How Much Does a Private Tutor Cost in Sydney? (2026 Guide)
Short answer: in 2026, one-on-one tutoring in Sydney usually costs somewhere between $55 and $130 an hour. University-student tutors sit at the lower end, experienced HSC specialists at the top, and lessons in your home usually cost $10–$25 more than the same lesson online. At Rubix Learning, one-on-one tutoring costs $95 to $115 an hour.
Rubix Learning's prices
Every Rubix lesson is one-on-one. Prices are per hour and depend on your child's year level and whether the lesson is online or at home.
| Year level | Online (anywhere in Australia) | At home (across Sydney) |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten to Year 10 | $95 per hour | $105 per hour |
| Years 11 and 12 (HSC, and VCE online) | $105 per hour | $115 per hour |
The same prices apply to every subject, including NAPLAN and selective school / OC test preparation. Home lessons cost $10 more because your tutor travels to you.
How lessons and payment work at Rubix:
- Trained tutors. Every Rubix tutor is trained by founder Chris Tembeleski and completes Rubix's onboarding training.
- Safety checked. Every Rubix tutor must hold a current Working With Children Check (a blue card in Queensland).
- No enrolment fee.
- Paid by the term, in advance. You pay upfront for the lessons you book in a term, for example 10 lessons for one lesson a week, with no commitment beyond that term.
- Try the first lesson. If the first lesson isn't the right fit and you don't continue, you won't be charged for it. If the tutor isn't right, we'll trial a different one at no charge.
- Any lesson length. Book the length that suits your child; you pay the hourly rate for the time booked.
- All year round. Lessons run any day of the week, including school holidays.
- Cancellations. A fee applies if you cancel within 24 hours of a lesson or reschedule within 5 hours of it.
Typical tutoring prices by type of tutor
The biggest driver of price is who is teaching and how the lesson is run. These are the ranges published by Australian tutoring organisations in 2025–26. In-home lessons in big cities like Sydney tend to sit toward the top of each range.
| Type of tutoring | Typical price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| University-student tutor, one-on-one | $45–$85 an hour | Learnmate |
| Experienced private tutor, one-on-one | $55–$95 an hour | Tutero, Learnmate |
| Online one-on-one tutoring | $50–$95 an hour | KIS Academics, Learnmate |
| Tutoring company or agency, one-on-one | $65–$130 an hour | Learnmate, KIS Academics |
| Qualified teacher | $55–$180 an hour | Australian Tutoring Association |
| HSC, VCE or selective-test specialist | $90–$190 an hour | KIS Academics, Learnmate |
| Tutoring centre or small group | About $73 a session at Kip McGrath; $30–$70 per student in groups of 2–4 | Kip McGrath, KIS Academics |
Rubix Learning is a tutoring company offering one-on-one lessons, so its $95–$115 an hour sits within the company range.
What changes the price of a tutor
Six things decide what you pay. Most of them are worth asking about before you book.
- Year level. Years 11 and 12 usually cost more because the HSC and VCE are higher stakes and need tutors who know the syllabus in depth. At Rubix, senior lessons are $10 more an hour.
- Subject. Some tutors charge more for senior specialist subjects; Learnmate lists $75–$130 an hour for subjects like HSC Chemistry. Rubix charges the same for every subject.
- At home or online. Lessons at home usually cost $10–$25 more than online because of the tutor's travel time, and some tutors add a separate travel fee. At Rubix the difference is $10 an hour.
- Experience and results. A first-year university student costs less than a tutor with years of experience, a strong ATAR and a track record with HSC students.
- One-on-one or group. Group classes cost less per student, but your child shares the tutor's attention with others. Rubix only teaches one-on-one.
- Fees on top of the hourly rate. Some providers charge enrolment fees, materials fees or term contracts. Ask for the total cost of a term, not just the hourly rate.
What tutoring costs per term and per year
One lesson a week at Rubix costs about $950–$1,150 a term. These examples assume one-hour lessons, once a week, over a 10-week school term and a 40-week school year. Rubix lessons are paid by the term, so the term figure is what you pay upfront.
| Example | Lessons a week | Per week | Per 10-week term | Per 40-week year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 4, maths, online | 1 hour | $95 | $950 | $3,800 |
| Year 9, English, at home | 1 hour | $105 | $1,050 | $4,200 |
| Year 12, HSC maths, online | 1 hour | $105 | $1,050 | $4,200 |
| Year 12, two HSC subjects, at home | 2 hours | $230 | $2,300 | $9,200 |
A common approach is to start with one lesson a week and add a second before exams or for a second subject.
Private tutor or tutoring centre: which costs less?
A tutoring centre usually costs less per hour; a private tutor gives your child the whole lesson. Which is better value depends on what your child needs.
| Tutoring centre | Private one-on-one tutor | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | About $73 a session at Kip McGrath; $30–$70 per student in small groups | $55–$130 an hour |
| Students per tutor | Several | One |
| Lesson plan | Set program for everyone | Built around your child's gaps and school work |
| Where | At the centre | At home or online |
| Best for | Building routine and basic skills | Closing specific gaps, assessments and HSC preparation |
Sources: Kip McGrath, KIS Academics, Learnmate.
Questions to ask any tutor before you pay:
- What will a full term cost, including any enrolment or materials fees?
- Is there a minimum commitment, and what happens if we cancel a lesson?
- Who exactly will tutor my child, and what experience and results do they have?
- Does the tutor hold a current Working With Children Check?
- How will we hear about progress?
- Can we change tutors if it isn't the right fit?
Frequently asked questions
How much does an HSC tutor cost in Sydney?
HSC specialists usually charge $90–$190 an hour, depending on their experience and the subject. At Rubix Learning, HSC tutoring costs $105 an hour online or $115 at home, for every subject.
How much does a primary school tutor cost in Sydney?
Primary school is usually the cheapest level to tutor; Learnmate's 2025 median for primary lessons on its platform was $39 an hour. At Rubix, Kindergarten to Year 6 costs $95 an hour online or $105 at home, one-on-one with a tutor trained by founder Chris Tembeleski.
How much does selective school or OC test preparation cost?
Specialist tutors for selective and scholarship tests often charge $95–$160 an hour or more. At Rubix, selective school and OC preparation costs $95 an hour online or $105 at home.
Is online tutoring cheaper than tutoring at home?
Usually, yes: online lessons tend to cost $10–$25 an hour less because the tutor doesn't travel. At Rubix, online lessons are $10 an hour cheaper than home lessons.
Do tutors charge extra to come to your home?
Some tutors in big cities add a travel fee of $12–$25 a lesson on top of their hourly rate. Rubix's home prices already include travel, with no separate fee.
How many tutoring lessons a week does my child need?
One hour a week is a good starting point for most students. Senior students often add a second lesson before exams or for a second subject.
Is a private tutor worth the money?
A tutor is worth it when there is a clear goal, such as a subject your child is behind in or a target HSC result, and the tutor shows you progress along the way. If you are not seeing progress after a term, ask the tutor for a plan or try someone else.
Sources: Learnmate, KIS Academics, Tutero.
Find the right tutor for your child
Rubix Learning offers one-on-one tutoring from Kindergarten to Year 12, at home across Sydney or online anywhere in Australia, from $95 an hour. Call 0490 712 060 or email info@rubixlearning.com.au to talk about what your child needs. If the first lesson isn't the right fit and you don't continue, you won't pay for it. If the tutor isn't right, we'll trial a different one at no charge.