How much do yoga instructors make per class? Yoga class pay rates vary greatly, often ranging from $15 to $75 per class, or sometimes an hourly rate. Average yoga teacher pay depends on many things like experience, location, and where they teach. Yoga teacher earnings per class are not fixed; they change based on what the teacher brings to the studio or client. Beginner yoga instructor pay is usually lower than experienced yoga instructor salary.
Yoga teaching is a job many people love. It lets you share well-being and help others. But many wonder about the money side. How much can you really make doing this? It is not a simple answer. Pay changes a lot. It depends on where you teach and how long you have been teaching. Let’s look at the different ways yoga teachers get paid.
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Figuring Out Yoga Pay Rates
Yoga instructors get paid in many ways. Some get a fixed amount per class. Others get an hourly rate. Some get a small base pay plus money for each student. Private lessons pay differently too.
Pay Per Class Model
This is a common way studios pay. You get a set fee for each class you teach.
- New Teachers: Might get $15 to $25 per class.
- Some Experience: Could get $25 to $40 per class.
- Experienced Teachers: Can earn $40 to $75 or more per class.
This per-class rate might change based on how many students show up. Some studios pay a little more per student over a certain number.
Hourly Rate Model
Gyms and health clubs often pay an hourly rate. This is common because instructors might teach different kinds of fitness classes, not just yoga.
- Typical Hourly Rate: $20 to $50 per hour is common.
This rate often covers the time spent teaching. It might not include time for setup or talking to students before or after.
Base Pay Plus Per Student
Some places pay a smaller fixed rate per class, like $15 or $20. Then, they add a few dollars for each student who attends that class. This way, popular teachers earn more.
- Example: $20 base pay + $2 per student. If 10 students come, you get $20 + (10 * $2) = $40. If 20 students come, you get $20 + (20 * $2) = $60.
This model makes sense for studios. They share the risk and reward with the teacher.
Private Yoga Lesson Rates
Teaching yoga one-on-one pays much more per hour than group classes. You can set your own rates for private lessons.
- Common Range: $50 to $150 per hour. Some top teachers in big cities charge $200 or more.
Private lessons need more effort to find clients. They also need you to travel or have a dedicated space. But the yoga class pay rate per hour is higher.
Online Yoga Pay
Teaching yoga online grew a lot recently. You can teach live classes or sell recorded videos.
- Live Online Classes: Pay can be similar to in-person studio rates, maybe $20 to $50 per class. Or you might get a share of the class fee.
- Online Platforms: Some platforms pay a small amount per view or based on subscriptions. This pay can be very low per class taught ($1-$10), but you might teach many people at once or earn money from videos you made earlier.
Factors Affecting Yoga Instructor Salary
Many things change how much a yoga teacher makes. It is not just about teaching a class. These factors affect your average yoga teacher pay a lot.
Experience Level
This is a big one. Beginner yoga instructor pay is much less than an experienced yoga instructor salary.
- Beginners: Just finished training. May have little to no teaching hours. Studios might pay them less to start. They need to build confidence and student numbers.
- Mid-Level: Have taught for a few years. Have regular students. Can handle different class types. Their yoga instructor hourly rate goes up.
- Experienced/Senior: Taught for many years. May have special training. Have a strong following. Can lead workshops or teacher trainings. They command a higher yoga class pay rate.
Experience is not just years. It is also about your skills, your knowledge, and how you connect with students.
Location, Location, Location
Where you teach matters a lot.
- Big Cities vs. Small Towns: Pay is usually higher in big cities like New York or Los Angeles. The cost of living is higher there. Studios can charge more per class. Small towns might pay less per class.
- Rich Areas vs. Other Areas: Studios in wealthier neighborhoods can charge higher class prices. This means they can often pay their teachers more too.
- Competition: If there are many yoga studios and teachers, it can drive pay rates down. If there are few, teachers might earn more.
Your location strongly impacts the standard yoga instructor salary range you can expect.
Type of Venue
Where you teach makes a difference in the yoga studio pay rates.
- Yoga Studios: Pay can vary a lot. Small neighborhood studios might pay less than large, well-known ones. Pay is often per class or a base plus student model.
- Gyms and Health Clubs: Often pay an hourly wage. The pay might be less exciting than a popular studio class, but it can be steady.
- Community Centers/Non-Profits: Pay is often lower, sometimes volunteer-based or a low fixed rate. But it can be rewarding and give you experience.
- Corporate Gigs: Teaching yoga at companies. This can pay well, often an hourly rate or a good per-class fee. Companies might pay $75 to $150 per hour or class.
