Yoga has gained popularity across continents as one of the best wellness activities for maintaining overall health. This is the main reason why yoga teaching is becoming a successful career option, especially for those who are passionate about it. However, the most common question asked regarding this is “How much does a yoga instructor make?”
The growth in the yoga industry has increased the demand for yoga teachers as well. With the assistance of the experienced yogis, you will be able to deepen your yogic practices and focus on comprehensive wellness.
Are you also someone who is deciding to choose yoga as a serious profession? If yes, then this article is perfect for you. We will dive deeper into the dynamics of yoga teacher’s salary structure. Understand the basic pay, comparison between salaries, and the essential factors that influence the salaries of these instructors.
Average Yoga Instructor Salary
Yoga instructor’s salaries depend on various factors which we will discuss further. One of the major reasons behind the difference of salaries of these instructors is the location of the studio or yoga school. The salary amount earned in the US would be different from what will be earned in India. Pay scale varies according to the country, whether you are a beginner or an expert yoga teacher. For this, let us dig deeper into understanding the average salaries according to the global and national averages.
Global and National Averages
The global average salary depends upon the location of your yoga school, your qualifications, experience level, and client base as well. The global average salary of a yoga instructor as of now is approximately $30,000 to $100,000 per year. If you are more qualified and have better certifications, this implies that you have chances to have a higher end of this salary range.
The national average salary of any yoga teacher depends on the economy of the country that you are teaching it. Other than that, the living standards, your qualifications and certificates, and the locations are also some important factors boosting the salary. You should always remember that you can always take your salary to a higher end by taking private classes or extra workshops along with volunteering for the wellness retreats.
Here’s a table summarizing the yoga instructor salaries from the article:
| Country | Salary Range (Per Year) | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $30,000 – $70,000 | $30 – $75 |
| Canada | CAD 30,000 – CAD 60,000 | CAD 40 – CAD 50 |
| India | INR 4,00,000 – INR 10,00,000 | INR 200 – INR ? |
| United Kingdom | £20,000 – £40,000 | £23 – £25 |
| Australia | AUD 45,000 – AUD 75,000 | AUD 40 – AUD 50 |
| Japan | ¥3M – ¥6M | ¥2500 – ¥2800 |
| Germany | Not Mentioned | €14 – €15 |
Let’s check out all countries one by one in details:
The United States
The United States of America has the biggest industry of yoga professionals in the world. In this country, yoga flourishes and reaches to every corner at an unprecedented rate. The salaries of yoga teachers in America majorly depends on the states they are teaching in. On an average, a yoga instructor in the US can earn approximately $30,000 to $70,000 in a year. This salary range is for a teacher in the urban parts of the USA and can vary accordingly.
Canada
Being one of the renowned yoga countries globally, Canada is home to numerous individuals practicing yoga regularly. This is the reason why the demand for yoga instructors is constantly increasing in the country when compared with the other destinations. Average salary of a yoga instructor in Canada will fall between the range CAD 30,000 to CAD 60,000 per year, for an experienced teacher.
India
Yoga originated in India, which is why yoga is included in every ancient tradition and culture of the country. Although the competition of choosing yoga teaching as a career option is way too high, teachers in India manage to easily make a yearly salary around INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000. This salary range is majorly for people who have at least 2-3 years of experience in the field and are qualified enough. However, the range varies based on the location of the cities, in the urban cities the salary would be higher as compared to the rural parts of India.
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is another country where yoga is a popular wellness activity. There are several yoga studios and schools available to assist you in your journey of practicing yoga. On an average, the yoga teachers in the UK earn anywhere between £20,000 and £40,000, for an expert teacher with appropriate qualifications.
Australia
People visit Australia from different parts of the world in order to learn as well as teach yoga. This is a major reason why you should consider yoga teaching as a successful profession in this country. The average salary of a yoga instructor in Australia is anywhere between AUD 45,000 to AUD 75,000 per year, for an experienced and qualified teacher.
Japan
In Japan, yoga is emerging as a popular wellness activity across the country. There are numerous people who are looking forward to starting their yoga teaching career in Japan as the opportunities are unlimited. While the salaries of yoga instructors depend on the location across the country, the average salary falls anywhere between ¥3 Million and ¥6 Million per year.
How much does an Average Yoga Instructor make in an Hour?
Average salary of a yoga instructor in an hour can vary according to the different countries. Global average of a yoga teacher’s salary can be estimated around $30 per hour to $75 per hour depending on the geographies. It also depends on the factors like your total experience, qualifications, certifications, expertise, and the yoga studio facilities you are working at.
