How Much A Yoga Teacher Makes: Your Guide

How much money does a yoga teacher make? This is a common question. The answer is not simple. It changes a lot. Some make a little. Others make more. The average yoga teacher income varies greatly. Many things affect their yoga instructor salary. A yoga teacher’s pay depends on where they teach, how long they have taught, and many other factors. We will look at what influences how much yoga instructors make.

How Much A Yoga Teacher Makes
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Grasping Yoga Teacher Earnings

Think of yoga teaching pay like many other jobs. It does not have one set rate. It’s not like a factory job where everyone makes the same per hour. Yoga teachers’ pay rates differ widely.

The money a yoga teacher makes can come from different places. Most studio teachers get paid per class. Or they might get an hourly rate. Some teachers work full-time for a studio or gym. They might get a set yoga instructor salary. But this is less common in the yoga world. Many teachers piece together their earnings.

Let’s look at the key parts of how yoga teachers get paid.

Pay Per Class

Many yoga studios pay teachers for each class they lead. This is a very common way to pay.

How it works: The studio pays a set amount for a 60 or 75 or 90-minute class.
What affects the rate:
- The studio’s location (city vs. small town).
- The teacher’s experience.
- How many students come to class (sometimes).
- The type of class (hot yoga, gentle yoga, etc.).
Typical range: A new teacher might start at $20 to $40 per class. An experienced teacher could make $50 to $75 or even more per class in busy areas or popular studios.

Hourly Rate

Some gyms, community centers, or corporate jobs pay yoga teachers by the hour.

How it works: You get paid for the time you are there. This might include setup or cleanup time.
What affects the rate:
- The employer (gyms often pay less than corporate jobs).
- The teacher’s skill level.
- Location.
Typical range: This could be anywhere from $25 to $50 per hour or more. Corporate yoga jobs often pay higher hourly rates.

Salary

Getting a fixed yoga instructor salary is less common for people who only teach group classes in studios. Studios often don’t have full-time teaching roles with salaries.

Where you might find a salary:
- Working as a studio manager who also teaches classes.
- Teaching full-time at a school or university.
- Working for a large company that has full-time wellness staff.
- Being a lead trainer in a yoga teacher training program.
How it works: You get a set amount of money each year, paid in regular amounts (like every two weeks).
Typical range: A full-time yoga teacher salary could range hugely. It might be $30,000 to $60,000 or more per year. This salary often includes other duties besides teaching.

Other Ways to Make Money

Many yoga teachers don’t just teach classes. They earn money from other things too. These add to their yoga teacher earnings.

Private Yoga Sessions: Teaching yoga one-on-one or to small private groups. This usually pays much more per hour than group classes.
Workshops: Leading special, longer classes on a specific topic (like arm balances or meditation). Teachers often set their own price and split the money with the studio.
Retreats: Leading multi-day yoga events in special locations. This can be very profitable but takes a lot of planning.
Teacher Trainings: Helping run or leading parts of yoga teacher training programs. This requires advanced certification and experience.
Online Content: Creating online classes, courses, or videos. This can build a large income over time.
Selling Products: Selling yoga mats, clothes, or other items.
Writing/Blogging: Writing about yoga for websites or magazines.

These different income sources make it hard to give one number for how much a yoga teacher makes. Their yoga teacher salary range is very wide.

Pinpointing the Average Yoga Teacher Income

So, what is the average? This is tricky. Websites like Glassdoor or ZipRecruiter list average yoga teacher salaries. But these numbers might include all types of roles. They might mix full-time, part-time, and teachers with many side projects.

Common numbers you might see: Some sites might say the average yoga instructor salary is around $30,000 to $40,000 per year. Others show higher or lower numbers.
Why these numbers are not perfect:
- They often mix different types of jobs.
- They might not count all the extra money from workshops, privates, etc.
- They might not show the big difference based on location.

It is more helpful to think about the range of pay. A teacher teaching a few classes a week part-time will make very little. A teacher with a strong brand, many private clients, and online courses might make a lot.

Let’s look at some general numbers for how much yoga instructors make:

Per Class: $20 – $75+ (often the main source for studio teachers)
Hourly Rate: $25 – $50+ (common for gyms, corporate)
Private Session: $70 – $150+ per hour (can be much higher for experts)
Workshop: $100 – $500+ (teacher’s share, depends on price and attendees)
Full-Time Salary: $30,000 – $60,000+ (less common, often includes other duties)

These numbers help show the yoga teacher salary range. But remember, these are just examples.