- Private Clients: Teaching individuals. As mentioned, private yoga lesson rates are typically high per hour.
Each type of place has its own pay structure and typical rates.
Type of Yoga Class
The style of yoga can sometimes affect pay.
- Hot Yoga/Specialty Classes: Classes that need special training (like Aerial Yoga or specific therapy styles) might pay a little more.
- Basic/Beginner Classes: Still important, but might be standard pay rates.
- Workshops/Events: Leading a special event, like a workshop on inversions or mindfulness, pays differently. You might get a percentage of the revenue or a flat fee. This can earn more than a regular class.
Teacher Training and Certifications
More training usually means more skill and knowledge.
- RYT 200: This is the basic level of certification (200 hours). Most studios require at least this.
- RYT 300/500: More advanced training (300 or 500 hours total). Shows deeper knowledge. Can lead to teaching more advanced classes or workshops. Can help you get a higher yoga instructor salary.
- Special Certifications: Kids yoga, prenatal yoga, yoga therapy, specific styles (like Ashtanga, Iyengar). These can make you more valuable and increase your earning potential.
While not always meaning more per regular class immediately, more training helps you teach more types of classes, get private clients, and build your reputation. This boosts your overall average yoga teacher pay.
How Many Students You Bring In
Some studios use a pay model where student numbers matter. Even without that, being a popular teacher helps.
- Full Classes: If your classes are always full, studios love that. It makes you a valuable asset. This gives you power to ask for more money or get better teaching slots.
- Building Community: Teachers who build a loyal group of students are highly valued. Students come for them.
Your Business Skills
Teaching yoga is also about being a bit of a business person, even if you only work for studios.
- Negotiation: Are you comfortable asking for fair pay? Knowing your worth and discussing rates is important.
- Marketing Yourself: Are you good at letting people know about your classes? Do you use social media? Do you have an email list? Promoting yourself helps fill your classes.
- Diversification: Do you only teach studio classes? Or do you also do private lessons, workshops, online classes, retreats? Having different ways to earn money makes your overall yoga instructor salary more stable and higher.
The Studio’s Financial Health
How well the studio is doing financially affects what they can pay.
- New/Struggling Studios: May not be able to pay high rates.
- Successful Studios: Can often pay more competitive rates and offer better terms.
Sometimes, teachers might work for less at a new studio they believe in, hoping pay will increase later.
Comparing Beginner vs. Experienced Pay
It’s helpful to see the difference between beginner yoga instructor pay and experienced yoga instructor salary.
Beginner Yoga Teachers
- Pay Per Class: Often start at the lower end, maybe $15 to $25 per class.
- Hourly Rate: If at a gym, perhaps $20 to $30 per hour.
- Types of Classes: Might start with less busy times or basic classes.
- Finding Work: Can be harder to get hired without experience. Might need to substitute classes first.
- Focus: Gaining experience, getting comfortable teaching, learning classroom management.
Beginners are building their teaching hours and finding their voice. The focus is often more on learning and less on high earnings right away.
Experienced Yoga Teachers
- Pay Per Class: Can earn $40 to $75+ per class at studios.
- Hourly Rate: If doing corporate or special events, might be $75 to $150+ per hour.
- Private Lessons: High private yoga lesson rates ($75-$150+ per hour).
- Types of Classes: Can teach popular classes at peak times, advanced classes, workshops, teacher trainings.
- Finding Work: Often sought after by studios. May have a waiting list for private clients.
- Focus: Deepening teaching, mentoring other teachers, developing special programs, running retreats.
Experienced teachers have refined their skills and built a reputation. Their average yoga teacher pay is significantly higher due to this.
Yoga Instructor Salary vs. Per Class Pay
Is being a yoga instructor a salary job? Usually, no. Most yoga teachers are paid per class or per hour. They are often seen as independent contractors.
- Independent Contractor: You are your own boss. Studios pay you for a service (teaching a class). They don’t take out taxes like a regular job. You have to handle your own taxes. You usually don’t get benefits like health insurance or paid time off.
- Employee: This is less common in the yoga world, especially for per-class teachers. If you are an employee, the studio handles taxes and might offer benefits. This is more likely if you have an administrative role or teach many hours.
So, while people talk about yoga instructor salary, it’s more accurate to think about your yoga instructor hourly rate or your yoga class pay rate and how many classes you teach to estimate your total earnings.
Ways Yoga Teachers Earn More
Making a good living as a yoga teacher often means doing more than just teaching group classes at a studio.
