Yoga has taken the world by a surprise for it is growing like never before. Today, yoga has been embraced by countries across continents due to its healing powers and hence, you can find yoga schools and studios around the world, whether it is India, the United States, the United Kingdom, or even Japan.
This growth in popularity has certainly increased the demand for yoga instructors. Moreover, with time, yoga is becoming one of the highest-paying jobs in the world. And why not? After all, with the help of a yoga instructor, you can treat your psycho-emotional illness and deepen your yoga practice. That’s the reason the number of people coming forward and taking up yoga as a full-time career option is increasing extensively day by day.
Are you also someone who is looking forward to pursuing yoga as a profession? If yes, then you must be looking for an answer to - how much do yoga instructors actually make?
So, here with this guide, we would help you understand the dynamics of yoga instructor salary. We would understand basic salaries, compare salaries in different settings, and factors that influence the yoga instructor salary.
Average Yoga Instructors Salary
There is a difference in pay of a yoga instructor as it depends on the location of your school or studio. The amount you would be earning every month in the United States would be completely different from what you would be earning while living in India. You would have a different pay scale in different countries, whether you have just graduated to be a yoga instructor or are an expert yogi. The global and national average salary for a yoga instructor varies according to country. So, let’s talk about average salaries accordingly.
Global and National Averages
Before we break it down country by country, let’s understand the global average.
The global average salary of a yoga instructor is $31000 to $100,000 per year. It all depends upon your location, client base, and of course, your qualifications. The better certifications you have, the greater your chances of having the higher end of the salary range.
There is also a national average for a yoga instructor salary as it completely depends upon the country you are teaching in. However, you must keep in mind that the yoga instructors can always increase their income by taking private coachings and workshops and by also being a part of many retreats.
The United States
The United States is one of the biggest markets of yoga in the world as it is one country where yoga is flourishing at an unprecedented rate. Regardless, as of now, the average annual salary of a yoga instructor in the United States ranges between $30,000 to $70,000. This is for an experienced yoga instructor teaching in the urban parts of the country. The salary could be less or more depending upon the remote factor.
Canada
Canada is one of the most popular yoga destinations in the world with millions of people practising yoga on a daily basis. That’s why the demand for yoga instructors in Canada is a lot more when compared to many other countries in Asia, Europe, or Australia. The average annual salary of a yoga instructor in Canada ranges between CAD 30,000 and CAD 60,000 for an experienced yoga teacher.
India
India is the birthplace of yoga and hence, there is no dearth of yoga studios and schools in the country. Despite the fact that the competition is too high, an average yoga instructor can easily make anything between INR 3,00,000 and INR 10,00,000 with one or two years of experience in the field. However, the salary in smaller towns is usually in the lower range.
The United Kingdom
Another popular country where you can find thousands of yoga studios across cities and towns, the United Kingdom is quite a promising country to nurture your yoga instructor job. Here, the average annual salary of a yoga instructor lies between £20,000 and £40,000.
Australia
As of now, Australia is one of the most popular destinations for yoga learning in the world. People come here from every part of the world not only to learn but also teach yoga. That's why the average annual salary here is pretty good, which usually lies somewhere between AUD 45,000 and AUD 75,000.
Japan
You could be in the far-east countries of the world and still have a handsome amount teaching yoga. In Japan, the average annual salary of a yoga instructor is usually between ¥3 Million and ¥6 Million. However, you would be earning the higher end in major cities and lower end in smaller towns and settlements.
Germany
In Germany, yoga instructors earn an average of €30,000 to €50,000 per year. However, salaries may be higher in major cities and regions with a higher standard of living.
How much does an average yoga instructor make in an hour?
The average salary of a yoga instructor per hour can vary around the world. However, the global average for a yoga instructor is about $30 per hour, though it can also reach somewhere around $75 per hour depending upon your geographic location, your experience and expertise, and the facilities of the yoga place you are teaching 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
It is not just the location that influences the structure of a yoga instructor salary. The salary can vary as per different settings as you would need to work in different environments. And by settings, we mean studios, gyms, corporations, etc. So, here are the average salaries of a yoga instructors:
Studio-based Yoga Instructors
Yoga studios are present around the world and most of the people looking forward to learning the basics of yoga or completing their small yoga teacher training programs often go for yoga studios. That’s why the scope of earning good while teaching at a yoga studio is quite good. Hence, yoga instructors working at a yoga studio can earn somewhere between $40,000 to $80,000 per year. However, in urban areas, due to higher cost of living and better living standards, the salary could be relatively higher.