Interpreting Factors Affecting Yoga Teacher Salary

Many things change how much a yoga teacher can earn. Knowing these helps you understand the yoga teacher salary range better. It helps you see how to possibly make more money.

Location, Location, Location

Where you teach yoga makes a huge difference.

Big Cities: Teachers in large cities (like New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco) usually have higher pay rates per class. Rent is higher there, and studios charge more for classes. But there are also more teachers competing for jobs.
Suburbs: Pay rates can be good, maybe a bit less than the main city. There might be steady work.
Small Towns: Pay rates are often lower per class. There might be fewer studios. But there might also be less competition.
Different Countries: Pay rates vary hugely around the world.

Example: A yoga instructor pay per class might be $60 in Manhattan. The same teacher might only get $30 for a class in a rural town. This is a major part of yoga teacher earnings by location.

How Much Experience Do You Have?

Like many jobs, more experience often means more pay.

New Teachers: Often start at the lower end of the pay scale ($20-$30 per class). They are building their teaching skills and reputation.
Mid-Level Teachers (2-5 years): Can often ask for higher rates ($40-$60 per class). They have more skills and likely a following of students.
Experienced Teachers (5+ years): Can command top rates ($60-$75+ per class). They might be sought after, lead workshops, or train new teachers.

Experience helps teachers get more jobs. It also helps them keep students coming back. This makes them more valuable to a studio.

Your Training and Certifications

Your yoga training is your base.

200-Hour Training: This is the basic level needed to teach in most places.
300 or 500-Hour Training: Shows more dedication and deeper knowledge.
Specialty Certifications: Training in specific styles (like Yin, prenatal, kids’ yoga, trauma-informed yoga). These can open doors to special classes or workshops that might pay more.

Having more training does not always mean you start at a higher pay rate per class right away. But it gives you more skills. It can help you teach different types of classes. It can help you attract specific students. This can boost your overall yoga teacher income over time.

Where You Teach Matters

The type of place you teach changes your pay structure and rate.

Yoga Studios: Often pay per class. Pay rates vary based on the studio’s prices and reputation.
Gyms/Health Clubs: Often pay an hourly rate. Pay might be lower than studios, but hours can be steadier.
Corporate Offices: Can pay very well, often an hourly rate for lunchtime or after-work classes. This is a growing area for yoga teacher earnings.
Community Centers/Schools: May pay a lower hourly rate or salary.
Online: You set your own prices for classes, memberships, or courses. Earnings depend on how many people sign up.
Private Clients: You set your own higher hourly rate ($70-$150+). This is often the most profitable per hour.

Someone teaching in a mix of these places can build a higher overall yoga instructor salary than someone only teaching drop-in classes at one studio.

Teaching Full-Time vs. Part-Time

This seems clear, but it’s a big factor in the total yoga instructor salary.

Part-Time Yoga Instructor Pay: Many yoga teachers work part-time. They might teach 5-10 classes a week. Their income is usually supplemental. It adds to money from another job. Or it’s a way to earn money while doing something they love. A part-time teacher might make anywhere from a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars a month, depending on their rate and number of classes.
Full-Time Yoga Teacher Salary: Making yoga your main or only job means teaching many classes (15-25+ a week). It also often means adding other income sources. A full-time teacher needs to earn enough to live on. Their total yoga instructor salary depends on how well they combine different types of work (classes, privates, workshops, online). A full-time teacher might aim to make $2500 to $5000+ per month or more, depending on their location and business skills. The term “full-time yoga teacher salary” usually means combining many income streams to reach a living wage.

The number of classes you teach is key. More classes mean more pay per class or more hourly pay. But teaching too many classes can lead to burnout.

Building Your Reputation and Student Base

Teachers who are popular and have students who follow them from studio to studio are very valuable.

Good Teaching: Great teachers keep students coming back. This helps studios fill classes.
Building Community: Teachers who connect with students build loyalty.
Personal Brand: Having a name and style that people know and like makes you more in demand.

A teacher with a strong reputation can often ask for higher pay. Studios want teachers who attract students.

Offering More Than Just Classes

As mentioned before, other services greatly boost yoga teacher earnings.

Leading workshops on weekends.
Teaching private clients before or after studio classes.
Creating an online membership site.
Running a yoga retreat once a year.

These activities have a higher earning potential per hour or per event than standard classes. They are key for those seeking a higher yoga teacher salary.