Teach More Classes
This is simple. The more classes you teach, the more you earn per week or month. But there’s a limit. You don’t want to burn out. Also, finding many classes at good times can be hard.
Teach Private Lessons
This significantly increases your yoga teacher earnings per class hour. Private clients pay more because they get personal attention. Building a roster of private clients takes effort but can be very rewarding financially.
Lead Workshops and Events
Workshops are longer sessions focused on a specific topic (like arm balances, meditation, yoga for back pain). You can charge a higher fee per person. You might split the money with the studio or keep most of it if you rent a space. This can be a good boost to your income.
Run Retreats
Yoga retreats are longer events, often a weekend or a week, at a special location. They combine yoga with relaxation, healthy food, and community. Running a retreat requires a lot of planning, but the income per participant can be high. This can significantly add to your overall yoga instructor salary for the year.
Teach Online
Creating online content, whether live classes, on-demand videos, or courses, allows you to reach more people. You can sell access to individual classes or offer subscriptions. While competitive, this can create a steady stream of income over time from content you create once.
Sell Products
Some teachers create or sell yoga-related products:
* Yoga mats or props
* Clothing
* Books or guides
* Online programs (non-video based)
This is another way to diversify income beyond just teaching classes.
Teach Teacher Trainings
Once you have significant experience and training (often 500-hour certification and years of teaching), you can become a teacher trainer. This involves leading parts of or entire yoga teacher training programs. This is a higher-level role and pays much better than regular classes, but it requires deep knowledge and commitment.
Write or Create Content
Sharing your knowledge through writing (blogs, books), podcasts, or videos can build your brand and create income streams through ads, sponsorships, or selling related products.
Graspping the Business Side
To make a good yoga instructor salary, you need to think like a small business.
- Track Your Income and Expenses: Know exactly how much you make and what you spend (travel, training, insurance, props). This helps with taxes and seeing your true income.
- Set Goals: How many classes do you want to teach? How many private clients? What’s your income goal?
- Market Yourself: Use social media, have a simple website, network with studios and potential clients.
- Get Insurance: Liability insurance is very important for yoga teachers. It protects you if a student gets hurt. This is a business expense.
- Keep Learning: Take workshops, train with senior teachers. Invest in yourself. This increases your value and potential earnings.
Is It Possible to Make a Full-Time Living?
Yes, it is possible to make a full-time yoga instructor salary, but it is often challenging and rarely just from teaching a few classes a week. Most full-time yoga teachers combine several of the income streams mentioned above:
* Teaching many group classes (maybe 15-20+ per week)
* Having regular private clients
* Leading workshops or retreats
* Teaching online
* Mentoring or teacher training
Someone relying only on beginner yoga instructor pay from a few studio classes would likely not make a full-time income. It requires building experience, skills, and multiple ways to earn.
Let’s look at some example income scenarios, keeping in mind these are just estimates and vary greatly.
Example Income Scenarios
These examples show how different income streams add up. They are based on typical yoga class pay rates.
Scenario 1: Beginner Teacher
- Teaches 5 group classes per week at $20/class: 5 * $20 = $100 per week
- Substitute teaches 2 classes per week at $20/class: 2 * $20 = $40 per week
- Total Weekly Income: $140
- Estimated Annual Income: $140 * 50 weeks (allowing for breaks) = $7,000
This is clearly not a full-time income. Beginners often teach yoga alongside another job.
Scenario 2: Mid-Level Teacher
- Teaches 10 group classes per week at $35/class: 10 * $35 = $350 per week
- Teaches 2 private lessons per week at $75/hour: 2 * $75 = $150 per week
- Leads one weekend workshop per quarter, earning $500 each: $500 * 4 = $2,000 per year
- Total Weekly Income from Classes/Private: $350 + $150 = $500 per week
- Estimated Annual Income: ($500 * 50 weeks) + $2,000 (workshops) = $25,000 + $2,000 = $27,000
This is getting closer to a full-time income, but still relatively low for many areas. This teacher is building different income sources.
Scenario 3: Experienced Teacher
- Teaches 12 popular group classes per week at $50/class: 12 * $50 = $600 per week
- Teaches 5 private lessons per week at $100/hour: 5 * $100 = $500 per week
- Co-leads a teacher training module annually, earning $3,000: $3,000 per year
- Leads one retreat per year, earning $4,000: $4,000 per year
- Sells access to online content, earning an average of $100 per week: $100 per week
- Total Weekly Income from Classes/Private/Online: $600 + $500 + $100 = $1,200 per week
- Estimated Annual Income: ($1,200 * 50 weeks) + $3,000 (training) + $4,000 (retreat) = $60,000 + $3,000 + $4,000 = $67,000
This scenario shows how an experienced teacher with multiple income streams can build a solid yoga instructor salary. It requires skill, experience, networking, and business effort.
