Yoga Teacher Salary: How Much Do Yoga Instructors Make? (2025)

Many people imagine a yoga instructor’s life as either a glamorous wellness dream or a struggle to make ends meet. The reality lies somewhere in between – a yoga teacher’s income can vary widely based on location, experience, teaching format, and how many hours they work.

In this deep dive, we’ll explore how much yoga teachers earn, primarily in the United States, with notes on other countries, and discuss the factors that influence their salaries.

Average Yoga Instructor Salary (United States)

Official statistics provide a starting point. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for fitness trainers and instructors (a category which includes yoga teachers) was about $46,180 as of May 2024.

This means half of instructors earned less than that, and half earned more. In the same BLS data, the lowest 10% of earners made under $27,600 while the top 10% made over $82,000. Keep in mind, this aggregates all kinds of fitness instructors – yoga-specific salaries might skew differently, but it’s a useful benchmark.

Industry surveys and job sites specifically tracking yoga instructors show a broad range of averages: 

• Glassdoor reports around $60,000 per year for U.S. yoga instructors,
• Salary.com estimates about $56,000,
• Zippia finds roughly $45,000,
• Indeed data skews higher with an average near $74,000. 

These numbers were compiled in mid-2023 – the disparity comes from different data sources and the fact that many yoga teachers work part-time. A more recent 2025 report noted an average of just under $70,000 per year for full-time yoga, while also citing Glassdoor’s figure around $46,000 as an average across all yoga teachers.

The takeaway: “average” salary figures can be a bit misleading, because they may or may not assume the teacher is working full-time hours. In reality, a large portion of yoga instructors teach part-time (often as a side job or out of passion), which brings down the annual average when included.

To put the averages in perspective: one yoga industry analysis noted that experienced full-time yoga teachers (with ~7+ years experience and a strong client base) could earn a median around $62K, with top earners (in very successful scenarios) making around $100K+ per year.

However, 90% of yoga teachers work part-time or have under 3 years experience – for these instructors, earnings are often much lower. In fact, one survey found that only 45% of yoga instructors feel they earn enough to cover their cost of living, highlighting that many struggle financially, especially early in their careers.

Hourly Pay and Per-Class Rates

Because many yoga teachers aren’t salaried employees, it’s useful to look at hourly and per-class earnings. In the United States, yoga instructors earn about $25–$35 per hour on average when teaching at a studio.

This aligns with the national figures of roughly $30 per hour as an overall base rate. However, $30/hour in this context assumes you have a class to teach every hour – which is not how teaching works. There’s travel, preparation, and the fact that one cannot teach back-to-back classes for 8 hours a day like a typical desk job.

Most studios and gyms pay per class rather than a strict hourly wage. Typical group class rates in the U.S. might range from about $25 to $75 per class. A common scenario at many yoga studios is around $30-$50 per class for an experienced teacher.

Gyms and community centers often pay on the lower end, sometimes as low as $15-$25 per class for beginner instructors or smaller classes. Some studios have a base rate plus a bonus per student beyond a certain attendance number (e.g. “$35 for up to 5 students, plus $5 per student beyond that”). This means if you draw a big crowd, you earn a bit more, but if only a few students show up, you might just get the base rate.

For private sessions (one-on-one or small private groups), yoga teachers can charge significantly more. In the U.S., private yoga instruction rates typically range from about $50 to $150 per session depending on the market and teacher’s experience.

A one-hour private lesson might average around $70-$100 in many cities (and higher for certain specialties or affluent clientele). According to one estimate from ZipRecruiter, the average hourly rate for private yoga teachers is about $34/hour, and about $5,800 per month if they manage to stay fully booked.

Not every instructor can fill their schedule with privates, but those who develop a niche (for example, yoga therapy for specific populations, or corporate clients) may earn a substantial income through private teaching.

