If you are looking for ways to earn extra income this year, an online teaching job could be for you.
Online tutoring has grown tremendously over the last decade as parents seek to help their children understand various subject matters, and teachers look for a more flexible work environment.
It’s not just trained teachers that are in demand. College students and even high school students are able to teach some subjects online if they have expertise in the area.
One notable area of online tutoring that has boomed in recent times is teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). If you are proficient in English and have a college degree, there are many platforms hiring English teachers.
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Online Tutoring Jobs
A work from home job can make your life easier by giving you the flexibility to work even if you are a stay at home mom, freelancer, or remote worker.
While platforms have educational requirements that vary, the equipment and technology needs for online teaching are pretty similar and include access to:
- A reliable internet connection
- A computer with adequate RAM and processor speed
- Headset with a microphone
- Webcam
Below we cover some of the best online tutoring sites for teaching jobs in 2021.
1. Magic Ears
Magic Ears is an online English learning platform for kids who are 4-12 years old. There is a 1:4 teacher to student ratio and classes run for 25 minutes.
Requirements: Teachers are required to hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in any subject and hold a 120-hour ESL certification.
College students who are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s program can also apply and applicants with teaching experience may get preference.
Pay: Magic Ears teachers earn up to $26 per hour. Payment for the classes you take in a month is issued around the 10th of the following month.
2. QKids
QKids connects Chinese kids between 4-12 years old with tutors who help them learn the English Language. Classes run for 30 minutes and you will teach 1-4 students per class.
Requirements: You must be able to work legally in the U.S. or Canada, have a Bachelor’s degree and have a teaching or English teaching certificate (e.g. ESL, TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA). The interview process includes a video demo and trial class.
Pay: You earn up to $20 per hour after considering the base pay and performance bonuses. Payments are issued via bank transfer on the 15th for the previous month’s classes.
3. VIPKid
VIPKid is an online platform that hires teachers to teach the English Language to children in China. Classes are one-on-one and run for 25 minutes.
Requirement: Teachers must hold a Bachelor’s degree and be resident in Canada or the United States. There is a 30-minute interview and a mock class as part of the hiring process. A minimum of a 6-month commitment is required for successful candidates.
Pay: VIPKid teachers earn between $14-$22 per hour. Payments are issued on the 10th and 15th of each month through direct bank deposit.
Teaching schedules for this platform during peak times are 6-9pm (Mon-Fri) and 9am-9pm (Sat & Sun) Beijing time. Learn more about VIPKid here.
4. Skooli
Skooli is a tutoring platform that matches students with teachers for various subjects including Math, science, English, and more.
Students can either schedule a session with you in advance, or you can provide answers to their questions immediately if you are online.
Requirements: Teachers are expected to be experts in their subject area and should have at least one of the following:
- Master’s degree or PhD
- Bachelor’s degree and teaching certification
- State or provincial teaching license
- ESL qualification
Pay: Skooli tutors earn $25 per hour and payments are made through PayPal. If you are an experienced teacher, this gig could offer a significant earning potential.
5. Wyzant
Students use this platform to find private tutors for one-on-one learning. Subjects offered include Math, science, algebra, chemistry, calculus, physics, writing, etc.
Requirements: You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the United States. You don’t need to be certified as a teacher, however, you will need to provide a detailed description of your proficiency in the subjects you plan to teach.
After signing up, your application is reviewed manually.
Pay: You set your own rate and keep 75% of fees while the remainder goes to Wyzant.
6. Preply
This educational platform is available to tutors from 185 countries. Students use the service to learn various languages, hobbies, art, and university subjects.
Requirements: You are not required to be certified, however, teaching experience is recommended.
Pay: Your earnings depend on the hourly rate you set. Preply takes 100% of your first lesson payment for each new student and 18-33% for subsequent lessons.
Earnings are paid out through PayPal, Payoneer, or Skrill.
7. Tutor.com
If you are looking for a flexible tutoring job you can do in your spare time, Tutor.com is a good place to start your search.
Requirements: You need to pass a subject exam and interview. Tutors on this platform have varied backgrounds and qualifications depending on the subject they teach.
In general, you must reside in the U.S. and be available to work at least 5 hours per week. You should also have a 4-year degree from an accredited university or be enrolled in a 4-year course.
Pay: Varies depending on the subject you tutor.
This platform is a subsidiary of The Princeton Review.
8. TutorMe
If you have a University degree, TutorMe hires teachers to provide one-on-one lessons in various subject students.
Requirements: You must be at least 18 years old and have previous teaching experience. Tutors must have graduated from an accredited university or be enrolled in one.
Pay: You earn $16 per hour and payment is through PayPal.
9. EF Education First
Through EF Teach English Online, English-speaking freelancers and teachers get paid to teach online classes to Chinese children aged 5-14 years. Lessons range from 20-45 minutes and classes may be one-on-one or contain groups of 5-6 students.
Requirements: Applicants must be native English Speakers and have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Previous teaching experience is desired.
Pay: The hourly pay varies. As per Glassdoor, the average is $14 per hour.
10. Yup
Good at Math? You can make money teaching math to students from grades 3-12 and also assist with SAT and SAT II preparation.
Requirements: Apply online and complete the proficiency exam and teaching exercise.
Pay: Varies.
Related: Online Jobs for Students.
Other Online Teaching Jobs Sites
In addition to the 10 sites listed above, you can also find online tutoring jobs using these platforms:
11. Study.com
12. Revolution Prep
13. StudyPool
14. Course Hero
15. TutaPoint
16. FlexJobs
17. Upwork
How To Become An Online Tutor
The educational requirements for online teacher vary depending on the subject being taught and the platform. Some platforms offer jobs to college students while others require you to have graduated.
In general, having some teaching experience, even from volunteering helps. You should know how to interact with kids and keep them engaged. Also, you should be a bit tech savvy and comfortable with using a computer.
Following your initial application online, be prepared to do an interview, and in some cases, a test class(es) before you are hired.
For English Language classes, an English teaching certification is always an asset.
How Much Do Online Tutors Earn?
The pay for online tutors range from as low as $10/hr to as high as $60+/hr. If you are teaching an advanced subject, you could easily earn more.
Some platforms such as Magic Ears, VIPKid or QKid have pre-determined rates, while others such as Preply and Wyzant allow you to set your preferred rates.
