Is 2020 yen per class (80 mins) good for a part time english tutor

25 comments

1. That is astonishingly horrible. I wouldn’t even consider anything less than 3000 for part time. I would have laughed in their face for 1220

2. 80 minutes for that much is bad!

3. I do hour long classes once a week for 4000 yen/hr, for reference. Like the other comments say, I wouldn’t accept anything under 3000.

4. Even a f&b part timer earns around 1200- yen/ per hour in Tokyo.

5. Barely above minimum wage, you’d be better off elsewhere or finding private students online via teacher/student finding sites

6. No, that’s terrible.

7. May as well work in a small pub or a convenience store- at least you could brush up on your Japanese sklls!

8. You’re making about the same as a high school student working part time at a konbini. Take that how you will lol

9. Terrible pay. Don’t do it.

10. 2020 is good for bout 30 minutes. For 80 minute lessons tho? nah, need alil more then that.

11. I do online business English lessons as a side hustle about 3-4 times a month. I charge 6000-8000 yen per 45 min lesson. I’ve been doing this for 5 years now with the same 3 students.

    Your rate is too low. I think charging 4000 yen is fair.

12. Without any qualifications or experience, what did you expect to get?

    I don’t know why so-called “teachers” expect 3,000 yen per hour, as if they are doing a professional job.

    Tutoring pays as much as convenience stores or fast food for a reason.

    OP, if you think tutoring sounds better than slinging burgers or running a cash register, go for it. You can’t expect much more unless you have quals or a grad degree.

13. No, that’s not good pay.

14. I’m going to start work in a ramen shop in Tokyo and my hourly salary is higher than that.

15. Nope I was working for 3000 for 50 min contact and 10 min prep and thought that was low enough.

16. In my early days as a teacher, a colleague told me “never leave the house for less than ¥10,000”. Sage wisdom that I have carried with me to this day. This is for someone making a living doing the thing rather than a uni student like you though, so perhaps halve that number.

17. Are you a qualified teacher?

18. Better off working at 711

19. Yikes. I’ve never had less than ¥2500 for a 45min lesson 😅

20. Ouch. That’s low.

21. Yes it’s bad. But, it depends on the perks. 
    i once did a private 90min lesson at the request of my boss. It only paid 2500 for 90mins. That’s pretty bad. Similar to your quote, but I was given cake and coffee every lesson.  Free chat for first 30mins which included playing with their dog, then a one hour lesson with a really excited adult student. I was allowed to leave work an hour early to go do the lesson. So I figured I was actually getting 2500 for 30mins. It was also close to my house.  Did it for 10 years and became friends with the family and loved going to the lesson. They gave me really nice birthday and Xmas presents as well. Unfortunately it all stopped with Covid. But we keep in touch and I will drop in on their shop a few times a year to say hello. 

     the price isn’t the only factor with privates. 

22. That is the same hourly wage as the Saizeriya I’m sat in right now, I wouldn’t settle for that.

23. My tutoring starts at 4000¥ per hour. Two students can double up for 6000¥ I frequently do part time gigs that pay around 4000¥ to 5000¥ an hour, one pays 1万円 an hour!

24. I charge 3000 and hour for online lessons, so no. That is not optimal. You’re working nearly twice as long and having to travel. College classes I do pay 7500 per class. (for 90 minutes).

    That said, it really depends on what other work you have and how much you need the money.

    Back when I first worked in Japan I took whatever I could get and was definitely underpaid in retrospect. I learned a lot and enjoyed the journey though.

25. I get 3000/hr just to babysit two year olds, so do with that what you will.