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How much does online tutoring really pay?
US tutors earn a median $20.84 an hour. On platforms the cut varies a lot: Wyzant takes 25%, and Preply takes 18% to 33% after keeping each new student’s trial lesson.
You can set your own rate on some platforms, or take a fixed rate on others. A marketplace brings students and takes a cut, so work out what you keep.
What do you need for online tutoring?
- A subject you know wellMany platforms ask for proof.
- A good connection and a quiet roomYou are on camera.
- Time for unpaid prepOnly teaching hours are paid.
What online tutoring really pays
| Item | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| US median, tutors | $20.84 an hour | 2025 figure, or $43,350 a year, for employed staff |
| Job outlook | Little or no change | Projected 2025 to 2035 |
| Wyzant | Takes 25% | You keep 75%, says Wyzant’s help page |
| Preply | Takes 33% falling to 18% | Reported by 2 guides. The cut falls as you teach more hours |
| Cambly | $10.20 an hour | $0.17 a minute, for adult lessons, reported from its own page |
What it adds up to
| Hours a week | Cambly at $10.20 an hour | Wyzant at a $40 rate you set, after its 25% |
|---|---|---|
| 5 hours a week | $51 | $150 |
| 10 hours a week | $102 | $300 |
| 20 hours a week | $204 | $600 |
$40 is only an example: on Wyzant you set your own rate. Our sums on Cambly’s and Wyzant’s numbers above: an example, not a promise.
When does online tutoring pay you?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Paid out at | Set by your client or platform |
| First money | Set by your client or platform |
What is the catch with online tutoring?
- Preply’s rates here come from independent guides, because Preply’s page could not be read when we checked.
- On Cambly, waiting time is unpaid: you are paid for active minutes.
- Two guides report that Preply keeps all of each new student’s trial lesson, so that lesson earns you nothing.
How to start with online tutoring
- Choose your subjectPick what you know best.
- Compare the cutUse your own price to see what you keep.
- Start with one platformReviews build faster in one place.
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Sources
- O*NET (US Department of Labor): Tutors, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Wyzant Help: fee structure for tutors, checked 5 Nov 2026
- SmartCookie: tutor platform commissions 2026, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Teast: Preply vs italki vs Cambly, checked 5 Nov 2026
- TEFL Institute: Cambly review 2026, checked 5 Nov 2026