Average per-hour salaries of a yoga instructor in different countries:
- The United Kingdom – £23 – £25 per hour
- India – INR 200 – INR per hour
- Australia – AUD 40 – AUD 50
- Japan – ¥2500 – ¥2800
- Germany – €14 – €15
- Canada – CAD 40 – CAD 50
Comparison Across Settings
There are more factors other than the location that decides the structure of the yoga teacher’s salary. As per different settings of where you will be teaching, the salaries can differ. For example, your income will be different if you are teaching in a studio to the income if you will be taking classes in a retreat or handling workshops.
Studio-based Yoga Instructors
There are numerous studios that specialize in teaching yoga professionally. Most people who wish to learn yoga in-depth, prefer opting for yoga studios. That is the reason teaching yoga in studios has become very common and a good scope of earning decently. On an average, if you work as a yoga instructor in a yoga studio then you may earn anywhere between $40,000 to $80,000 per year. The pay scale in a yoga studio majorly depends on the location, whether the area is rural or urban, and is set according to the living standards of the city.
Gym-based Yoga Instructors
Teaching yoga in a gym is also one of the common ways but is not a well paid career path. Yoga is often not a first priority in the gym which will make you unable to earn sufficiently. Also, it depends on the type of location you are choosing, size, and popularity of the gym in that area. You might earn approximately $30,000 to $60,000 per year on an average at a gym or a fitness center.
Corporate Yoga Instructors
Working in the corporate wellness programs as a yoga instructor is a good career option to choose. With the increase in the stressful fast paced lifestyle, especially of the corporate employees, the companies have started organizing different wellness workshops for the betterment of their workers. Most multinational companies have a good budget to prepare for frequent yoga sessions for their employees, ensuring their overall well being. As a corporate yoga teacher, you might end up earning approximately $50,000 to $90,000 per year on an average. The salary also depends on your qualifications, certifications, and experience level.
Freelance Instructors
Becoming a freelance yoga instructor is one of the most common career paths people are choosing these days. You can work on freelance projects that pay a good amount of money for private yoga sessions. For a freelancer, the sky’s the limit and you can take up as many projects as fits in your schedule and earn well. It also helps you to work independently in any corner of the world. On an average, an experienced yoga instructor who is a freelancer can earn up to $50 to $150 per hour.
Retreat and Workshop Instructors
If you are a qualified and experienced yoga teacher, then you have the perfect opportunity to take sessions in retreats or workshops specifically designed to teach yoga. These retreats can be a great chance to earn well depending on the location and size of the program. You can either earn a percent of the total revenue the organizers generated or a fixed salary per session. There are several high-profile retreats organized very frequently which will be a great way to boost your career as a professional yoga teacher. Yoga retreats and workshops in destinations like Thailand, Bali, or Costa Rica can help you earn around $5,000 to $20,000 per retreat.
Factors Influencing the Yoga Instructor’s Salary
Importance of Location
There are disparities based on the location you are teaching yoga. The destination where you take yoga sessions is going to significantly impact your income. You cannot expect to earn similar in a foreign country as you earn in your own country. Along with this, the type of city, whether it comes under urban area or rural area, also matters when it comes to salaries of yoga instructors.
Experience and Certification
Experience and proper qualifications play a crucial role in influencing the salary of a yoga teacher. It is already known that, for becoming a certified yoga instructor you must complete at least the 200 hour yoga teacher training via Yoga Alliance accredited yoga school. So, an individual who just completed the beginners training of 200 hours is going to be less experienced than someone who finished their comprehensive 500 hour yoga TTC. Along with this, it is important to have expertise in the yoga style you are specializing in. It will increase your chances of earning well, as skill is more important than the experience.
The setting you are teaching yoga
Another important factor that determines the salary is the setting you are teaching yoga at. Whether it’s a popular yoga studio, a gym or fitness center, a retreat. Or a specialized workshop, the pay scale is different for different settings. If you are working full-time in a studio, then you will earn different from the person who is working as a yoga instructor in retreats or corporate programs.
In conclusion to the above article, it is clear that there are various factors which are responsible for determining a yoga instructor’s salary. If you want to pursue this as a professional career, then research about the locations and programs that can benefit you the most. Once you complete your training, make sure to refine your skills and build enough experience to earn significantly better than most of the individuals in this industry.
