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 subjects, 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 can teach some subjects online if they have expertise in the area.
One notable area of online tutoring that has recently boomed 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.
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 2023.
Best Online Tutoring Jobs in Canada
1. 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 (Saturday and Sunday) Beijing time. Learn more about the platform in this VIPKid review.
2. 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 must 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.
3. QKids
QKids connects Chinese kids between 4 and 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.
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 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. Study.com
There are several ways to earn at Study.com, including answering questions from students, writing lessons, and even working on writing jobs.
You can teach students of all levels, and the site is packed with resources to help you succeed.
Requirements: N/A
Pay: Variable
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 their teaching subject.
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. Course Hero
Course Hero is a course-based platform where you provide answers to questions while working as a contractor.
You can choose your subject, including math, humanities, science, etc., and answers are then rated by students, which impacts your earning potential.
Requirements: Must be a college/university student or graduate
Pay: Up to $1,500 per month
9. 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.
10. TutorMe
If you have a University degree, TutorMe hires teachers to provide one-on-one lessons in various subjects to 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.
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. 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.
12. Yup
Good at Math? You can make money teaching math to students from grades 3 to 12 and also assist with SAT and SAT II preparation.
Requirements: Apply online and complete the proficiency exam and teaching exercise.
Pay: The pay varies for this online tutor job.
13. SOSteacher
At SOSteacher, you can work as an online tutor from anywhere and teach students across Canada. Using this platform, you can provide homework help and tutoring, and there are options to teach a wide range of subjects.
Requirements: University degree in the subject you are teaching
Pay: Variable
14. StudyPool
Studypool accepts tutors from anywhere and takes a 20% service fee from your earnings.
It works slightly differently from other platforms because students submit questions, you bid for them, then students select from the bids. You can use this site to earn extra cash or turn it into a full-time job.
Requirements: College student or graduate
Pay: Up to $7,500 per month
15. Mobile Tutors
At Mobile Tutors, you can teach online or in person, and there are several subjects to teach, including math, science, English and more. Many students are on the platform, and you can enjoy a flexible schedule and regular monthly pay.
Requirements: 1+ year of tutoring, coaching or mentoring and relevant education
Pay: N/A, but claims to offer some of the highest salaries in the industry
16. FlexJobs
You can find several remote jobs at FlexJobs, including online tutoring jobs in Canada. Search for online tutoring work and start applying to any suitable jobs that you find.
Requirements: N/A
Pay: Variable
17. Upwork
Upwork is one of the largest freelancing platforms, and you can find all kinds of freelance jobs here, including online tutoring work. You set your hourly rate, and you can then bid on jobs posted by clients.
Requirements: Apply to create a profile on Upwork
Pay: Set your rate
How To Become An Online Tutor
The difficulty of becoming an online tutor depends on the platform you want to use. For some platforms, you simply need to be a college student. Other platforms only accept graduates, while some platforms require you to have prior teaching experience.
You may want to earn some extra money by answering questions on your subject. This kind of work is relatively simple to get as long as you meet the basic requirements.
But if you want to earn a full-time income as an online tutor, you should at least have some teaching experience, know your subject inside out, and be prepared to go through a more demanding application process.
In general, having some teaching experience, even volunteering, will help you get a job. You should also 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, you should also be prepared to do an interview and, sometimes, a test class 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 ranges from as low as $10/hr to as high as $60 per hour. If you are teaching an advanced subject or have previous online tutoring experience, 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.
How to Succeed as a Tutor
Enjoying success as a tutor in Canada comes down to the amount of work you put in.
First, you will need to determine your level of expertise. If you have taught a subject for years in the classroom, you should have little difficulty finding a well-paying online tutor role.
Once you decide to become an online tutor, explore the platforms in this guide. Do you want to answer student questions? Or do you want to provide live one-on-one lessons?
Choose a platform, find out about the requirements, then apply to join. Take care with the application process, and make sure you spend time on it to show that you have what it takes to meet the requirements.
After that, your success comes down to determination, doing a good job, helping your students to learn and making the experience a positive one for them. Continue to learn about your subject and work on your teaching skills to improve constantly.
You might want to start with one platform and then branch out to other platforms to increase your earning potential.
Pros and Cons of Online Tutoring Jobs
There are several pros and cons of online tutoring jobs that you should consider before applying for a job on a platform.
Pros:
- Flexibility to work from anywhere.
- Earn a side income or full-time income.
- Enjoy doing what you love.
- Create a schedule that works for you.
- Platforms quickly connect you with students.
- Teaching experience is not always required.
Cons:
- High earning potential is usually for more experienced teachers.
- Finding work can be competitive on some platforms.
- Fewer benefits like paid vacations compared to a full-time teaching position.
Other Ways to Make Money as a Teacher
There are many other ways to make money as a teacher besides online tutoring. You could:
- Create courses and sell them via a platform like Udemy.
- Create and sell learning materials via your own website.
- Do after-school programs in your area.
- Write and publish ebooks on your subject.
- Become a freelance writer specializing in educational topics.
- Create a blog or YouTube channel and sell educational resources.
Are Online Tutoring Jobs Worth It?
Online tutoring jobs can certainly be worth it if you find the right type of job for your skills.
Whether you want to make some money on the side or earn a full-time income, there are platforms available to find the type of work you will enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no set amount of money that online tutors make in Canada, and it varies based on your skill level, the subject you teach, and the hours you work. Hourly rates can start anywhere around $10 and go up to $100 or more.
Yes, you can make a living tutoring online. You may be able to do this by working for a single platform or for several teaching platforms simultaneously.
Tutors for subjects like maths and science are always in demand in Canada.
