Thread: How Much are You Paid to Teach Classes?

Just fishing for opinions here on how much on average you all get paid to teach at a studio you do not own, whether you may be teaching a beginner level or a technique focus class (veil, cane, etc). Is it a percentage, or a flat fee? (That is, if you are comfortable divulging such information).

In a particular situation, you get $100 for a 10 week class, regardless of the number of people in the class. So, if 20 people sign up=$2,000.00. You get $100, or $10 per class. You get to use the studio whenever to rehearse, etc but that is it. Hmmm. The owners need to make money, but is this standard going rates?

The best I've been offered is $28 per hour for 6 hours/week of class, or $20 base pay per class plus $7 per head (this at two different establishments..the latter has had some very profitable days).

I've usually gotten 80% of the revenue, or a flat rate of $50/hour.

I get a little more than some, because I do a lot of my own advertising and bring in most of the students myself.

ETA: That's as an independent contractor -- if I were on payroll, NOT having to pay my own self-employment taxes, insurance, etc. I'd have taken a lot less!

Originally Posted by nasila

The best I've been offered is $28 per hour for 6 hours/week of class, or $20 base pay per class plus $7 per head (this at two different establishments..the latter has had some very profitable days).

Hmm ok that sounds reasonable.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I've usually gotten 80% of the revenue, or a flat rate of $50/hour.

I get a little more than some, because I do a lot of my own advertising and bring in most of the students myself.

I see-that makes sense if you are doing the recruiting!

It depens on the place but I usually demand $50 per class or a flat rate and a percentage per student. $10 per class is totally unacceptable in my opinon. It's not just the hour that you are teaching that you're getting paid for but all of the preparation as well.

Originally Posted by rakgirl

It depens on the place but I usually demand $50 per class or a flat rate and a percentage per student. $10 per class is totally unacceptable in my opinon. It's not just the hour that you are teaching that you're getting paid for but all of the preparation as well.

I thought it seemed a bit low-do you think this depends on the area you are in? I mean, I would expect that at a community center but not a private studio in a city of 220,000...

Also: does the argument "I do this for a living, and you have a day job, and this is how I make my living so sorry I only pay you this?" hold any weight?

Disclaimer-I know it would be totally my choice to teach under these conditions and accept them or leave, but I just want to make sure I'm not crazy that the pay could be a little higher for what is actually very demanding of my time.

Because see, the thing is, yes I do have a day job, BUT, even more so it is more difficult for me to prepare for classes, write routines, select music, etc. I don't have a lot of free time to do this during the day, so you know.

I teach through two Park & Recs and a Yoga studio. I do a 70/30 split per student, in my favor. I need a minimum of 5 students enrolled in order to make even the smallest profit, so if I don't have that many 24 hours before the session begins, the class gets cancelled.

The park & recs have a cheaper session fee than the Yoga studio, because the park and rec classes are subsidized by the residents' tax dollars. But even with my minimum number of 5, I'm making at least $20/class - more if there are non-residents enrolled. My classes tend to fill up, though, so my usual take is anywhere from $60/class to over $100/class at the Yoga studio.

I think $10/class is appallingly low - are you even making back your gas money to get there, and fairly compensated for any out of class prep time?. Even a couple of years ago when I worked hourly for a small dance studio, I was paid $14/class (and when I quit I decided I would never work hourly again unless it paid a guaranteed $50/class).

$10 per hourlong class? Regardless of number of students? Really?

Now, let's assume that there are certain expenses that the studio is absorbing, such as:

• Music license for classroom use
• 100% of the marketing/student recruiting
• Providing the space (rent, utilities)
• Providing the sound system
• Liability insurance, both for the physical space and for YOU as a teacher

In the above situation, I wouldn't accept less than $25-$30 per class, and as others have said on this thread, $50 is more like it.

If you are responsible for covering any of the above expenses yourself, then you should be paid more than what I just said.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

$10 per hourlong class? Regardless of number of students? Really?

Now, let's assume that there are certain expenses that the studio is absorbing, such as:

• Music license for classroom use
• 100% of the marketing/student recruiting
• Providing the space (rent, utilities)
• Providing the sound system
• Liability insurance, both for the physical space and for YOU as a teacher

In the above situation, I wouldn't accept less than $25-$30 per class, and as others have said on this thread, $50 is more like it.

If you are responsible for covering any of the above expenses yourself, then you should be paid more than what I just said.

I am not responsible for any of these things-I pay a troupe fee, which is supposed to help cover the above expenses. I promote and recruit for classes too. Yes regardless of # students.

The perk is supposedly being able to use the studio as wanted, but I don't ever do that really. Hmm. I really think it should be more.

Originally Posted by laura 2

I think $10/class is appallingly low - are you even making back your gas money to get there, and fairly compensated for any out of class prep time?. Even a couple of years ago when I worked hourly for a small dance studio, I was paid $14/class (and when I quit I decided I would never work hourly again unless it paid a guaranteed $50/class).

yes sadly, I think I would make more money through the parks and recreation departments here. The answer to your questions-no, I don't think so.

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

Also: does the argument "I do this for a living, and you have a day job, and this is how I make my living so sorry I only pay you this?" hold any weight?

Not in the least. Your time and expertise has a dollar value attached to it, regardless of whether you teach one class per week or 20.

The dance studio that I mentioned that I quit - the highest the owner was willing to go was $17/class. She told me that with her overhead, that was the only way she could make any money off of the class, which I totally understood. But, that didn't make her problem my problem. There's no way I was going to accept $17/class, when I knew I could go to another park & rec and be paid twice as much for the same work.

