Finding the right one-on-one tutor is not always easy. You're looking for a good personality fit between you (or your child) and your tutor, while trying to suss out their skill level at the same time. Most of all, you have to consider your budget, how often you’ll see your tutor, and how long you’re likely to need their help. Doing your homework (no pun intended!) means finding out what is a reasonable cost for tutoring in your city or town, plus the typical rate for tutoring in the subject area you’re studying.
When you’re looking to find out how much a tutor costs per hour in Canada, consider their years of experience, location and subject they tutor. Tutoring fees for elementary school students typically range from $20 to $75 per hour. For middle schoolers, the rates are slightly higher, at $25 to $80 per hour, while high school students can expect to pay between $30 and $100 per hour for tutoring services. Let’s look at a breakdown of types of tutors, where to find them, how to assess their skills, and average costs by city.
Understanding Tutoring Costs
When individual tutors set their rates, plenty of factors influence their decision. These include where they live, how long they’ve been tutoring, and the subject they teach, but more personal factors also come into play. If the person is a professional tutor, they make their living from their tutoring work. If they tutor part time to supplement their income in retirement or while they study, their final cost may be a little less than the pros.
Also consider that the hourly rate your tutor charges must cover the time your tutor spends preparing for the lessons. They need to spend plenty of time preparing their lesson plans, depending on whether they’ve taught similar students before. Tutors are working hard behind the scenes, too!
Types of Tutors Available
There are many ways to find a tutor who fits your budget, skill/subject and personality. While a quick online search can get you started, don’t forget to tap into your network and ask around. We’ll provide some helpful hints to ensure you find the right person for your needs. Remember, tutoring is an investment in your future success. Whether you’re the parent of a young learner or are an adult looking for a tutor, consider the benefit of learning from a skilled professional, and the satisfaction you’ll get from experienced tutors who love what they do.
Private Tutors
Private tutors work for themselves and aren’t affiliated with a service or school. These tutors are usually experienced instructors, and teach several students each year. However, new tutors can also offer their services privately, and so rates for private tutors vary. You’ll also find a wide variety of skill levels with private tutors. Private tutors aren’t vetted by an agency or service, so you’ll want to ask lots of questions to feel comfortable with their teaching style. It's okay to shop around to find the right fit for you or your child!
Private tutors may travel to your home to work, have a private studio space where they offer lessons, or work from their own homes with their students. Your comfort level with welcoming a tutor into your home (or going to theirs) will also play a role in your choice of tutors.
Online Tutors (TutorLyft 🙂)
Online tutoring platforms are a great way to get access to a number of tutors all in the same place. These platforms offer all the perks of online learning — flexible schedules, the comfort of working from your own home, and no commuting! If you live in a remote area, online tutoring can increase your access to tutors from across the country. With so many options, you can feel confident you’ve found the best available person for your needs.
At TutorLyft, we not only vet all our tutors for their expertise, but also ensure that our students get the tutor who is the right match for them. Tutoring isn’t one-size-fits-all, so finding someone you can trust and who sparks your love of learning really matters. With TutorLyft, you get access to highly qualified instructors in your subject area. You can book sessions with multiple tutors until you feel satisfied that you’ve found a great match.You can also try in-person sessions with a select number of our tutors.
Tutoring Agencies
When considering a tutoring agency, the starting rate is generally $45 per hour. However, this figure can vary significantly based on several determinants, with some agencies charging upwards of $80 per hour. The cost of private, one-on-one tutoring is usually higher compared to group sessions, and face-to-face tutoring tends to be pricier than online tutoring options.
Traditional tutoring agencies offer a roster of tutors with different levels of experience. These agencies will often specialize in a particular type of tutoring, like math or early literacy, or they might offer services for an age group, such as high school students.
Agencies typically charge a commission fee on top of the tutor’s base rate for their services. The fee covers the agency’s time for vetting tutors and the behind-the-scenes work of processing payments and scheduling.
Free Tutoring Options
Online resources have made it possible to learn practically any skill at no cost. There are a number of sites geared towards specific subject matter, or career-related skills such as LinkedIn Learning. There are also general learning sites you can access through your local library or educational institution. You might also try AI tutoring systems to guide your learning. While these types of resources can be a boon for adult learners looking to begin studying a skill, they aren’t always the best option for studying a set curriculum. As always, do your research before you invest time in these platforms. Ask questions and ensure you’re learning what your teacher or college professor intends.
Tutors for Specific Subjects
While some subjects seem to attract a lot of attention (we’re looking at you, mathematics!) others are more niche or require a specialized skill set. Also, parents may be seeking a tutor because their child shows particular promise in a subject area, not because they’re struggling. In this case, tutors for a specific subject are more difficult to find. You’ll want to be sure the tutor matches your child’s enthusiasm for learning. If you’re trying to increase your child’s interest in music, art or languages, for example, you’ll want to be sure the tutor can unlock their passion.
