Private Tutor

Salary, skills, career path and opportunities in the UK.

Starting salary range: £20,000 - £100,000+ depending on experience and specialization.

How to become a private tutor in the UK

There's no formal qualification required to begin, but a degree in your subject and/or QTS for school aged students can help you attract clients. The path typically involves:

1. Decide who your first five paying clients will be (be specific - e.g. "dog owners in your town " not "everyone").
2. Register as self employed with HMRC and obtain a UTR. Set up a separate bank account.
3. Get the kit, insurance, and any qualifications/licences you actually need to start.
4. Build the simplest version of your offer (one page site or Instagram + price list) and put it in front of those five people.
5. Land your first paying job, deliver well, and ask for a review or referral. Repeat.

What does a private tutor do day to day?

• Teach school subjects, exam prep, or specialist skills 1 to 1, either in person or online.
• Communicate with parents and manage schedules via booking software.
• Adapt lesson plans to individual student needs and track progress.
• Market yourself through referrals, local groups, and an online presence.

Skills you'll need as a private tutor

• Subject mastery in at least one area.
• Strong communication with parents and students.
• Basic marketing and sales skills.
• Organization and time management.
• Provision of a suitable learning environment.

Tools & costs

• Webcam, headset, and decent laptop - £0-£400 (often already owned).
• Whiteboard tool (BitPaper, Miro) - free to £8/month.
• Public liability plus professional indemnity insurance - £80-£200/year.
• Booking and payment software (Calendly + Stripe) - £15/month plus 1.5% transaction fee.

UK legal basics

• Register as self employed with HMRC and get your UTR.
• DbS check is not legally required for solo tutors but may be requested by parents - £40-£65.
• Public liability insurance (£1m+ is industry standard).
• Safeguarding - lessons with under 18s should be recorded or conducted with a parent in the room.
• GDPR - pupil progress notes must be stored securely.

Common pitfalls

• Charging £20/hour simply to match agency rates - private tutoring is not an agency.
• Having no cancellation policy - students may cancel last minute and you bear the loss.
• Traveling more than 40 minutes for a one hour session - favor online or local only work.
• Refusing to drop weak students - one struggling pupil can waste the energy of several stronger ones.

Explore related paths

See how private tutoring fits into wider career groups or read deeper on the topics most relevant to you.