There are several factors that influence the price of English tutoring in Canada. If you’re looking to understand the cost of English tutoring, and what you need to know before deciding on your budget for tutoring, we’ve got a practical guide to finding out how much English tutors charge per hour. Let’s begin.
Understanding Tutoring Rates
As we discussed in a previous blog, tutoring rates vary widely by location and subject. If you’re looking for an English tutor, you may be interested in help with academic study, such as high school English or university-level literature and language studies. You might also be looking for English as a Second Language tutoring, which requires a tutor with a different skill set. The length of experience teaching and the exact subject matter will influence how a tutor sets their rates, so be sure you understand all the factors before you select a tutor to work with.
Factors Influencing Tutoring Rates
Tutor's Experience
A tutor who has several years of experience teaching English will likely charge more for their services than a tutor who is just starting out. When selecting a tutor, take into consideration what you’re hoping to learn. If you are an adult looking to improve your English skills in a business setting, for example, you may want to work with an experienced tutor who can help you understand common business jargon in English and the words and phrases that sound most professional. If you’re looking to engage a tutor for your elementary school-aged child, on the other hand, you may be happy with hiring a high school student to tutor them.
Tutor's Qualification
As mentioned in the introduction, the type of tutoring you need will impact the rate your tutor charges. Their qualifications impact what they will teach, and how well they teach it. If you’re looking for an ESL tutor, consider hiring a tutor with an education degree, a TEFL certification or similar qualification to be sure they understand the best techniques for teaching English to non-native speakers.
If you’re looking for a tutor for academic English, including university-level language and literature, you will likely want someone who holds an advanced degree in the subject. English tutoring includes a wide variety of skills, such as reading, writing, comprehension, critical thinking, and more, and not all tutors may be equally qualified in these skills. Be clear about your needs before you begin interviewing tutors so that you can feel confident you’re finding the right person for you.
Location, Location, Location
Depending on where you live in Canada, tutoring rates can vary widely. In larger cities, as you might expect, tutors can charge over $100 per hour or per session. If you live in a rural area, you might expect tutors to charge less per hour for their services. Regardless of where you live, finding a tutor online can be the best choice, as you’ll have access to the widest variety of people, with varying specialties and experience levels. You can compare rates and select a tutor who fits your budget.
Length of Session
When you’re setting a monthly budget for tutoring, the length of each session will definitely have an impact. Typically, tutoring sessions will last 50 minutes to an hour. However, if you are hiring a tutor for your child, you may want to keep the sessions to a maximum of half an hour, to ensure they can remain focused for the duration of the session. No matter the age of the student, if you’re on a budget shorter sessions can be a great way to get impactful learning without a steep price tag.
Average Rates for English Tutors
According to Talent.com, the typical rate for English tutoring in Canada is $21.50 per hour. However, as we discuss in our How Much Does a Tutor Cost Per Hour in Canada? blog, tutoring rates vary from $15 to $100 per hour by province or city. When you’re looking for a tutor, be sure to take the time to research thoroughly. Compare a number of profiles and interview as many candidates as you feel you need in order to make an informed decision.
Comparing Online and In-Person Tutoring Rates
Conventional wisdom says that an in-person tutor costs more than online tutoring. While this is still true in some cases, as many more tutors shift to offering online services, the typical online tutoring rates are keeping pace with in-person rates. Keep in mind that many professional online tutors will have subscriptions to software and video meeting platforms that increase their costs, and therefore have to set their hourly rates accordingly. You can now search for both online and in-person tutors at TutorLyft and experience both learning styles.
Additional Costs
When you’re setting your monthly budget for tutoring, don’t forget to factor in the extra costs you might incur. Depending on the type of English tutoring you’re taking, your tutor may ask you to buy books or other working materials to support your learning. If you’re meeting in-person, don’t forget to consider the cost of commuting as part of your overall monthly budget. Also consider how long you’re planning to engage your tutor when deciding on the cost. Most tutors will increase their rates yearly to keep up with inflation and to reflect their growing experience level. If you plan to study with a tutor for a longer time period, you can expect the cost to increase annually.
The Value of English Tutoring
Finally, how much English tutors charge per hour depends on the value of their services in the market. Whether you’re hoping to improve your grades in high school or university English, or become a more fluent English speaker, your choice of a tutor impacts your ability to learn and achieve your goals. When deciding to hire an English tutor, make sure you consider your learning style and personality. Your ability to connect one-to-one with your tutor will impact how well you learn from them. Tutoring in English can open up fantastic new opportunities for growth and your career.
If you are ready to hire a tutor, be sure to check out our video series How to Discover the Perfect Tutor for some helpful hints and points to consider when you’re ready to start interviewing.