Gym-based Yoga Instructors
If you are looking forward to teaching at a gym, then be prepared to earn a little less than what you can earn by being an instructor at a yoga studio or school. It is because yoga is not often the first priority of people coming to gym and hence, it is not always the highest-paying job at a gym. On average, a yoga instructor teaching at a gym or a fitness centre can earn somewhere between $30,000 and $60,000 per year. However, you must also note that the salary can vary depending upon the size and the popularity of the gym.
Corporate Yoga Instructors
Yoga instructors can expect to earn quite a good range of salary while working for corporate wellness programs. Most of the multinational companies around the world have a great budget for these yoga sessions and programs. And that’s the reason the yoga instructors teaching here end up getting more than a median salary per year. A corporate yoga instructor can earn somewhere between $50,000 and $90,000 per year. However, it again depends upon the size of the program and the company’s size and the company’ commitment to employee well-being.
Freelance Instructors
As a freelancer, the sky's the limit and hence, it can be said that you can earn as much as you want by working on freelance projects. However, you always need to have the right skill to present and the dedication to teach. It is also one of the reasons why many people around the world choose to work independently by taking freelance or private services. On average, a yoga instructor resorting to freelancing can make anything between $50 an $150 per hour. Well, that’s quite an amount to start with!
Retreat and Workshop Instructors
Yoga instructors also have the option to teach yoga at retreats and workshops. However, the salary may be fixed for these programs or you can also receive a part of the total revenue generated from these workshops. It all depends upon your agreement.
Factors Influencing the Yoga Instructor Salary
Geographic Location
As mentioned earlier, the salary of a yoga instructor varies according to different locations and localities. You cannot expect to earn the same amount in a foreign land as you would be earning in your homeland. There are disparities based on your geographic location as in the United Kingdom, the salary could be between £20,000 and £40,000 per year, while in the United States, it could be between $30,000 and $70,000 per year. Also, while in India, you can earn between INR 3,00,000 and 10,00,000 per year, which is totally different from what you would be earning in countries like Japan or China.
Also, the salary can vary significantly upon the type of city you are teaching at. Places with higher cost of living and higher standards are often the places where yoga is in high demand. Consequently, you would be earning a lot more in these places than what you would be earning in smaller towns and cities.
Experience and Expertise
There is no doubt that experience and expertise matter a lot, whether you are in the profession of yoga teaching or any other career anywhere in the world. A yoga instructor with 5 years of experience at a yoga studio, unarguably, would earn more than a yoga instructor who has just been enrolled at the studio and has a minimum one year of experience. However, along with experience, expertise matters as well. Because what if the teacher with 5 years of experience does not specialise in any department of yoga? Would anyone still consider the person for a higher salary range? Well, it could be an argument for sure.
On the other hand, if you have expertise with a strong proven track record of previous experience and a strong client base, then you can certainly expect to get the higher end of the salary range. That’s why every yoga instructor must strive hard to get specialised certifications, advanced teaching certifications, and more.
Type of Facilities
Another significant factor that can influence a yoga instructor salary is the status of the yoga school, studio, or the venue for teaching. Yes, the place where you would be teaching yoga can certainly affect your monthly or annual income. It is because popular yoga schools and studios, high-end fitness centres, luxury resorts, and specialised yoga centres often have a better pay scale for their employees. This is mainly due to the abilities of these facilities to attract a clientele that is ready to pay premium prices for yoga services. So, if you are teaching at such high-end places, it is normal to get better payment than what you would get at community centres, small yoga studios, or gyms.
Conclusion
Overall, it can be said that the salary of a yoga instructor around the world depends upon various factors. You need to be in the right country at the right location with advanced certification along with great expertise to earn the higher end of the salary range in the world. Moreover, if you wish to earn more than what you are generating at present, it is always recommended to upskill your game. You cannot expect to earn more than an average salary if you do not have advanced yoga skills. The better you are at your game, the more income you would generate. So, get going and enrol for the certification you wish to have right away!