PRICING YOUR PILATES EXPERTISE

How to earn more without teaching 30+ hours a week

If you’ve been considering a career as a Pilates instructor, here’s the nitty-gritty on how to make it work for your time, budget, and lifestyle—without burning out.

We’ve said it before: teaching Pilates is one of the best side hustles out there.

• It’s mobile. Pilates studios and gyms exist all over the world. Mat classes, in particular, can be taught anywhere you have a flat surface—rooftops, gym floors, outdoors, or online.

• It’s adaptable. Pilates meets clients at every stage of life and wellness, from elite athletes to post-rehab seniors—and everyone in between.

• It’s flexible. People want classes mornings, evenings, and weekends. You can scale your teaching hours up or down depending on your season of life.

Let’s Crunch Some Numbers — because passion matters, but sustainability matters more

Ready to start your journey as an instructor, but not sure how the math will work out? Below are details on what to consider as you’re planning your investment in this career. 

Mat

Mat Pilates is the foundation for all the other apparatuses, but it’s also a viable career path in and of itself. Let’s look at a hypothetical scenario of how long it might take to see a return on your investment once you’ve completed your training and certification.*  

• Investment: $1,600 for in-person mat training 

• Output: Teaching 5 hours per week 

• Income per session: $35 (typical base pay for new instructors)

• Bottom line: Even at a modest teaching load, mat Pilates training can pay for itself in under three months.

Planning to teach more? If you estimate teaching closer to 10 hours per week you’ll recoup your training cost in less than 5 weeks!

*Note: These scenarios assume you’ve completed your practice hours and tested out, unless your studio offers a paid apprenticeship option.

REFORMER

Although mat Pilates is the foundation, you don’t necessarily have to start there as an instructor. Reformer classes typically cost more due to the expense of the equipment and the expertise required of the instructor. This means that instructor training is more expensive, but also that you as the instructor can typically earn more per session. For example: if a studio offers bonus pay to instructors for higher attendance, the bonuses are typically greater in a reformer class than in a mat class. If your studio offers bonus pay, you could earn more than double your base rate with a full class! Let’s see how this plays out numbers-wise: 

• Investment: $3400 for in-person reformer training 

• Output: Teaching 5 hours per week

• Income per session: $35 minimum (typical base pay for new instructors)

• Time to pay off your training: Less than 20 weeks*

• Bottom line: Higher upfront investment, but higher earning potential—especially when attendance bonuses are in play.

*Planning to teach more? If you estimate teaching closer to 10 hours per week you’ll recoup your training cost in half that time!

Apprenticeships

Many studios offer apprenticeship opportunities that allow you to complete your practice teaching hours toward certification. These programs often include mentorship, feedback from instructor trainers, and access to studio space and equipment for personal practice.

Some studios charge a fee for this experience, while others compensate instructors for their teaching hours. At Niche, we believe that if clients are paying—even at a reduced rate—the instructor should be paid as well.

When you price your Pilates expertise with intention, you’re not just earning more—you’re creating space for longevity, balance, and growth.