs than in rural areas. Also, some states tend to have higher-than-average tutoring costs, so it’s important to check normal tutoring rates specifically for your region.
Another thing to consider is travel expenses. You have to allocate enough budget to cover these costs for tutors. Online tutoring can significantly reduce these expenses since the sessions take place in virtual rooms. So, if you want to save some money on transport costs, consider hiring a tutor via online tutoring platforms like Brighterly.
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #4: Tutoring formats
Tutoring formats are another factor that affects the cost of tutoring per hour. Depending on your child’s specific educational needs, you can choose between 4 common formats, which I listed below.
In-person tutoring |
Online tutoring |
Group tutoring |
Learning center tutoring |
In this format, the tutor comes to the student’s house or has them over at their place. Here, the tutor is physically present near the student. It affects the price since tutors take the average rate for a chosen location. |
If you still want the personalized approach but don’t want to be limited by geography, online tutoring is your choice. The tutor cost per hour doesn’t depend on your current location. |
It’s a small group of 3-5 students and one tutor. This approach provides a lower tutoring charge per hour due to the fact that the rate is fairly split between multiple students. | These classes are similar to the school classes. However, instead of grouping based only on age, they group students based on their current math skill and targets. |
No matter which format and tutor rates per hour you choose, the key is finding the right fit for your child’s learning style and academic goals. It’s better to always choose the option that can tailor the study process to the child’s needs.
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #5: Frequency and duration
The frequency and duration of the study program are other influential factors. Some tutors prefer to have only long-term students, while others are not opposed to short-term agreements.
A single one-hour session might cost the full hourly rate, while bulk packages often come with a lower cost of a tutor per hour.
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #6: Materials and resources
When answering “How much is tutoring per hour?”, you should keep in mind that additional materials, tools, and resources also play their role. Some tutors provide free resources, while others may charge for additional educational software, increasing the math tutor price per hour.
To ensure transparency, always discuss material costs upfront. Private math tutor rates may change if you order lessons in a bundle.
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #7: Demand and availability
Naturally, high-demand tutors have a higher cost of tutoring per hour due to their high demand and limited availability. Tutors with high demand, especially those specializing in advanced math or test prep (like SAT, ACT, or AP Calculus), tend to charge higher rates due to their expertise and limited availability.
Tutors in high-demand seasons, such as back-to-school months or exam periods, may also increase math tutoring cost per hour. To secure the best tutor at an affordable rate, consider booking sessions in advance or opting for off-peak hours.
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #8: Researching local market rates
Researching local market rates is essential, as you’ll understand the average cost of tutoring per hour. For example, knowing the typical hourly rate tutor cost in your area will help you know when a tutor overcharges and vice versa. Things like credentials, availability, and location may all affect tutoring rates.
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #9: Considering your child’s needs
Tailoring lessons to accommodate a child’s learning style and emotional requirements may affect the cost of tutoring per hour. Your child’s specific needs can also influence the overall rate.
If you’re expecting a similar rate to that of other kids, you might be disappointed if a tutor calculates a slightly different rate for you. If you were a tutor, you’d ask yourself, “How much should I charge for 1 hour of tutoring?”, keeping in mind that some approaches require more effort. Here are a couple of factors that can affect tutoring price per hour:
- Learning style (if you need a tutor that sticks with a specific approach, it may increase the price).
- Academic level (teaching simple math is generally cheaper than teaching intricate algebra concepts).
- Special needs (e.g., the cost of private tutor for homeschooling kids with special needs may be higher than for the average tutor.)
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #10: Negotiating and communicating
If you found a potentially perfect tutor for your kid, but they are a little out of your price range, it’s okay to negotiate the cost of tutoring per hour.
However, you shouldn’t expect a 50% reduction, but a 5-10% off is entirely acceptable. So, it’s OK to ask. If you use tutoring platforms, you’ll get lower math tutor cost per hour if you purchase sessions in a bundle.
Cost of tutoring per hour – Factor #11: Trial sessions
Many platforms offer trials, so you can check whether their cost of tutoring per hour matches your expectations. Brighterly provides the first free lesson to evaluate student’s skills and needs. During this time, you can ask tutors any questions.
Understanding private tutoring rates per hour
Choosing the right math tutor depends on your budget, your child’s learning needs, and your desired personalization level. If you are looking for a platform with group and private lessons, take a closer look at Outschool. If you are more of a fan of pre-made curriculums, consider Cuemath.
Brighterly math tutoring platform suits those who want to get a personalized study plan that is aligned with Common Core. It offers engaging, one-on-one lessons starting at $19.50 per hour, making it a great choice. Start today and invest in your child’s success!