So, how much do yoga teachers make? The simple answer is: it changes a lot. The average yoga teacher income or yoga instructor salary can be anywhere from around \$20 to over \$100 per hour, sometimes even more. Some teachers earn a little money on the side, while a few dedicated people build a full-time job that pays well. But many factors change how much a yoga teacher gets paid. It’s not a single fixed amount.
Image Source: www.ptpioneer.com
What Shapes Yoga Teacher Pay?
Many things make a difference in how much a yoga teacher earns. It’s not just about how well you teach poses.
Where You Teach Matters
The place you teach at plays a big role.
- Yoga Studios: These are common places to teach. Pay can differ a lot between studios. Some pay a set rate per class, maybe \$25-\$50 per class. Others might pay based on how many students come to your class.
- Gyms and Health Clubs: Big gyms often pay an hourly rate or a set fee per class. This can be a steady source of income, but the pay might be lower than at a high-end yoga studio, maybe \$20-\$40 per class.
- Community Centers/Schools: Pay here can be lower, often on an hourly basis, but it can be rewarding work.
- Private Clients: Teaching yoga one-on-one pays the most per hour. Freelance yoga teacher rates for private lessons can range from \$50 to \$150 or even more per hour, depending on your skill and the client.
- Corporate Settings: Teaching at companies can pay well, often a set fee for a series of classes. This can be \$75-\$200+ per class.
How Much Experience You Have
Just like many jobs, more experience usually means more pay.
- New Teachers: When you first start, you might get paid less per class. You need to build your name and get teaching hours.
- Experienced Teachers: With several years of teaching, good reviews, and a group of followers, you can often ask for higher rates or get hired by better-paying places.
What Kind of Yoga You Teach
Some types of yoga or specialized classes can pay more.
- Basic Classes: Teaching beginner or general flow classes might have standard rates.
- Specialized Classes: Teaching hot yoga, prenatal yoga, kids’ yoga, therapeutic yoga, or advanced workshops can sometimes bring in more money per student or allow for higher overall rates.
- Workshops and Retreats: Leading special events or trips can earn a lot more than a single class, but they take much more planning and marketing.
Your Location
Where you live and teach makes a big difference in your pay.
- Big Cities: Cities with a higher cost of living usually have higher yoga teacher rates. A teacher in New York City or Los Angeles will likely earn more per class than a teacher in a small town.
- Smaller Towns: Pay might be lower, but the cost of living is also often lower.
- Rich Areas: Teaching in wealthier neighborhoods often means clients can pay more for classes and private sessions.
Getting More Training
After your first yoga teacher training, getting more training (like a 300-hour course, or special training in areas like injury recovery or specific styles) can help you earn more. It shows you have deeper knowledge and skills. This can help you teach more specialized classes or attract private clients.
How Many Students You Have
Some places, especially studios, might pay teachers more if they bring in more students. This is less common now than paying a set rate, but your popularity can definitely help you get more teaching opportunities and build your income.
Different Ways Yoga Teachers Earn
Yoga teachers use many ways to make money, not just teaching group classes. To build a full-time yoga teacher salary, most teachers use a mix of these options.
Teaching in Studios
This is a common path. You get scheduled to teach classes at a studio. The studio handles the space, marketing (some of it), and taking payments from students. You just show up and teach.
- Pros: Steady schedule (once you get classes), no need to find your own space, studio does business tasks.
- Cons: Pay per class might be set and not very high, less control over class type or schedule, competition for good time slots.
Teaching at Gyms or Health Clubs
Gyms often have yoga classes as part of their fitness offerings.
- Pros: Can be a steady source of hours, sometimes benefits if you’re a staff member, large number of potential students.
- Cons: Pay can be lower than studios, students might be less dedicated yogis and more general fitness people, class styles might be limited by the gym’s program.
Private Lessons
Teaching yoga one-on-one or to small private groups.
- Pros: Highest pay per hour, tailored to the student’s needs, builds strong relationships.
- Cons: Need to find your own clients, requires more planning for individual needs, schedule can be unpredictable. This is key for freelance yoga teacher rates.
Teaching Online
Reaching students through the internet. This became very popular recently. (More on this below).
- Pros: Can reach people anywhere, low overhead costs (no studio rent), flexible schedule, potential for passive income (selling recorded classes).
- Cons: Need good tech skills and equipment, need to market yourself online, harder to give hands-on help. This is a growing area for online yoga teacher income.
Workshops and Retreats
Creating and leading special, longer events. A workshop might be a few hours on a specific topic (like arm balances or hip openers). A retreat might be a weekend or a week away, combining yoga, food, and maybe other activities.
- Pros: Can bring in a good amount of money for the time spent leading the event, deep connection with students.
- Cons: Requires a lot of planning, marketing, managing bookings, and risk (what if not enough people sign up?).
Corporate Yoga
Teaching yoga classes at company offices for employees.
