Make money from home with an online teaching job

You may not realise it, but you no longer need a professional teaching qualification or to leave your home in order to make money from teaching. Many websites exist to match online teachers with students around the world, meaning you can make money as an online teacher using webcam software such as Skype. Even if you don’t have a professional expertise which you think you can teach, teaching your own language (eg English) to students can also be highly lucrative. Keep reading for our top suggestions on where to find online teaching work. If you do have a professional qualification, you might also want to consider our academic writing jobs suggestions as well.

Summary

Type of job: Interactive; teaching

Skills: You will need either a specialist subject which you can teach (for example if you have a degree you could teach that subject) or be prepared to teach your native language.

Hours: Flexible. You can set your hours entirely at your convenience. As students are global, different timezones will enable you to get work at any time.

Equipment: An internet connection and a good quality webcam, possibly with a good quality additional microphone.

Pay: As you become more experienced and gain reviews you can expect to earn up to around £30/hour. We suggest you start by charging less until you are well-reviewed.

Why become an online teacher?

Online teaching jobs are on the rise, and all for a good reason. It’s a win-win situation both for teachers and students, as you no longer need to walk this two-way street on foot.

Unlike the traditional classroom, the online teaching opportunities allow both teachers and students to enjoy the learning process from the comfort of their homes, at times which are most convenient for them. And this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Teaching online means tackling learning with 21st-century technology. As a teacher, this lets you surpass yourself. With new innovative technologies available, you get to reach new levels of creativity, focus on what’s most important, and implement the best teaching practices.

Depending on the job, you might not even need a degree to earn your paycheck. However, if this is the case for you, don’t be surprised by the lower payrates

How do online teaching jobs work?

Online teaching involves connecting with individual students via an internet-based platform to offer them teaching in a specific area. Your students may be children who need extra support, eg GCSE students needing exam help, all the way up to University students seeking extra tuition. Alternatively, students may be adult learners or language learners. Typically, language learners do not require the same checks and qualifications as those seeking specialist tuition for their children.

We suggest that you use a reputable website to put you in touch with students (see below), but once you have gained confidence and experience you may decide to set up your own website to reach out to students directly. Some of the existing tutoring websites have their own specialist software and resources which you are required to use, whilst others use Skype to connect you with students. You are typically paid by the completed lesson, though some of them do pay an hourly rate or bill per minute that you are connected with individual students.

Legitimate online teaching jobs

Preply

Preply has a dedicated language tutor section as well as an academic section. In fact, if you don’t have formal qualifications then Preply is probably going to be the site for you as it allows you to teach your native language. You can set your own rate, with popular tutors charging around £30 per hour. The website works on a review system and does not permit you to offer free taster lessons. This means that you aren’t having to compete with ‘free’ lessons, but you may take some time building up a client base and may have to charge lower rates in your early days on the site. Although this website is less formal in terms of its requirements, be warned that your first lesson with a new student is payable entirely to the website, meaning that your students have to return before you will be paid.

TutorMe

This website provides a good platform for tutors who either hold a degree or are currently studying for one. You don’t need previous teaching experience to apply, so the site is more accessible than some others. The website works in $USD, with a set rate of $18 per hour to teachers.

Chegg Tutors

Chegg Tutors are another USA based company which offers teaching jobs online. Slightly differently from most of the other websites listed here, Chegg focuses on school age children and pays hourly, starting at $20/hour. There is no requirement to commit to a certain number of hours or to work a set schedule. Simply log in when you want and get matched with students.

MyTutor

This is a UK based tutoring website which specifically recruits students for its online tutoring roles. You are paid between £10 and £24 per tutorial. The software is easy to use and provides for useful lesson tools. There is an interview as part of the recruitment process. However, once you are successfully accepted as an online tutor the work is flexible and payment is made weekly.

EvoTution

EvoTuition pays weekly and has a low commission of only 12%. You are in charge of setting your own rates, with a suggested rate of £35 per hour. It is UK based and allows you to offer free taster lessons in order to attract more students. The online software is easy to use and offers a virtual interactive whiteboard system which you can use to enhance your online tuition.

First Tutors

This platform doesn’t set limitations on tutors by qualification. It’s rather up to the tutees to pick their tutor, so it’s best that you put a little effort when creating your profile.

Pay rate: You get to set your own fees.

Skooli

This platform is looking for tutors who own a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in the related field, a government-issued teaching license, or a specialised instructor qualification.

Pay rate: Skooli tutors earn $25 USD per hour.

Tips for online teaching jobs

  • Fill in your profile as fully as possible – detail your experience, skills and unique tuition approaches
  • Use a smiling profile photo
  • Get to know the software fully before you stoart
  • Log in regularly to reply to messages
  • Offer a short free trial lesson (if possible)
  • Agree a block of lessons, and always try to arrange the next lesson before the end
  • Keep your workspace well lit, clean and tidy
  • Ensure you have a stable internet connection.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

There’s a variety of options for English language teachers who want to supplement their earnings with a little extra or completely swap from the traditional classroom to a virtual environment. Generally, you’re required to be a native English speaker, own a BA and a TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification. This, however, isn’t always the case.

English from A to Z

This online English language teaching platform is on the lookout for TEFL teachers who own a BA, TEFL certification, and at least 1 year of teaching experience. Native English speakers are preferred. You get to build your own lessons using YourAgora and teach to students from around the world.