It’s worth noting that full-time studio yoga teaching often means piecing together many classes at different venues. As yoga educator Brett Larkin points out, earning even a modest $30,000 per year from teaching would require giving roughly 20 classes per week (at ~$30 per class). That’s almost 3 classes a day, which can be physically and mentally exhausting to sustain.

Indeed, burnout is a common issue. Teaching more than 3 classes a day regularly is difficult because of the energy required to be fully present for students in each class. Many instructors find that beyond a certain point, adding more classes per week just isn’t feasible without sacrificing quality or personal well-being.

Teachers note it’s uncommon for one teacher to be given more than 10 or so classes a week at a single studio (often 3–5 classes is typical at one location, to keep the schedule varied). As a result, even at $50 per class, a teacher might need to work at multiple studios or gyms and teach 15+ classes weekly to approach a full-time income.

One experienced instructor joked (perhaps a bit darkly) that the compensation sometimes feels like “paid in namaste and free classes” highlighting that passion for yoga, not money, is what keeps many instructors going.

Factors That Influence Yoga Teacher Income

Why do some yoga instructors make $20,000 a year while others make $100,000+? It comes down to a combination of key factors:

Experience and Credentials

Newer teachers typically start at the lower end of the pay scale. If you just got your 200-hour certification, you might earn something like $25 per class initially.

More experienced teachers (several years of teaching, maybe an additional 300-hour certification or specialized training) can command higher rates, perhaps $40-$75 per class in a studio, or higher pay from premium clients.

Specialized credentials (e.g. expertise in prenatal yoga, yoga therapy, advanced anatomy, etc.) can also justify higher fees. Essentially, as your teaching skills and reputation grow, you can charge more for your time.

Location (Geography)

Where you teach has a huge impact on earnings. In large metropolitan areas with higher costs of living (think New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles), class rates and private session fees are higher to match (and there’s often more demand).

For example, the San Francisco Bay Area has one of the highest averages at around $38 per hour for yoga instructors, whereas a state like North Carolina averages closer to $23 per hour.

Within the U.S., the Northeast and West Coast tend to pay more than the South or Midwest. BLS data also shows states like New York, California, Massachusetts, Washington, and Colorado near the top for fitness instructor wages. On the flip side, rural areas or small towns might pay much less. A studio in a small Midwestern town might only charge students $5-$10 per class, which means instructors there earn correspondingly modest amounts.

Venue and Teaching Format

Earnings can depend on whether you’re teaching at a dedicated yoga studio, a gym, a corporate office, a resort, or independently.

Yoga studios often pay a moderate flat rate per class, sometimes with bonuses for high attendance.

Gyms and fitness centers might pay a bit less per class (since gym members aren’t paying specifically for yoga).

Corporate classes or wellness retreats can pay more – sometimes a fixed salary or generous per-session rate – especially if targeted to a high-end clientele.

Some yoga teachers also find niches in places like schools, hospitals, or community centers, which might offer stable pay (occasionally even full-time jobs with benefits, though these are rare).

Meanwhile, teaching online (either live via Zoom or through pre-recorded courses) has emerged as a format where income varies widely. A few star instructors make a great living online, while many others earn only supplemental income from it. (We’ll discuss online teaching more below.)

Employment vs. Freelance

Yoga instructors can be employees or independent contractors. Being a part-time employee (for instance, some studios or gyms hire teachers as employees and handle taxes, sometimes offering a base wage plus benefits) might give more stability but often at a lower hourly rate.

Most yoga teachers, however, are essentially freelancers, they might get a set fee per class and are responsible for their own insurance, taxes, and traveling between gigs. Freelancing gives you the freedom to set your own rates for privates or events, but it also means no sick leave, no health insurance, and variable income each month.

Many instructors cobble together income streams from multiple sources (studio classes, privates, workshops, etc.), which is entrepreneurial but can be unpredictable.