Table: How Factors Change Pay

Factor	Impact on Pay	Example
Location	Higher in cities, lower in small towns	$60/class in NYC vs. $30/class in rural area
Experience	More experience = higher rate	New teacher $30/class, 5-year teacher $50/class
Training	Specialty skills open doors to higher-pay classes	Teaching prenatal yoga workshop adds income
Teaching Spot	Corporate/Private often pay more per hour	Gym hourly $30 vs. Private hourly $100
Hours	Full-time needs many income streams	Part-time: a few classes/week; Full-time: many classes + privates + workshops
Reputation	Popular teachers can ask for more	Students follow this teacher, studio pays them well
Other Services	Add a lot to total income	Workshops, privates, retreats, online content

These factors explain the wide yoga teacher salary range.

Crafting a Full-Time Yoga Teacher Salary

It is possible to make a living as a yoga teacher. But it often means being an entrepreneur. You need to be good at more than just teaching yoga poses.

To build a full-time yoga instructor salary, most teachers need to combine several income sources:

Anchor Classes: Teach a steady number of classes each week at studios or gyms. This gives a base income.
Higher-Paying Work: Add in private clients or corporate classes. These pay more per hour.
Larger Events: Plan and run workshops or retreats a few times a year. These can bring in lump sums of money.
Online Presence: Build a website, social media, or email list. Offer online classes or products. This reaches more people and can create ongoing income.
Teacher Training: If experienced, teach in training programs. This is well-paid but requires high skills.

Someone who just teaches 10-15 classes a week at the average rate will likely not earn enough for a full-time yoga instructor salary in most places. They need to be active in creating other ways to make money from their skills.

A full-time yoga teacher might work 30-40+ hours a week. This includes teaching time, planning classes, travel, marketing, talking to clients, and managing their business. It’s not just time on the mat.

Monthly Income Example for a Full-Time Teacher

This is just an example to show how income can be built.

Studio Classes: 15 classes/week @ $45/class = $675/week. $675 * 4 weeks = $2,700/month.
Private Clients: 5 private hours/week @ $100/hour = $500/week. $500 * 4 weeks = $2,000/month.
Corporate Class: 1 corporate class/week (1.5 hours pay) @ $50/hour = $75/week. $75 * 4 weeks = $300/month.
Workshops: Run 1 workshop per month, earning $300 profit = $300/month.
Online: Earn $200/month from online content.

Total Monthly Income (Example): $2,700 + $2,000 + $300 + $300 + $200 = $5,500 per month.

This $5,500 a month equals $66,000 per year. This shows how combining income streams builds a full-time yoga teacher salary. This example might be for an experienced teacher in a good location. A new teacher or someone in a cheaper area might have lower numbers.

This shows that yoga teacher earnings can be good, but it takes work beyond just teaching classes.

Expenses for a Yoga Teacher

It’s also important to think about costs. Yoga teachers have business expenses. These expenses reduce their take-home yoga instructor salary.

Yoga Teacher Training: The first 200-hour training can cost $2,000 to $5,000 or more. Further training costs more.
Continuing Education: To keep learning and growing, teachers take more workshops or short courses.
Insurance: Liability insurance is very important. It protects the teacher if someone gets hurt. This costs a few hundred dollars per year.
Yoga Alliance Fees: If registered with Yoga Alliance, there are yearly fees.
Marketing: Building a website, printing flyers, social media ads.
Travel: Gas, car upkeep, or public transport to get to different teaching spots.
Supplies: Maybe buying props, music, or books.
Taxes: As self-employed people, teachers must pay self-employment taxes. This includes income tax and taxes for Social Security and Medicare. These taxes are a big expense. Saving for taxes is key.

These costs must be taken out of the gross yoga teacher income to find the net income (what you actually take home).

Deciphering Part-Time Yoga Instructor Pay

Many people teach yoga part-time. They love yoga and want to share it. They might have another full-time job. Or they might be staying home with family.

Part-time teachers usually teach a few classes per week. Their yoga instructor pay per class is the same rate as full-time teachers at that location. But because they teach fewer classes, their total earnings are lower.

Typical Part-Time Schedule: 2 to 8 classes per week.
Part-Time Yoga Instructor Pay: If a teacher teaches 5 classes a week at $40 per class, that’s $200 a week. $200 * 4 weeks = $800 a month.

This $800 a month adds to household income. It pays for yoga classes. It might pay for some bills. It is usually not enough to live on alone.

Part-time teachers can also offer private sessions or workshops. This helps boost their part-time yoga instructor pay. But their focus is usually not on building a large, multi-stream income business.