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

I thought it seemed a bit low-do you think this depends on the area you are in? I mean, I would expect that at a community center but not a private studio in a city of 220,000...

I teach in small Midwestern communities, with populations of 40,000 or so. My classes are super cheap compared to what someone would pay down in Chicago, for example.

Originally Posted by laura 2

Not in the least. Your time and expertise has a dollar value attached to it, regardless of whether you teach one class per week or 20.

The dance studio that I mentioned that I quit - the highest the owner was willing to go was $17/class. She told me that with her overhead, that was the only way she could make any money off of the class, which I totally understood. But, that didn't make her problem my problem. There's no way I was going to accept $17/class, when I knew I could go to another park & rec and be paid twice as much for the same work.

This makes a lot of sense. The point of the owner is-you have a day job and make all your money there, so this is how I afford things and pay my bills, by paying you only $10/class. I don't think it is a very good argument.

Basically, I like teaching a lot. But I teach at my day job. Teaching dance classes is exhausting. And I could be at home. I could be watching videos and drilling myself, or making costumes. And it is starting to feel like it is just not worth it to me anymore.

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

I am not responsible for any of these things-I pay a troupe fee, which is supposed to help cover the above expenses. I promote and recruit for classes too. Yes regardless of # students.

The perk is supposedly being able to use the studio as wanted, but I don't ever do that really. Hmm. I really think it should be more.

Let me get this straight. You are paying a troupe fee to help cover those expenses, AND you're being paid a puny amount? You're being taken advantage of, unless you're only getting 5 or fewer students in those classes.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Let me get this straight. You are paying a troupe fee to help cover those expenses, AND you're being paid a puny amount? You're being taken advantage of, unless you're only getting 5 or fewer students in those classes.

No that is not the case in general for all of the instructors at the studio.

i dont teach less then $50 for hour - but i ask for 65 per hour or 95 per student, which ever is MORE.

Based on my own experience and comparing notes with local colleagues (standard disclaimers apply), contractors at private studios in the DC area make anywhere from $40 to $75 as a flat fee per one-hour class. I get paid $75 for the class I most often sub for, which is at a women's fitness center; the regular instructor has a split with the facility and generally makes more. She pays me out of her cut -- I don't deal with the owners directly.

I'm not sure how the hourly works out for those in my area who are paid in splits, or about the majority of area parks and rec programs. The one parks and rec class I have direct experience with pays a maximum of $25 per hour and has never been able to retain a qualified instructor -- it's in a very inconvenient location, so the commute scares teachers off even if they might be willing to work for the low pay.

(Note to those familiar with my area: I am NOT talking about the parks and rec program in Alexandria, about which I have no information.)

I PM'd you Shira btw....

Intriguing information-keep it coming lol....

I didn't think I was crazy. I was starting to feel like I was a greedy b*#$%, but no actually fair is fair.

My friend who is dancing 18 years get $35 for an hour class and she does nothing but show up.She has some pressure to recruit ,But it is an established dance school & the owner is intrigued with bellydanceing =)

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

This makes a lot of sense. The point of the owner is-you have a day job and make all your money there, so this is how I afford things and pay my bills, by paying you only $10/class. I don't think it is a very good argument.

It's not. The owner made a decision to open her own business, with all of its financial perils. You've made the decision to have traditional employment, which leaves you less time to do what you love because you're working for the man. It's a trade off - and sensible adults realize this is the case with almost everything.

You don't owe her the opportunity to screw you over just because you've got it, in her opinion, better than she does. If I make $50,000 per year I don't pay more for a loaf of bread or a restaurant meal than someone who makes $15,000 a year. It costs what it costs, and it's going to be out of some people's price range, but not out of other's.

Originally Posted by laura 2

It's not. The owner made a decision to open her own business, with all of its financial perils. You've made the decision to have traditional employment, which leaves you less time to do what you love because you're working for the man. It's a trade off - and sensible adults realize this is the case with almost everything.

You don't owe her the opportunity to screw you over just because you've got it, in her opinion, better than she does. If I make $50,000 per year I don't pay more for a loaf of bread or a restaurant meal than someone who makes $15,000 a year. It costs what it costs, and it's going to be out of some people's price range, but not out of other's.

Ok. I feel exactly the same way. Feels good to know I am not a greedy you know what.

It's $10 per class, not $10/person per class?

Definitely not. No way.

Whether a person has a day job or not is just not part of the equation. Just because I'm slaving away 40 hours a week to pay my bills means I should volunteer my time working for you so you can make more profit? No.

I don't have a day job, but I pay my instructors either $25/hour plus a bonus per student or 60%. (They're using my lesson plans, teaching students I recruit, I provide the music, props, etc). I can't afford to pay as much as I'd like, but I'm not going to cheat people!

Originally Posted by JasmineRose

Ok. I feel exactly the same way. Feels good to know I am not a greedy you know what.

I have been on both sides of the issue, and it was common for some of the self-employed people I knew to try and make me feel guilty for making a decent wage dancing on top of my well-paying day job. But now that I'm dancing/teaching full time with the associated 75% pay cut, I haven't changed my opinion on it at all.

I would be insulted that someone valued my experience and time so low.

Originally Posted by Surida

I would be insulted that someone valued my experience and time so low.

I am, trust me, but when you are presented with the reasoning from someone you trust, it makes sense and then you feel guilty, that is, until you start thinking about it and realize what's up.

It used to be that people helped out around the studio/taught classes for free, and then there was no troupe fee, but this was abandoned in favor of the $10/class idea. Bogus either way though...