Number of Hours (Workload)

As mentioned, how many classes or clients you take on is a major factor. Some teachers treat yoga instruction as a side hustle teaching 2–3 classes a week for extra money while working another job for their main income. Others attempt to teach 15, 20, or even more classes per week to make it a full-time living.

There’s a diminishing return here: you can only physically teach so many classes before quality suffers or burnout hits. Teaching yoga is not just the time in class; it’s also commuting, class planning, self-practice, and in many cases interacting with students before/after class. So, an instructor working 30 hours a week of teaching might actually be putting in 40+ hours including all the behind-the-scenes work.

Very few people, maybe none, teach, say, 40 classes a week because that would be practically untenable. In fact, surveys indicate about two-thirds of yoga instructors teach fewer than 10 hours per week in classes. This underscores that many teachers are part-time, which holds down their annual earnings.

Business and Marketing Savvy

It may not be a traditional “factor” like the above, but a yoga teacher’s ability to market themselves and create opportunities is huge.

Two instructors with equal yoga skill can have very different incomes if one knows how to network, promote workshops, build an online following, or negotiate higher pay. In today’s market, successful yoga teachers often leverage social media, YouTube, or local community building to increase their student base.

Those who treat their teaching as a small business, complete with branding, niche offerings (e.g. yoga for trauma recovery, yoga for athletes, etc.), and even product sales tend to earn more than those who simply show up to teach classes and hope students come.

This is why you might see some relatively young instructors doing well if they have a strong Instagram presence or a popular online program, whereas some veteran teachers who haven’t embraced marketing might still struggle financially.

As YogiTimes notes, embracing digital platforms and marketing can make a significant difference in earnings for a “modern yogi”:content.

Additional Skills or Services

Many yoga instructors boost their income by offering related services.

For instance, a yoga teacher might also be a massage therapist, personal trainer, or nutrition coach, thus attracting private clients who utilize multiple services. Some become studio managers or take on administrative roles for steady pay in addition to teaching.

Others create content (videos, blogs) that eventually generate revenue. These extra skills often complement a yoga teaching career and diversify one’s income.

In summary, the range of yoga teacher income is broad, a newly minted teacher in a small town might make only a couple hundred dollars a month, whereas a seasoned teacher in a big city, teaching daily and running programs, could make $5,000+ a month.

Many factors interconnect (e.g. an experienced teacher in New York City running their own workshops has the trifecta of experience, location, and format working in their favor). Understanding these factors can help yoga teachers strategize how to grow their income over time.

Global Comparisons: Yoga Teacher Pay in Other Countries

Yoga originated in India, but today it’s a global profession. How do yoga instructor salaries compare internationally? Most countries show similar patterns, teaching yoga is rarely a high-paying career unless you are in a top market or supplement with other work. Here are a few snapshots:

United Kingdom

Yoga instructors in the UK earn roughly £25–£30 per hour on average. Indeed.com reports about £27.01 per hour as the average base rate as of mid-2025. Yearly earnings around £30,000 to £35,000 are common for those teaching regularly. London rates tend to be higher than those in smaller cities or rural areas.

A UK yoga teacher with a full schedule might earn around £33k per year (roughly $40k USD) which is in line with or slightly above general fitness instructor pay. However, many in the UK also teach part-time, so actual take-home can be less.

India

In India, where the cost of living is lower and yoga teachers are abundant, the pay is much lower in absolute terms. An average salary for a yoga instructor is around ₹18,000 per month (approximately $220 USD per month). That comes out to roughly ₹216,000 per year (about $2,600 USD). Of course, this is modest by Western standards, but one must factor in India’s economy.

Experienced yoga masters in India running their own schools or training programs can earn more (especially if catering to foreign students in retreats/teacher trainings), but a local yoga teacher’s pay at a gym or studio might be only a few hundred rupees per class (₹200–₹500). It’s not uncommon for Indian yoga instructors to take on overseas gigs or online teaching targeting Western students to boost their income. 