Someone teaching part-time might make anywhere from a few hundred dollars to maybe $1,000 or $2,000 per month. This fits within the wider yoga teacher salary range but is at the lower end for total yearly income.

The Path to Higher Earnings

For those wanting to make more money as a yoga teacher, here are ways to increase your yoga teacher earnings:

Teach More Classes: If you have the energy and time, find more places to teach. Fill your schedule.
Get More Training: Learn to teach different styles (like therapeutic yoga, kids yoga, hot yoga). This opens up more teaching chances.
Focus on Private Clients: Actively seek private students. Charge a higher rate for one-on-one attention.
Lead Workshops and Retreats: These are great ways to earn more money per event. They require planning and marketing.
Go Digital: Create online classes or courses. Build a following online. This can provide income that is not tied to your time per class.
Teach Corporate Yoga: Reach out to companies. Offer yoga classes to their staff. Corporate pay rates are often good.
Build Your Brand: Have a clear message. Use social media. Have a simple website. Let people know who you are and what you offer.
Work on Your Skills: Be a great teacher. Keep learning. Get feedback. Happy students are loyal students. They tell others about you. This helps you get more work.

Increasing your yoga instructor salary or full-time yoga teacher salary is a process. It takes time. It takes effort beyond just showing up to teach. It needs a business mindset.

Tables Summary of Pay

Here is a simple look at the yoga teacher hourly rate and pay per class:

Pay Type	Common Rate Range	Who Pays This?
Per Class	$20 – $75+	Yoga Studios (most common)
Hourly Rate	$25 – $50+	Gyms, Community Centers, Corporate
Private Session	$70 – $150+ per hour	Individual Clients
Workshop	$100 – $500+ (share)	Studios (split with teacher), Teacher runs it

This table shows the typical yoga instructor pay per class and hourly rates.

And a look at the yoga teacher salary range based on work type:

Work Type	Typical Earnings	How it’s Earned
Part-Time Teacher	A few hundred to $2,000 per month	A few classes/week, maybe some privates
Full-Time Teacher	$3,000 to $6,000+ per month ($36k – $72k+ per year)	Many classes + privates + workshops + online + more

Remember, these are just ranges. Actual yoga teacher earnings can be higher or lower.

FAQ: Questions About Yoga Teacher Pay

Here are some common questions about how much yoga instructors make.

How much do yoga instructors make per class?

Yoga instructors often make $20 to $75 or more per class. This depends on the studio, location, and the teacher’s experience. New teachers usually start at the lower end.

Can you make a living as a full-time yoga teacher?

Yes, you can make a living. But it often means earning money from more than just teaching classes. You need to combine teaching with things like private sessions, workshops, online work, or corporate classes. Building a full-time yoga teacher salary takes time and effort.

How much does a new yoga teacher make?

A new yoga teacher often makes $20 to $30 per class. Their hourly rate might be around $25. Earnings depend heavily on how many classes they can get hired to teach. Their part-time yoga instructor pay will be low if they only teach a few classes a week.

How much is the average yoga teacher income per year?

The average yoga teacher income is hard to give one number for. It can range from under $10,000 per year for a very part-time teacher to $50,000, $60,000, or much more for successful full-time teachers with many income streams.

Does getting more certifications help you make more money?

More training and certifications give you more skills. This can help you teach special classes or workshops that might pay better. It can also help you attract more students. So, yes, it can help increase your yoga teacher earnings over time, but it doesn’t always mean a higher pay rate per class right away.

How much do yoga teachers make by location?

Yoga teacher earnings by location vary a lot. Teachers in big cities or places with high living costs usually make more per class or hour than teachers in smaller towns. This is one of the biggest factors affecting yoga teacher salary.

Is yoga teacher pay hourly or per class?

It can be both. Yoga studios usually pay per class. Gyms, community centers, and corporate jobs often pay an hourly rate. Private sessions are also paid hourly but at a much higher rate.

Building a Rewarding Career

Being a yoga teacher can be rewarding. You help people. You share something you love. The money you make, your yoga instructor salary, is not fixed. It depends on many choices you make.

You can teach a few classes for extra money (part-time yoga instructor pay). Or you can build a full career (full-time yoga teacher salary). To make more, think about teaching more, getting more training, and adding other services.

Know the factors affecting yoga teacher salary. Think about your location, your experience, and where you want to teach. With hard work and smart choices, you can build the yoga teacher earnings you want.