Computer Science Tutoring Cost?

[bleemus]

There was a guy that I helped with some intro C++ stuff because he was a husband of one of our business partners employees.  He has been out of school for awhile, going back in for accounting, and was forced to take an intro C++ class.

Now they want me to tutor a couple hours a week.  I have no problem doing this, but since it will be on my own time, I will be charging them.

I taught the same material at UM-Rolla for a year and got paid decent for it, so I am very experienced in the subject.

How much do you think I should charge per hour?  I was thinking $20/hr.  This is in the St. Louis area, if that would influence what you think the tutoring was worth.

[Crax]

Be a lot more detailed than $20/hour...make sure they know you round up for partial hours and you don't charge them half for a half hour etc.  Is this going to be a long term thing or just once or twice?

[bleemus]

Is this going to be a long term thing or just once or twice?

I assume long term, once per week for the remainder of the semester.

I just hope he doesn't want me to do the work for him, that would cost alot more. 

[ChadTower]

If you have taught the subject professionally, more than $20.

I'd charge $25 myself, probably.  I'm a professional but have never taught the subject.

[shmokes]

I'd go with $25.  In addition to having a valuable expertise, you're apparently a contractor as well.  They aren't giving you a full-time job with benefits and salary.  When I do freelance (IT stuff) I charge between 3 and 5 times what I make at my regular job.

And, most importantly, ask yourself how much your time is worth to you.  Don't undercharge because you're afraid it will seem too much to them.  Think of the number that would make you feel like it's not worth it and DO NOT go below that number.

[NightGod]

I wouldn't do it for less than $50 an hour, personally. I think you're selling yourself WAY short if you do it for $25, especially with you having professional teaching experience in that subject field.

Alot of deciding what to charge would depend on how good of a relationship you have with the "they" that are paying for it, as well. If there is a strong chance/definate future quid pro quo being factored in, I'd take less. If they're rat ---daisies--- who squeeze you for every dime they can when they're selling services to you, I'd charge more. But for a straight-up, neutral buisness relationship, it would take $50 to get me through the door to tutor in a computer subject, one hour minimum, half-hour rounding after that.

[ChadTower]

While the price isn't unreasonable, it's also far too high for most people.  They probably won't pay $50/hr.  And keep in mind a professional standard level C++ contractor doesn't make that much more than $50/hr at the moment if they do at all.

[NightGod]

They're not paying for someone to sit down and code something, they're paying for someone who has the ability to sit down and code something AND the ability to teach someone else how to do so. Add in that it's a company paying his fees, not an individual and I'd still put my baseline at $50, adjusted based on the other stuff I mentioned.

[J_K_M_A_N]

I agree with NightGod. I would be asking at least $40-$50 an hour. It is a private tutoring lesson. He isn't teaching a class of 10-20 people. Plus, with the one on one it shouldn't take as long because the one person can ask questions as they go along or he can say I already know that, lets go on to something else.

I work in a warehouse and I often offer to write programs for them but I ask for $40-$50 an hour for programming. Sometimes more. They understand (after I explained it to them) that this type of work is worth more pay. It is not something everyone can do. I think this is similar. You can't just ask anyone and everyone to tutor someone in C++. The less people that can do the job, the more it is going to cost you.

Go for the big bucks unless you really need the money. Then ask them what they are willing to pay and work from there. They will probably low ball you at first. Good luck.

J_K_M_A_N

[bleemus]

FYI, we settled on $25/hr.

The guy is a disabled veteran and out of work (hence the reason he is going to school) so I felt like I should give him the lowest price I am comfortable with.

[NightGod]

Extra details like that would have made a difference in my suggested price =p