Other Europe

Continental Europe ranges widely.

In Germany, a typical yoga teacher might earn around €14 per hour, which translates to roughly €29,000 annually if full-time.

In France, averages are a bit lower (perhaps €20,000–€25,000 per year for a full-time teacher).

Spain or Eastern European countries might see even lower averages (closer to €10–€15/hour in some cases).

Scandinavian countries or Switzerland can pay more; Swiss yoga teachers were reported to average around CHF 22/hour, about CHF 45,000 per year (Swiss Francs), which is roughly $50,000 USD – though note that Switzerland’s cost of living is extremely high.

Broadly, Europe’s numbers (in Euros or local currency) often equate to something in the $20,000–$50,000 USD per year range for a full-time yoga teacher, with Northern/Western Europe on the higher end and Southern/Eastern Europe on the lower end. Just like the U.S., urban centers (Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, etc.) offer higher class rates than small towns.

Australia and Canada

These English-speaking markets have dynamics similar to the U.S./UK.

In Australia, a yoga instructor might charge around AUD $50-$80 per class. Annual earnings in cities like Sydney or Melbourne could be on par with US cities (maybe AUD $50k per year if quite active, which is about $33k USD).

Canada sees hourly rates in the C$20-C$40 range; a survey in Toronto or Vancouver might find averages in the mid C$30s/hour, making full-time annual income on the order of C$40k–C$50k (approximately $30k–$37k USD).

These are ballpark figures; like elsewhere, part-time teaching yields much less.

The “Yoga Tourism” Markets

It’s worth mentioning places like Bali, Thailand, Costa Rica, etc., which are famous for yoga retreats and teacher trainings.

Yoga teachers in these destinations often work short-term stints or on a per-retreat basis. The pay might be lower in local terms (and many are freelance foreigners teaching abroad).

For example, a teacher might get free accommodation and a stipend to teach at a Bali retreat, rather than a high salary. These gigs are often seen as lifestyle opportunities more than income-generating jobs.

Nonetheless, some experienced teachers travel and teach internationally at retreats, earning modest pay but enjoying travel perks.

In Summary

The United States tends to have higher absolute pay for yoga teachers than most countries, but also a higher cost of living in major cities.

Europe and other Western countries are in a similar band after adjusting for currency. In India and many parts of Asia or Latin America, yoga teacher pay in dollar terms is much lower, but local teachers also usually charge local rates (and may have lower expenses accordingly).

Wherever you go, teaching yoga alone rarely makes one rich – but it can provide a living, especially if you adapt to the market.

Real-World Perspectives: Can You Make a Living Teaching Yoga?

Statistics aside, what do actual yoga teachers report about making a living in this field? There’s a saying: “Nobody becomes a yoga instructor for the money.” While somewhat tongue-in-cheek, it contains truth. Many instructors cobble together incomes and have to be creative to make it sustainable.

High Cost of Living

A yoga teacher from California shared that in her area, $50 per class is standard for studios, and gyms pay less. Even teaching multiple classes, most instructors need another source of income. “The only teachers I know who don’t do something else to earn a living are studio owners or [those with] a spouse as the main earner,” she noted bluntly.

This highlights that a lot of yoga teachers either treat it as a part-time passion or rely on a partner or alternate job for financial stability. It’s common to hear of yoga teachers who also wait tables, work in an office part-time, or have other side gigs, especially in the beginning.

Online Scalable Courses

On the other end, there are outliers who show what’s possible with an entrepreneurial approach. One experienced U.S. yoga instructor (with ~9 years of teaching) reported earning about $150,000 in one year. How? She explained that 80% of that income came from an online yoga course she created, with the rest from private clients and corporate sessions.

In her case, she taught very few public classes; instead, she focused on building a scalable online program in her niche (her course was focused on “Yoga for Grief”, serving a specific need). Her success required not only yoga expertise but also building her own platform, marketing through blogs/podcasts/SEO, and effectively productizing her knowledge.

