What is an appropriate rate to charge for private tutoring?

It depends entirely on your market. Where will you be offering these lessons?

10 an hour non-licenced, 15–20 for a ‘proper’ teacher.

I am a proper teacher. The place is inconsequential (see details).

@gemiwing thanks.

I am inclined to agree that other variables come into play. On the USA, some ESL courses are free through community programs. If you are tutoring students, I’d base the rate on what tutors for other subjects charge in your area. The size of the class also makes a difference, as individual instruction generally costs more than group classes. However, if your student is a professional person, you could charge considerably more.

For instance, when I was a student in Speech/Language Pathology, I had a client who was from the south and grew up in African-American culture. English was her native language, but a very different dialect than is used in the business world. She came to us for accent reduction and to learn Standard American English phrasing and idioms. Some professionals charge a very high rate for those services.

As someone who has lived an hour outside of Manhattan, I assure you that where you are makes a tremendous difference. Everything, from fast food to medical services, costs more in the city.

Here’s an array of rates for private tutors in a university setting, with an idea of what the rates include, as well as educational background and teaching experience. You have to click the “plain .html” to see the document.

I charge $50/hour + expences

@DrBill You mean expenses.