How Much Do Yoga Teachers Make, Really? A Global Yoga Teacher Salary Guide

We're often told that teaching yoga as a career can be both spiritually and financially rewarding, but the reality of how much you can earn isn’t as straightforward. According to salary data from Payscale, Indeed, Glassdoor, and SalaryExpert, yoga teachers typically earn between £20,000-£35,000 annually in the UK and $33,000-$60,000 in the US. But your actual salary really comes down to the path you choose.

You might prefer leading daily studio classes, discover that private sessions better suit your teaching style, or feel called to open your own space—all these decisions play a part in your income. Many teachers create a mix that works for them, combining different teaching formats as they grow. Your location makes a big difference too, as do your experience and approach to teaching.

To help you understand what you could earn as a yoga teacher, this guide walks you through yoga teacher salaries around the world. As a yoga business owner myself with over 12 years of experience in the industry, I’ll also provide practical ways you can boost your salary while building a thriving and sustainable career in yoga. 

What Factors Influence a Yoga Teacher Salary?

Your income as a yoga teacher isn't set in stone. It’ll shift based on several key factors that can make a real difference to your income. Let's break down what actually impacts a yoga teacher salary:

Teaching Environment and Format

When starting out as a yoga teacher, studios and gyms are likely to be the most reliable path to consistent work. Yoga studios or ashrams typically pay better rates but may offer fewer classes, while gyms often provide more teaching opportunities but at lower rates.

Corporate classes often bring the highest earnings. As modern yoga has grown, more companies are seeing the practice as a valuable employee wellness benefit, and they’re willing to pay for quality teaching. Since you're working directly with businesses rather than through a studio or gym, you keep the full fee—making these classes especially valuable once you've established yourself as a teacher.

In my years of experience, I’ve found that the best approach is to find a mix of these formats that work for you—maybe teaching regular studio classes while building up private clients on your days off.

Location and Market

Where you teach matters more than you might think. Like with most jobs, major cities like New York, London, or Sydney typically offer higher rates.

According to ZipRecruiter, yoga teachers in Manhattan, New York can earn $77,216 a year, while the national average in the United States is $7,000 less at $69,965. However, working in bigger cities also comes with more competition and higher living costs.

Sometimes, teaching in smaller cities or suburban areas can actually work in your favor—less competition often means more opportunity to establish yourself and build a loyal following. 

Experience and Credentials

Your training and time on the mat definitely count. New teachers usually start at the lower end of the pay scale, but can request higher pay rates or apply to senior positions with better salaries as their experience grows.

If you don't have extensive experience yet, become an expert in a field or style of yoga you feel passionate about. This gives you an edge that many teachers might not have while deepening your own path as a practitioner. I often recommend additional certifications in specialized areas like Prenatal Yoga, Yin Yoga, or Kids Yoga as these can open doors to specific student groups.

Remember, each style of yoga offers something different, so do your research and choose a training that’s right for you while also filling a gap in your community. 

Discover: Which Yoga Style Is Best for You? Hatha Yoga vs Vinyasa vs Yin

Contract Type

One of the biggest choices you'll make as a yoga teacher is how to structure your work. Each option comes with its own trade-offs between freedom, security, and how much you can earn as a yoga teacher:

• Freelance: Freelance yoga teachers tend to earn more per class and have complete freedom over where and when you teach. The only downside is that you will be responsible for your own taxes, insurance, and dealing with quiet periods over low seasons.
• Part-Time: This gives you some stability with regular classes and a stable salary. Depending on your employer, you might get some basic benefits too. For those starting out, teaching part time is a great way to build your teaching experience while keeping a steady pay check.
• Full-Time: As a full-time yoga teacher, your hourly rate might be lower, but you're getting reliable pay, health insurance, vacation time, and often opportunities to grow within the studio. It's less common, but larger studios and gyms often prefer having dedicated full-time teachers.
• Business Owner: Whether you're opening your own studio or building an independent teaching business, this path usually offers the highest pay for yoga teachers. That said, it’s also the most challenging—you'll be managing everything from rent to staff schedules—but you get to shape your own yoga community.

Also Read: 7 Must-Do’s for Opening and Running a Successful Yoga Studio

How Much Do Yoga Teachers Make Around the World?