While $150k is far from typical, this story illustrates that with the right niche and business model, a yoga teacher’s earning potential can expand significantly. It also underlines that high earnings often come from activities beyond regular studio classes (in this case, digital products and corporate partnerships).

Teaching Teachers

Many instructors supplement their teaching by leading teacher trainings or workshops. Experienced teachers (often E-RYT 500 certified or similar) might lead 200-hour teacher training programs, which can be lucrative.

For example, if a yoga studio charges each trainee ~$3,000 for a 200-hour training, and has 10 trainees, that’s $30,000 gross – a lead trainer might earn a significant portion of that over the course of the training (which typically runs for several weeks or weekends).

Workshops (e.g. a weekend “Yoga for Anxiety” workshop) can command higher hourly rates from students than drop-in classes, thus paying the teacher more per hour of teaching. These avenues are typically open to those who have built up experience and reputation.

Experiential Retreats

Retreats are another way instructors make money (and travel). A teacher might host a yoga retreat in Costa Rica or a weekend getaway upstate. Usually, the teacher’s expenses are covered and they receive a fee per student attending.

If you bring 15 students at $800 each, that’s $12,000 revenue; after costs, the teacher might pocket a few thousand dollars for a week’s teaching, not huge, but a nice combo of income and a paid vacation. Again, retreats require the ability to market and organize, and there’s some financial risk if you don’t fill the spots.

Merchandise

Some teachers increase income by selling merchandise or content. It’s not uncommon to see yoga teachers writing books or ebooks, selling yoga props (mats, clothing, etc.) with affiliate links or their own brand, or monetizing a YouTube channel.

These efforts might start slow, but a popular YouTube yoga instructor, for example, can earn ad revenue or get sponsors. (The extreme case: globally famous yogis can become brand ambassadors or have subscription apps – e.g., Yoga with Adriene on YouTube, who has millions of subscribers, certainly earns far above the typical yoga teacher.)

The bottom line from real-world voices is that making a comfortable living purely from teaching group yoga classes is challenging. It usually requires a combination of hustling for enough classes, diversifying income streams, and sticking with it over years so that your experience and student following grow.

Many quit along the way because of burnout or financial pressure. But those who treat it like a career, continuously learning, expanding their offerings, and adapting to opportunities, can make it work. Passion for teaching and the personal rewards of the job often compensate for the fact that it’s not a get-rich-quick profession.

Tips to Increase Your Yoga Teaching Income

If you’re a yoga teacher (or considering becoming certified) and wondering how to earn more, here are some strategies gleaned from industry pros:

Diversify Your Offerings

Don’t rely only on studio classes. Consider privates, corporate classes, workshops, kids yoga, seniors yoga, etc. A diverse portfolio means you’re not at the mercy of one studio’s schedule. It also opens up higher-paying gigs (for instance, businesses might pay more for a workplace wellness class than individuals pay for a studio class).

Build a Niche or Specialty

Identify what makes you unique as a teacher. Maybe you have a background in physical therapy, leverage that to teach yoga for injury rehabilitation at physio clinics. Or you love rock climbing, start a “Yoga for Climbers” class and partner with climbing gyms.

By specializing, you can become the go-to teacher in that niche, allowing you to charge premium rates because you offer something not everyone else does.

Teach Online (Smartly)

Teaching yoga online can remove the local ceiling on your audience. You could offer weekly Zoom classes to students anywhere, create an on-demand video library on a platform, or develop an online course.

While the online yoga space is crowded, if you have engaging teaching and a bit of marketing know-how, you can start to generate income that isn’t limited by how many hours you personally can teach in a day.

Tip: Focus on a specific problem or theme online (general yoga classes are everywhere, but something like “20-minute desk worker stretch sessions” could draw a dedicated following).