- Pros: Can pay well per class, often during work hours, potentially steady weekly or monthly classes.
- Cons: Need to find companies willing to pay, might require adapting classes to office settings and clothing.
Figuring Out Hourly Rates
It’s tough to give a single yoga teacher hourly rate because pay is often per class, not strictly per hour. But we can estimate it based on typical class lengths (often 60-90 minutes).
Standard Studio Rates
If a studio pays \$40 for a 60-minute class, that’s an hourly rate of \$40. If they pay \$50 for a 75-minute class, that’s about \$40 per hour (\$50 / 75 minutes * 60 minutes).
- Rates often range from \$25 to \$60 per group class.
- This means the effective hourly rate is roughly in that range, minus travel time and prep time.
Private Session Rates
Private lessons are where the freelance yoga teacher rates shine highest per hour.
- Rates usually start at \$50 per hour and can go up to \$150, \$200, or even more for very experienced or famous teachers, or in high-cost areas.
- These rates reflect the teacher’s skill, the personalized attention the student gets, and the convenience of one-on-one teaching.
- The teacher keeps the full amount (before taxes and expenses), unlike teaching at a studio which takes a cut.
Making a Full-Time Living
Can you make a full-time yoga teacher salary? Yes, some people do. But it’s often not from just teaching 20 group classes a week at \$40 a class (\$800/week or roughly \$41,000/year before taxes and expenses). That’s okay, but maybe not a full living wage everywhere.
The Reality of Full-Time Pay
To earn a full-time income, teachers often need to:
- Teach many classes per week (maybe 15-25 classes).
- Teach at different locations (studios, gyms, corporate).
- Offer private sessions.
- Run workshops or retreats.
- Teach online.
- Sometimes, work other jobs related to wellness or totally different fields.
A full-time income might mean making \$35,000 to \$70,000 or more per year. It really depends on the mix of teaching types and the factors mentioned earlier (location, experience, etc.). Some top teachers or studio owners earn much more, but that takes significant business skill and effort.
Combining Different Income Sources
Think of a full-time yoga teacher’s income like a puzzle with many pieces:
- Piece 1: Group classes at Studio A
- Piece 2: Group classes at Gym B
- Piece 3: Private clients C, D, E
- Piece 4: Monthly online subscription service
- Piece 5: One workshop every few months
- Piece 6: A corporate class once a week
Adding up all these pieces is how many teachers create a stable, full-time income.
Earning Money Online
The internet has opened new ways for yoga teachers to reach students and earn money. This is the realm of online yoga teacher income.
Teaching Live Classes
Using video calls (like Zoom), teachers can offer live classes.
- How it works: Schedule a class, students sign up and pay online, teacher sends a link, everyone joins the video call at the class time.
- Pay: Teachers set their own price per class or offer class passes. Prices might be a little lower than in-person classes, but the teacher keeps more of the money since there’s no studio fee.
Selling Recorded Content
Creating videos that students can buy or subscribe to.
- How it works: Film yoga classes or tutorials, host them on your own website, a platform (like YouTube with paid options, or specialized yoga platforms), or offer them as downloads.
- Pay: This can be a one-time purchase or a recurring subscription (passive income). Once the video is made, it can keep earning money.
Building an Online Community
Creating a membership site or group where students pay a regular fee for access to classes, content, and community.
- How it works: Use platforms like Patreon, Teachable, or build it on your own website. Offer live classes, recorded videos, Q&A sessions, forums, etc.
- Pay: Members pay a monthly or yearly fee. This can build a very stable, recurring income stream over time as your community grows.
Making money online requires marketing skills. You need to find students who want to take your classes online. This often involves social media, email lists, and building your own website.
Getting Started: The Cost
Before you even start earning, you need to become a certified yoga teacher. This involves cost of yoga teacher training.
How Much Training Costs
Yoga teacher training programs vary in price.
- Basic 200-hour Training: This is the standard entry-level certification recognized by Yoga Alliance (a common registry). The cost can range greatly depending on the location, the teachers, and if it’s a full-time immersion or spread out over weekends.
- Costs typically range from \$2,000 to \$5,000. Some very高级 programs can cost more.
- This usually includes tuition, but might not include books, travel, or food if the training is away from home.
- Advanced 300-hour or 500-hour Training: For teachers wanting more in-depth knowledge. These also vary widely in price.
- Costs can range from \$3,000 to \$6,000 or more.
- Other Costs:
- Continuing education workshops: \$50 – \$500+ each.
- Insurance (often required by studios): \$100 – \$200 per year.
- Yoga Alliance registration (optional): \$100 – \$150 per year.
- Buying props, mats, books.
Is Training Worth It?
Becoming a yoga teacher requires a significant investment of time and money upfront. It’s important to think about this cost compared to the potential earnings. For many, the value is not just the money, but the personal growth and the joy of sharing yoga. But financially, it can take time to earn back the cost of training, especially if you only teach a few classes a week.