It’s clear that many factors determine your income as a yoga teacher, but where you teach often makes the biggest difference. Below, is a comprehensive and up-to-date comparison of how much yoga teachers make per hour and annually across different countries.

*The yoga teacher pay rates shown above for each destination are sourced from ERI SalaryExpert's database in 2025, with further verification from Indeed, Payscale, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter.

Where Do Yoga Teachers Make the Most Money?

When looking at how much yoga teachers make worldwide, Switzerland tops the list with average earnings of ₣45,503 (CHF) or €47,864 per year. In the United States, yoga teachers earn the second highest salary, followed by Australia, the United Kingdom, and finally Canada.

Keep in mind that salary figures don't tell the whole story. Yes, yoga teachers in Switzerland earn the most, but they're living and working in one of the world's most expensive countries.

If you're teaching in places like Bali or Thailand, you might earn around €7,000 annually—which looks low on paper, but goes much further due to lower living costs. Many teachers find these peaceful destinations particularly attractive, not just for the lifestyle balance but because they can maintain a comfortable standard of living while teaching in paradise.

Read: How Much Does It Cost to Become a Yoga Instructor?

How Can You Increase a Yoga Teacher Salary?

There are countless ways you can make a living as a yoga teacher, but how do you increase your income if you’re not making enough? Nowadays, many teachers are creating online content to boost their brand identity and build a community of online students, but this is just one path.

Here are a few other approaches that can help you earn more as a yoga teacher while keeping your personal practice alive:

Offer More Class Options

If you work in a studio, consider creating membership options that serve both your students' needs and your teaching business. Monthly unlimited passes provide excellent value for regular students, while weekly options offer flexibility with better discounts from drop-in rates.

You could even consider hybrid memberships that combine group classes with a monthly private session for those dedicated students wanting to deepen their practice. With this approach, your students get better value and you gain more financial stability through advance payments.

Take Your Teaching Online

Beyond Instagram posts and YouTube videos, there are many benefits to developing online courses for your following online. One of the biggest is that this format lets you reach students worldwide while building passive income in the process. I’ve also found that this is how many successful teachers find their specialty—whether it's alignment-focused flows, meditation techniques, or targeted programs for specific needs like back care. 

Lead Retreats and Workshops

Although a retreat might be intimidating to organize, they can boost your income as a yoga teacher, especially during those slow periods. Start locally with weekend workshops focused on specific themes or practices. As you gain experience, you can increase your rates and expand your offerings, creating richer experiences that inspire students to return and spread the word.

If you don’t have the time to arrange retreats, you can also consider partnering with established retreat centers or booking platforms to handle logistics while you focus on teaching.

Deepen Your Expertise

Continuing your education as a yoga teacher is an investment that often pays for itself. You could choose certifications that align with your students' needs—like Restorative Yoga for those managing daily stress, or Postnatal Yoga if you work with a lot of women.

Each specialty can increase your hourly rate and attract dedicated students. If you're considering growing beyond teaching into running your own studio or broader yoga business, a targeted yoga business coaching course might be best to provide essential skills for scaling your practice sustainably.

Also See: Lessons from a Successful Yoga Business Owner

Final Thought

Teaching yoga brings important decisions about balance and what matters most. Some teachers thrive in places like Bali or Thailand, where salaries are lower but the lifestyle is rich and costs are manageable. Others build thriving businesses in major cities, creating the financial freedom to shape their future. Both paths can lead to success—what's important is choosing one that aligns with your goals and values.

While understanding the financial side of teaching is vital, remember that this career offers something equally valuable: the chance to share meaningful practices while growing in your own journey. Experienced teachers often share that their most successful periods came when they stayed connected to their practice and focused on genuinely serving their students.

If you're feeling drawn to start your teaching journey, Arhanta’s 200-hour teacher training offers a strong foundation in both the practical and traditional aspects of yoga. You'll learn not just how to teach poses, but how to find your authentic voice and build a sustainable teaching career.

Sources:

• ERI SalaryExpert, accessed February 2025 from salaryexpert.com/salarycalculator
• PayScale, accessed February 2025 from payscale.com/research
• Glassdoor, accessed February 2025 from glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries
• Indeed, accessed February 2025 from indeed.com/career/yoga-instructor/salaries
• ZipRecruiter, accessed February 2025 from ziprecruiter.com/salaries