Host Yoga Teacher Trainings or Retreats

If you have the qualifications (typically at least 500 hours of training and several years teaching), look into leading teacher training programs or retreats. These require significant work and planning, but the financial reward per hour of teaching can be higher than regular classes.

Many senior teachers say that trainings and retreats became their main income sources, while weekly classes were more for community building.

Network and Collaborate

Yoga teaching opportunities sometimes arise from who you know. Networking with wellness professionals can lead to referrals (e.g., a massage therapist referring private yoga clients to you).

Collaborating with others – co-teaching a workshop or retreat with a more established teacher, for example – can boost your profile and lead to more students (and future earnings).

Also, simply letting your existing students know you’re available for privates or corporate gigs can generate leads; often, a student might think “I’d love a yoga session for my employees” but they won’t know you offer it unless you mention it.

Value Your Time (and Raise Rates When Appropriate)

It’s common for new teachers to undervalue themselves and accept very low pay just for the chance to teach. Gaining experience is important, but as you grow, don’t be afraid to raise your rates or negotiate.

If you’ve been teaching privates at $50/hour and you’re in demand, bump it to $65. If a studio hasn’t given a raise in years, talk to the manager about a small increase, or seek out a higher-paying studio.

Know the going rates in your area and position yourself accordingly. Sometimes teaching fewer classes for higher pay not only earns more but also gives you bandwidth to explore other income avenues.

Keep Learning and Adding Skills

The more valuable you are to clients, the more you can earn. This could mean deepening your yoga training (learning advanced techniques, therapeutics, etc.) or adding complementary skills like meditation, breathwork, or fitness training.

For example, if you can teach meditation sessions, that might attract corporate clients who want stress-reduction programs, now you can offer a package deal (yoga + meditation) and charge more than for just a yoga class. Staying current with trends (such as yoga with weights, mindfulness programs, etc.) can also keep you relevant and better paid.

Ultimately, a successful yoga teaching career often merges teaching skills with business acumen. It’s about finding the balance between doing what you love and making sure you’re financially sustainable.

Many yoga teachers who thrive financially treat it as both a calling and a business – they invest in their own development and also in the marketing/administrative side of things.

Conclusion

Being a yoga instructor in 2025 is not very different from years past in one respect: you don’t become a yoga teacher primarily for the money. The average salaries are modest compared to many other professions, and the path to the upper end of the pay scale requires time, dedication, and often creativity in generating income.

In the United States, a ballpark figure for a working yoga teacher is on the order of $30k–$50k a year, but many make less and some make more. It’s possible to cobble together a six-figure income as a yoga teacher, but usually not by simply teaching drop-in studio classes, it may involve privates, trainings, online content, or running a yoga business.

The good news is that the yoga industry is growing (employment of fitness instructors is projected to grow faster than average in the coming decade, per BLS). There are more yoga practitioners every year, which means opportunities for teachers continue to emerge.

Yoga has infiltrated gyms, workplaces, schools, and healthcare, creating jobs outside the traditional studio model. If you’re passionate about teaching and willing to adapt, you can find a niche where you earn a livable salary doing what you love, though it might take some patience and hustle.

In summary, a yoga teacher’s salary can range from “ramen noodles” to “comfortable living” levels, to quote a humorous comparison. Most fall somewhere in the middle.

By understanding the factors at play and being proactive in how you structure your teaching career, you can tilt the odds toward the upper end of that range. And regardless of the dollars earned, many find the non-monetary rewards helping students find peace, health, and joy well worth the journey.

Sources

Official U.S. labor statistics, industry salary surveys, yoga business reports, and anecdotal experiences from yoga instructors (see inline references). All monetary figures are in local currency (converted to USD where noted) and are approximate. Keep in mind that taxes, cost of living, and individual circumstances will impact net income.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Fitness Trainers and Instructors 

Indeed: Yoga instructor salary in United States

Zippa: Yoga Instructor Salary and Career Guide