What the Future Looks Like
Let’s look at the yoga teacher job outlook. Is it a growing field? Are there jobs?
Is Yoga Still Popular?
Yes, yoga remains very popular around the world. Millions of people practice yoga for health, stress relief, and fitness. The number of people doing yoga has grown over the years. This suggests there is a continued need for qualified teachers.
Where the Jobs Are
The way people access yoga is changing.
- Studios: While studios are still important, competition can be high for teaching spots, especially prime evening or weekend times.
- Online: The shift to online classes and content is likely here to stay, creating opportunities for teachers comfortable with technology.
- Specialized Settings: Growth areas include yoga in healthcare (hospitals, therapy settings), schools, workplaces (corporate yoga), and for specific groups (seniors, people with injuries, athletes).
The job outlook is positive in that the demand for yoga is high. However, it’s also competitive. Success often depends on a teacher’s ability to market themselves, find their niche, and build a loyal student base. Many yoga teachers work part-time or use it as a side income rather than a primary job.
Growing Your Yoga Career
The yoga teacher career path is not always a straight line up in terms of salary by just teaching more basic classes. It often involves branching out and developing in different ways.
Teaching More Advanced Classes
As you gain experience and training, you can teach more challenging poses, different styles, or advanced levels. This can make you a more valuable teacher and potentially lead to higher-paying opportunities like workshops or teacher training programs.
Becoming a Trainer of Teachers
Experienced teachers with deep knowledge can train the next generation of yoga teachers. Leading 200-hour or 300-hour teacher training programs can be very rewarding and financially significant. This requires extensive experience (usually 500 E-RYT status with Yoga Alliance and lots of teaching hours) and the ability to structure and lead a long program.
Opening Your Own Place
Some teachers dream of opening their own yoga studio.
- Pros: Full control over schedule, style, and business decisions; potential for higher income if the business is successful.
- Cons: Very high costs (rent, staff, insurance, marketing); huge amount of work running a business; financial risk. Many studios struggle to be profitable.
Writing or Creating Content
Teachers can share their knowledge through writing books, creating online courses (beyond just teaching classes), starting a podcast, or developing other products. This can build your brand and create additional income streams.
Summing Up Yoga Teacher Pay
The yoga instructor salary is not standard. It’s a mix of hourly rates, class fees, private session income, and earnings from workshops, online content, and other projects. The average yoga teacher income varies greatly based on:
- Location
- Experience and Training
- Type of Yoga Taught
- Where Teaching Takes Place (Studio, Gym, Private, Online, Corporate)
- Ability to Find and Keep Students
- Business and Marketing Skills (especially for freelance and online)
Making a full-time yoga teacher salary often requires combining multiple income sources and treating it like a business. The cost of yoga teacher training is a big upfront investment. The yoga teacher job outlook is good in terms of demand, but it’s a competitive field where finding your niche and building your reputation are key to earning a good income along the yoga teacher career path.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a brand new yoga teacher make?
New teachers often start at the lower end of the pay scale, maybe \$25-\$40 per group class. Finding teaching spots can also take time at the beginning. Private lessons might start around \$40-\$60 per hour.
Can yoga teaching be a full-time job?
Yes, it can be a full-time job, but it usually means working many hours, teaching at different places, and having multiple ways of earning money (group classes, private, online, workshops). It’s less common to earn a full-time income from just teaching a few classes at one studio.
What is a good hourly rate for a yoga teacher?
For a group class (often 60-75 min), \$40-\$60 is a common range in many areas. For private lessons, \$75-\$100+ is often considered a good rate, but this varies a lot by location and experience.
Is it hard to find yoga teaching jobs?
Finding some teaching opportunities is usually possible, especially if you are open to different locations (studios, gyms, community centers). Getting prime time slots at popular studios or building a large base of high-paying private clients can be competitive and takes time and effort. Online teaching offers more flexibility but requires strong self-marketing.
How does location affect yoga teacher pay?
Location has a big impact. Teachers in large cities with high costs of living typically earn more per class or session than teachers in smaller towns. The general wealth of the area also affects what people can pay for yoga classes and private sessions.
Does having more yoga training increase pay?
Yes, getting more training (like a 300-hour certification or specialized training) can increase your earning potential. It allows you to teach more types of classes, attract specific clients (e.g., prenatal, therapeutic), and can lead to opportunities like teaching workshops or assisting with teacher training, which often pay more.
How much do online yoga teachers make?
Online income varies hugely. Some teachers make very little, while others build successful businesses earning significant income through subscriptions, selling content, and online classes. It depends heavily on their online presence, marketing skills, and the size of their online following.
Is yoga teacher training expensive?
Yes, the initial 200-hour training is a notable expense, typically costing between \$2,000 and \$5,000. This is an investment that you need to consider when thinking about becoming a yoga teacher and how long it might take to earn that money back.