These are just examples. Your actual yoga teacher earnings per class and overall income will depend on your specific situation.
Comparing Pay Structures
Let’s make a table to compare typical yoga studio pay rates and other venues.
| Venue Type | Typical Pay Structure | Estimated Pay Range Per Class/Hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yoga Studio | Per Class or Base + Student | $15 – $75+ per class | Varies by studio, teacher level, location. |
| Gym/Health Club | Hourly Rate | $20 – $50 per hour | Often steady, but may require more than yoga. |
| Private Clients | Hourly Rate | $50 – $150+ per hour | High per hour, requires marketing for clients. |
| Corporate Class | Hourly Rate or Per Class | $75 – $150+ per hour/class | Good pay, needs corporate connections. |
| Online Live Class | Per Class or Revenue Share | $20 – $50 per class or less | Can reach many people, competition is high. |
| Online Pre-recorded | Per View or Subscription | Low per class ($1-$10) | Passive income potential, high effort initially. |
| Workshop/Event | Flat Fee or Revenue Share | $100 – $1000+ per event | Requires planning and marketing, higher earning potential. |
| Retreat | Share of Profit | $1000 – $5000+ per retreat | Requires significant planning, highest earning potential per event. |
This table gives a quick look at the different ways yoga teachers earn money and the general ranges for yoga class pay rate and hourly rate.
Interpreting the Data on Earnings
Looking at the numbers, it’s clear that yoga instructor salary is often built piece by piece. A single yoga class pay rate might seem low on its own. But teaching many classes, adding private clients, workshops, and other activities builds the total income.
- The average yoga teacher pay is often cited as around $20-$40 per hour or class. However, this average includes everyone from beginners to highly paid trainers. It does not show the full picture of what is possible with experience and effort.
- Experienced yoga instructor salary comes from stacking multiple layers of income. They have built a reputation that allows them to charge more for private sessions, fill workshops, and get the best-paying gigs.
- Beginner yoga instructor pay is a starting point. It’s a chance to gain experience and build your skills. Focusing too much on the low per-class rate at the start can be discouraging. The focus should be on growth.
The journey to a decent yoga instructor salary often takes time. It requires learning, teaching many hours, and developing business skills.
The Value Beyond Money
While this guide is about how much yoga instructors make per class, it is worth noting that pay is not the only reason people teach.
- Passion: Sharing yoga is deeply rewarding for many.
- Helping Others: Seeing students benefit from yoga is a strong motivator.
- Community: Being part of the yoga community is important.
- Flexible Schedule: While demanding, teaching can offer more control over your time than a typical 9-to-5 job.
These non-financial rewards are a big part of the reason people become and remain yoga teachers, even when the yoga instructor salary is not always high, especially at the start.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some common questions people ask about how much yoga teachers earn.
Q1: What is the average yoga teacher pay per class?
The average yoga teacher pay per class in a studio often ranges from $25 to $40, but this varies a lot by location, experience, and the studio’s pay model.
Q2: How much do private yoga lessons cost?
Private yoga lesson rates are typically $50 to $150 per hour, depending on the teacher’s experience, location, and the type of session.
Q3: Can I make a full-time living as a yoga instructor?
Yes, but it usually requires teaching many classes, offering private sessions, leading workshops, and having multiple income streams. It’s hard to do just by teaching a few studio classes.
Q4: Do yoga instructors get paid a salary?
Most yoga instructors are paid per class or hourly as independent contractors. They are rarely employees receiving a fixed salary and benefits.
Q5: How does experience affect yoga teacher earnings per class?
Beginner yoga instructor pay is significantly lower than experienced yoga instructor salary. Experienced teachers can charge more per class, per hour for privates, and lead higher-paying events like workshops or trainings.
Q6: What factors affect yoga instructor salary?
Key factors include experience level, location, the type of venue (studio, gym, private), certifications, type of class, how many students you attract, and your business skills.
Q7: Are yoga studio pay rates standard?
No, yoga studio pay rates vary widely. Different studios have different pay models (per class, base plus student) and different standard rates based on their location, size, and clientele.
Making a living as a yoga instructor is possible. But it takes more than just teaching classes. It needs skill, hard work, continuous learning, and smart business choices. Your yoga teacher earnings per class are just one piece of the puzzle.