Setting Your Tutoring Rate

Learn how to price your tutoring services competitively and fairly.

Last updated this week

Setting the right rate is crucial for attracting students while valuing your expertise. Too high and you'll struggle to book; too low and you undervalue your skills.

Understanding Sentuent Pricing

How it works:

  • You set an hourly rate in dollars
  • Students pay with lesson credits
  • Sentuent takes a 5% platform fee
  • You receive payouts to your bank account

Example:

  • Your rate: $50/hour
  • Student pays: $50 in credits
  • Platform fee: $2.50 (5%)
  • You receive: $47.50

Factors to Consider

Your Qualifications

Higher rates justified by:

  • Advanced degrees - Master's or PhD adds $10-20/hour
  • Teaching certification - Adds credibility and $5-15/hour
  • Years of experience - Each year worth $2-5 more
  • Specialized expertise - Rare subjects command premium
  • Proven results - Track record of student success

Subject Difficulty

Typical rate ranges:

Elementary/Middle School ($25-40/hour)

  • Basic reading, writing, math
  • Study skills, organization
  • Homework help

High School ($35-60/hour)

  • Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calc
  • Biology, Chemistry, Physics
  • English, History, Languages
  • SAT/ACT Prep

Advanced High School ($50-80/hour)

  • AP Calculus, AP Physics
  • AP Computer Science
  • College essay coaching
  • Advanced test prep (1500+ SAT target)

College ($60-100/hour)

  • Upper-level STEM courses
  • Statistical analysis
  • Programming languages
  • Graduate school prep

Professional/Specialized ($80-150+/hour)

  • MCAT, LSAT, GRE prep
  • Professional certifications (CPA, PMP, etc.)
  • Advanced programming/tech skills
  • Business/consulting skills

Market Research

Check competitor rates:

  1. Search Sentuent for your subject
  2. Filter by similar qualifications
  3. Note the rate distribution
  4. Price competitively within range

Example research:

AP Calculus tutors in my area:
- Entry level (0-2 years): $40-55
- Mid-level (3-7 years): $55-75
- Expert (8+ years): $75-100

My profile: 5 years, Master's degree
→ Competitive rate: $60-70/hour

Your Goals

Prioritizing volume:

  • Price on lower end of range
  • Attracts more students quickly
  • Build reviews and reputation
  • Raise rates after establishing yourself

Prioritizing income per hour:

  • Price on higher end of range
  • Fewer students but higher earning
  • Requires stronger credentials to justify
  • Need excellent marketing/listing

Time Investment

Consider non-session time:

  • Prep time - Creating materials, reviewing topics
  • Message responses - Communicating with students
  • Admin - Scheduling, payment, etc.

Example calculation:

Session rate: $50/hour
Avg prep time: 15 minutes per session
Effective rate: $40/hour (when including prep)

To maintain $50 effective rate:
Set session rate: $62.50/hour

Starting Rate Strategies

New Tutor (No Reviews)

Challenge: No social proof, hard to compete

Strategy:

  1. Start 15-20% below market rate
  2. Offer discounted trial sessions
  3. Focus on getting first 10 reviews
  4. Raise rates once you have 5-star reviews

Example:

  • Market rate: $60
  • Your starting rate: $45-50
  • Trial session: $25 (first session only)
  • After 10 reviews: Raise to $55-60

Investment phase: Think of lower initial rates as marketing spend to build reputation.

Experienced Tutor (New to Platform)

Challenge: Credentials but no platform reviews

Strategy:

  1. Start at market rate for your experience
  2. Mention external reviews/testimonials in bio
  3. Offer satisfaction guarantee
  4. Import testimonials where allowed

Premium Positioning

When it works:

  • Exceptional credentials (Ivy League, PhD, etc.)
  • Rare/specialized subjects
  • Proven track record of results
  • Premium branding and marketing

Requirements:

  • Very detailed, professional listing
  • Video introduction
  • Multiple verified credentials
  • Specific, measurable results

Pricing Models

Flat Hourly Rate (Most Common)

How it works:

  • Same rate for all students and sessions
  • Simple and clear

Best for:

  • Standard subjects
  • Most tutors
  • Easy to communicate

Tiered Pricing

How it works: Different rates for different offerings:

  • Trial session: $30
  • Standard session: $60
  • Package (10 sessions): $55/session

Best for:

  • Encouraging commitments
  • Rewarding loyal students
  • Offering flexibility

Subject-Based Pricing

How it works: Different rates for different subjects:

  • Algebra: $50/hour
  • AP Calculus: $70/hour
  • Test Prep: $80/hour

Best for:

  • Multi-subject tutors
  • Variable difficulty levels
  • Reflecting specialized expertise

Session Length Pricing

Most tutors offer multiple session lengths:

Common structures:

  • 30 min: Half your hourly rate (trials, quick questions)
  • 60 min: Full hourly rate (standard)
  • 90 min: 1.5x your hourly rate (intensive sessions)
  • 2 hours: 2x your rate (test prep, projects)

Encourage longer sessions: Consider small discount for 90-min sessions to incentivize depth.

