IB tutor rates are usually higher than IGCSE rates, and A Level sits somewhere between, but the gap isn’t fixed, and higher hourly pay doesn’t always mean higher monthly income. What families pay for at each level is different: depth and long-term planning for the IB, exam technique and volume for IGCSE, and specification-specific expertise for A Level. This guide explains what drives the difference, why demand matters as much as price, and how to position your rate for each qualification. It doesn’t invent market figures. Rates vary widely by tutor, country and platform.

Key takeaways

• IB tutoring, especially HL, is often priced higher because it needs more depth, IA knowledge and long-term planning.
• A Level tutoring rewards specification-specific expertise and is often priced above IGCSE.
• IGCSE has the largest demand, so competitive IGCSE rates can fill more slots.
• Monthly income depends on rate × bookings, not rate alone.
• On Tutopiya you keep 100% of your rate. Commission is added on top.

What families pay for at each level

	IGCSE	International A Level	IB Diploma
Student age	About 14–16	About 16–18	About 16–19
Typical need	Exam technique, filling gaps	Specification depth, top grades for university	Depth, IAs, HL content, two-year planning
Tutor expertise expected	Board, tier and paper knowledge	Units/papers, practical components	Course, level, IA criteria, command terms
Demand on Tutopiya (Mar–Jun 2026)	Largest (Cambridge IGCSE Maths 90, Physics 61, Chemistry 47)	Moderate (for example Edexcel IAL Chemistry 17, Cambridge A Level Physics 16)	Smaller but steady (IB Maths 18)
Typical tutoring pattern	Shorter, exam-focused blocks	Unit or paper-based blocks	Long-term, across the Diploma

Why higher rates don’t always mean higher income

Monthly income is your rate multiplied by the lessons you actually teach. A tutor with a competitive IGCSE rate and full peak slots can earn more in a month than a tutor with a high IB rate and few bookings. Consider:

	Tutor A (IGCSE, competitive rate)	Tutor B (IB HL, higher rate)
Demand	High	Lower volume
Slots filled	Many	Fewer
Student turnover	Higher (exam blocks)	Lower (two-year students)
Income pattern	Peaks before exam series	Steadier across the year

Many tutors combine levels, for example IGCSE and IB in the same subject, to balance volume and depth.

How to position your rate for each level: step by step

1. List your levels and the evidence you have for each.
2. Price IGCSE competitively to win trials in the largest market.
3. Price A Level and IB to reflect specialist depth, if your evidence supports it.
4. Show level-specific evidence: IB workshops, examiner roles, students’ results.
5. Open peak slots, because availability drives bookings at any rate.
6. Track bookings by level for a term.
7. Request revisions with evidence. On Tutopiya, later rate changes are approved at Tutopiya’s discretion.

Browse IB subjects on the IB DP tutor jobs hub, and IGCSE subjects on the Cambridge IGCSE tutor jobs hub.

What justifies a higher rate at any level

• Examiner or moderator experience.
• Years teaching that exact qualification.
• Students’ results, shared honestly.
• Specialist depth, such as HL content or practical components.
• Strong reviews from families.

A balanced portfolio of levels

Many tutors combine levels to balance volume, depth and steadiness:

Portfolio	Why it works
IGCSE + A Level in one subject	Volume from IGCSE; students can stay with you into A Level
IGCSE + IB in one subject	Volume plus steady two-year IB students
IB SL + HL	Different student needs; deeper expertise signal
One level only	Simple, but more exposed to seasonal dips

Whatever you choose, list only levels you can teach well, and keep your profile clear about which levels you cover.

How tutoring with Tutopiya works

Tutopiya is a 1-on-1 online tutoring marketplace for Cambridge IGCSE, Edexcel IGCSE, IB and International A Level students. You set your starting hourly rate when you create your profile and keep all of it, because Tutopiya’s 40–50% commission is added on top and paid by the student. Later rate changes are requested through Tutopiya, which approves them at its discretion. You add free slots, Tutopiya converts time zones and matches students to you, and you’re paid on the 15th of each month for the previous month’s lessons. Trial lessons last an hour and are unpaid. Full details are on the Tutopiya Become a Tutor page.

Common mistakes tutors make with level pricing

• Pricing every level the same. Families expect differences.
• Pricing IB high without IB evidence.
• Ignoring IGCSE volume. It’s the largest market.
• Chasing rate over bookings. Monthly income is what counts.
• No evidence for higher rates. Build it first.

Talk to us

For setting your first rate, read how to set your hourly rate on a tutor marketplace. For IB careers, see IB Diploma tutoring as a career. Questions? Contact our team.

Frequently asked questions

Do IB tutors charge more than IGCSE tutors? +

Often, yes. IB Diploma tutoring, especially at Higher Level, usually needs deeper subject knowledge, familiarity with Internal Assessments, and two-year planning, which many families expect to pay more for. Actual rates vary widely by tutor, subject, country and platform.

Why is IGCSE tutoring sometimes priced lower but still lucrative? +

IGCSE has the largest demand. On Tutopiya, Cambridge IGCSE Maths, Physics and Chemistry led trial requests in March to early June 2026. A competitive IGCSE rate can fill more slots, which often matters more for monthly income than a higher hourly rate with fewer bookings.

Does Tutopiya publish recommended rates by level? +

No. Tutors set a starting rate within a competitive range that suits most Tutopiya families, and keep 100% of it. Students see that rate plus Tutopiya's commission. Rates vary with experience, subject, level and demand.

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