Pay rate: Depending on the number of students in class, you can earn anywhere from $18 to $72 USD per hour.

USKid

USKid is an English language teaching platform that caters to Chinese children. It looks for native English speakers who own a BA. They provide you with all the lessons and materials, and you need to teach for a minimum of 5 hours a week (Beijing time).

Pay rate: $17 to $28 USD per hour.

SayABC

This teaching platform offers native English teachers who possess TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification to teach Chinese children aged 7 to 9. The classroom setting is one on four (teacher-student), with each lesson lasting for 40 minutes. They provide you with all the lessons and materials you’ll need, and you need to teach the same 3 times for 3 months. BA isn’t required for contracts under 3 months.

Pay rate: Up to $19 USD per 40 minutes.

PandaABC

To teach English here, you need to be a native English speaker and own a bachelor’s degree. Preference is given to teachers who are TESOL/TEFL certified with 1 year of teaching experience. You get to teach Chinese children of all ages. You get four students per class, and they provide you with all the lessons and materials. The minimum hours required are 7,5 per week, Beijing time.

Pay rate: Up to $30 USD per 50 minutes.

BlingABC

Catering to Chinese children aged 5 – 12, this online English teaching platform is looking for TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certified native English teachers who own a BA. You get to work fixed hours (Beijing time) teaching one-on-one or small group classes. The lessons last for 40 minutes, and they provide you with all the lessons and materials.

Pay rate: $18 – $25 USD per hour. Teachers with experience in child education can earn up to $50/per hour.

Landi

This is another online English teaching platform that caters to Chinese children, aged 5-12. You need to have a BA, and preference is given to teachers with teaching experience and a TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification. The lessons are one-on-one or one-on-two, lasting for 25 minutes, and you’re provided with all the materials you’ll need. Here, you need to teach for a minimum of 12 hours a week (or 4 teaching days per week).

Pay rate: Competitive pay rate ranging from $18 to $25 USD per hour.

HuGoEnglish

To teach English here, you need to be a native English speaker. You get to teach Chinese children aged 5 – 16, and all lessons and materials will be provided to you. There’s no minimum of working hours and the classes are one-on-one.

Pay rate: $15 – $25 USD per hour.

BoxFish

Catering to K-12 Chinese children, this website is looking for TEFL/TESOL certified US, Canadian, and UK English teachers who possess a BA and have prior online teaching experience of over one year. There are two types of lessons: 5 minute on-demand classes, and one-on-one classes that last for 25 minutes. They provide you with all the materials you need, and you get to choose how much you’ll work.

Pay rate: $2 USD per 5-minute class; $11 USD per 25-minute sessions (including an after-class evaluation).

DaDa

Native English teachers who possess a BA can teach DaDa’s Chinese pupils aged 4-16. Preference is given to those who possess a TEFL or CELTA certification and some teaching experience. The classes are one-on-one and last for 30 minutes. All the materials you need are provided, and you need to work for a minimum of 2 hours a day, 2 days a week, Shanghai time.

Pay rate: Up to $25 USD per hour.

SkimaTalk

This Skype-based English language learning website offers spots to native English speakers. You don’t need to own any qualifications or certifications, although preference is given to those with some teaching experience. The classes last for 25 minutes, and you get to teach students from all ages worldwide. You set your work schedule, and there’s no minimum hours required. You can download lessons from the website, but teachers are encouraged to create their own lesson plans.

Pay rate: Starting at $8, you can set your own rate. SkimaTalk takes a 20% fee from your earnings.

Online courses

You might choose to take things a step further and develop your own online course.

If you have extensive knowledge in a certain subject, there are also opportunities to build your own courses and earn per students enrolled. Whether it’s marketing, yoga, computer skills, painting, playing an instrument, you name it, some websites provide you with the opportunity to develop and sell your courses to millions of eager learners.

Teachable

Teachable is an online course-building platform that allows professionals to create and distribute their courses to a large audience. You get to build a complete website with a unique URL using their intuitive drag-and-drop builder.

Pricing: Teachable offers three plans you can pay monthly or yearly. The plans start from $29 USD per month (billed annually) for the Basic package.

Yondo

Formerly known as Expertory, this online platform allows you to sell your knowledge through on-demand videos, webinars, online group classes, and one-on-one live video consultations. The industry range is wide, and you get to choose whether to offer your features for free or charge for them.

Pricing: The plans start from $27 USD per month (paid annually) for the Starter plan. You get to keep 100% of the revenue.

Udemy

This online teaching platform allows you to teach a variety of subjects. You create your videos and materials and promote them, keeping 100% of the revenue. If your course is promoted through Udemy, they keep 50% of the revenue.

Pricing: Using Udemy is free, except for a small processing fee for accepting payments.

The bottom line

Regardless of whether you’re looking for a way to supplement your earnings or completely swap to an online teaching/tutoring environment, there are plenty of opportunities out there.

Before anything else, do your research and invest in your online presence. This way, your earnings will only grow. If you don’t have teaching experience, it’s best that you start with platforms that allow you to share the knowledge you have and build on your experience there.

And don’t forget: a bright smile and some positive energy go a long way when it comes to teaching!