Package Deals

Offer multi-session packages at a discount:

Example package pricing:

Single session: $60
Package of 5: $285 ($57/session, 5% off)
Package of 10: $540 ($54/session, 10% off)
Package of 20: $1,020 ($51/session, 15% off)

Benefits:

  • Guaranteed income
  • Student commitment
  • Relationship building
  • Steady schedule

Set in: Profile > Pricing > Package Deals

Adjusting Your Rates

When to Raise Rates

Good indicators:

  • Booked solid (90%+ of availability)
  • Waitlist of interested students
  • Consistent 5-star reviews
  • Gained additional credentials
  • 6-12 months at current rate

How much to raise:

  • Start with 10-15% increase
  • Grandfather existing students for 1-2 months
  • Announce change in advance

Rate increase announcement:

"Starting next month, my rate for new students will increase from $60 to $70/hour to reflect my growing experience and recent Master's degree. Your current rate of $60 will remain unchanged through the end of the semester. I appreciate your continued trust in my tutoring!"

When to Lower Rates

Warning signs:

  • Few inquiries or bookings
  • Students declining after seeing rate
  • Competitors priced significantly lower
  • You have lots of availability

Before lowering:

  1. Check if issue is listing quality, not price
  2. Ensure availability is updated
  3. Improve profile before cutting rates
  4. Consider offering promotions instead

Seasonal Adjustments

Consider demand fluctuations:

High demand (charge more):

  • Back to school (Aug-Sep)
  • Finals season (Nov-Dec, April-May)
  • Test prep season (Jan-Mar, Aug-Oct)

Low demand (offer specials):

  • Summer (June-July)
  • Winter break (late Dec)
  • Spring break (March)

Special Situations

Group Sessions

Pricing structure:

1 student: $60/hour
2 students: $40/hour per student ($80 total)
3 students: $35/hour per student ($105 total)

Platform fee applies to total, you keep 95%

Last-Minute Bookings

Premium pricing for urgency:

  • Within 24 hours: +25%
  • Within 12 hours: +50%
  • Same day: +100%

Set in: Settings > Pricing > Rush Fees

Pro Bono / Reduced Rate

Some tutors offer:

  • Free session for underprivileged students
  • Reduced rate for long-term students
  • Scholarship programs

Tax benefit: Track pro bono hours for possible deduction

Psychology of Pricing

Price Anchoring

Strategy: Offer a high-priced premium option to make standard rate seem reasonable

Example:

  • Standard session: $60
  • Intensive exam prep: $100
  • Students perceive $60 as the "good deal"

Charm Pricing

$49 vs $50:

  • $49 feels significantly cheaper
  • Works for rates under $100
  • Above $100, round numbers ($100, not $99)

Value Communication

Don't just state price, explain value:

❌ "My rate is $75/hour" ✅ "Sessions are $75/hour, which includes personalized lesson plans, homework review, and unlimited message support between sessions"

Transparency & Communication

Display Your Rate Clearly

In your listing:

  • Prominent display of hourly rate
  • Explanation of what's included
  • Package deals if offered
  • Any additional fees

Discussing Rate with Students

When they ask about pricing:

  1. Confirm your hourly rate
  2. Explain what it includes
  3. Mention packages/discounts if applicable
  4. Emphasize value and results
  5. Offer trial if helpful

Example response: "My standard rate is $65/hour for high school math. That includes customized lesson plans, practice problems, and I'm available via message for quick questions between sessions. I also offer a package of 10 sessions for $620 (saving $30). Many students find that after 8-10 sessions they see significant grade improvement. Would you like to start with a single session to see if we're a good fit?"

Competitive Analysis Template

Use this template monthly:

My subject: [e.g., AP Chemistry]
My qualifications: [e.g., PhD, 8 years exp]
My current rate: $___

Competitor analysis:
- Low range: $__ - $__ (0-2 years exp)
- Mid range: $__ - $__ (3-7 years exp)
- High range: $__ - $__ (8+ years exp)

My position: [Below/At/Above market]

Action: [Raise/Maintain/Lower rate to $___]
Reasoning: [Why?]

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