Tutor rates by level
From primary to senior secondary ATAR to university. The rate curve reflects what's at stake and what specialist knowledge is needed.
| Level | Typical Tier 1 rate | Typical Tier 3 rate |
|---|---|---|
| Primary (F–6) | $50/hr | $95/hr |
| Lower secondary (7–10) | $55/hr | $110/hr |
| Senior secondary / ATAR (11–12) | $65/hr | $120/hr |
| University / tertiary | $70/hr | $140/hr |
| Adult / professional (test prep etc.) | $65/hr | $130/hr |
Why senior secondary sits higher than lower secondary
Two reasons: (a) ATAR has external consequences (university entry), so parents are willing to pay more; (b) syllabus complexity is higher and the marking conventions are more specific to each state. A senior-secondary tutor at Tier 3 should know the VCAA / NESA / QCAA marking schemes for the specific course they tutor — not generic teaching experience.
Why university tutoring is so spread
University subjects vary enormously: a first-year intro psychology tutor charges very differently from a third-year machine-learning tutor. The Tier 1 / Tier 3 numbers above are illustrative — for specific university subjects, expect Tier 4 specialist rates (often $150–200/hr) for anything past first-year quantitative subjects.