Adding to the complexity, several factors can make mastering math concepts particularly challenging for students. These include psychological barriers such as self-doubt, specific learning disabilities that affect how mathematical tasks are approached, and the inherent complexity of math itself. This highlights the need for a tutor who can address these unique challenges and make learning a positive experience.
If you’re seeking a tutor for yourself as an adult learner, you may be looking to grow your career-related skills. This can be difficult to find as you become more advanced. In this case, try tapping into your professional network — ask friends and colleagues, post on career forums, or on your social media channels.
You can also try reaching out to universities or colleges in your area. If you get connected to students in the department related to your subject, you can find someone with the latest skills and ideas in the field. Student or peer tutors can present the information in a new and engaging way, and their enthusiasm is often infectious!
Factors That Influence Tutoring Costs
How much a tutor costs per hour in Canada varies depending on which province you live in, and which subject you need help with. More experienced tutors usually charge extra for their services. For this reason, you may find that younger learners can get a good tutoring experience with a less qualified teacher. The cost of hiring a tutor can vary widely, typically falling between $30 and $100 per hour. This variation depends on the tutor’s confidence, level of experience, and the complexity of the subject matter.
Location
With a high cost of living, tutors in large cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver will often charge more. According to Indeed, tutors in Canada can command anywhere between $20 and $120 per hour. If you’re on a budget, consider searching for online tutors based in less populous areas.
Level of Expertise
It’s no surprise that a tutor who has been honing their craft for several years will charge more than a new instructor. Tutors who have plenty of happy former students and a proven method are worth the extra fee, particularly if you’re struggling with your subject. Expect to pay between $10 and $25 per hour extra for every five years of experience your tutor has in their field.
Education Level
With the high cost of tuition fees (not to mention the time it takes to complete a degree) tutors with advanced certifications will usually cost more. Expect to pay a premium for tutors who hold degrees in your subject of study, as this counts towards their experience level.
Preparation Time and Materials
As noted, tutors work extra hours outside of the time they spend with students. They prepare lessons and ensure they understand the materials well enough to team them effectively. Depending on the time it takes to prepare for lessons, tutors may charge extra for their behind-the-scenes services.
Supply and Demand
Tutors, like other professionals, charge what the market will bear. For popular subjects, more tutors means that you’ll find a greater number of instructors across a variety of price points. For more niche areas, you can expect to pay more for tutors with these specialty skills. As always, do some research and don’t be afraid to try out a few services before you commit.
Costs Across Different Cities in Canada
Toronto, ON
Tutors in Toronto typically charge between $20 per hour for popular subjects, and $100+ for more advanced or specialized subjects.
Ottawa, ON
In Ottawa, you’ll find tutors charging between $15 and $80 for their hourly services.
Vancouver, BC
On the west coast, tutoring costs $29-$90 per hour.
Halifax, NS
However on the east coast, tutoring is cheaper at $18-$40 per hour.
Edmonton, AB
Tutors in Edmonton typically charge $20-$70 per hour.
Calgary, AB
In Calgary, tutors offer similar rates at $22-$60 per hour.
Montreal, QC
In Montreal, tutoring usually costs between $19 and $65 per hour.
Payment Methods
While many private tutors ask for cash or cheques, you’ll find that online tutoring services offer the convenience and security of paying with your credit card. Many also have flexible payment options so that a limited budget doesn’t hold back your learning.
In Conclusion: Choosing a Tutor
With so much to consider when looking for a tutor for yourself or your child, it’s important to take your time and be thoughtful about what’s important to you. The investment in tutoring can be a life-changing decision, but it’s not always easy to get it right the first time. That’s why services like TutorLyft can be so helpful for learners and parents of learners. You get access to a whole list of expert tutors with different teaching styles and methods, and you can book sessions with a number of our tutors until you find the one who works best for you.
Our service is commitment-free, so you pay-as-you-go. Also, most of our tutors offer free first-time phone consultations online or by phone, so you can ask questions and feel comfortable that they’re a good fit before you begin working together.
At TutorLyft, we believe everyone can find their love of learning if they can find the right tutor to ignite their spark.
How much a tutor costs per hour in Canada varies depending on which province you live in, and which subject you need help with. More experienced tutors usually charge extra for their services. For this reason, you may find that younger learners can get a good tutoring experience with a less qualified teacher. The cost of hiring a tutor can vary widely, typically falling between $30 and $100 per hour. This variation depends on the tutor’s confidence, level of experience, and the complexity of the subject matter.
