Work-From-Home With These Online Teaching Jobs

Did you know that remote teachers and tutors are in high demand? Not only are these positions plentiful, but there are many different ways to make money from home if you enjoy teaching others. So, let's first talk about the difference between online tutoring and teaching jobs.

A tutor is an informal professional who gives individuals extra instruction in any given subject. You'll need to have extensive knowledge of a subject (English, math, foreign language, music, etc.), but in most cases, you don't need any specialized training to be a tutor. Some examples are a college student who is majoring in math, a retired school teacher, or a person who is fluent in more than one language.

When you're working as a tutor, you can work as an employee, independent contractor, or you can choose to open up your own home-based tutoring business. Tutors generally charge by the hour and can make anywhere from $10 – $75 per hour, depending on the subject.

A teacher, on the other hand, is a trained professional who teaches a group of students. Teachers in the US are required to have a Bachelor's Degree as well as a teaching license or state certification. Teachers' pay rates vary considerably depending on the grade being taught, the level of education that they have (Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D.), which state they reside in, and whether the position is full- or part-time. Remote teachers are usually hired as employees or independent contractors.

Employee, Entrepreneur, or Independent Contractor? Which Route is Right for You?

When you work as an online tutor, you can choose to work as an employee, independent contractor, or you can set up your own business. There are pros and cons to each arrangement. When you work as an employee, you don't have to invest any money upfront or find your own clients, but your pay rate, work hours, and how you work will be more restricted. Also note, if you're hired as an independent contractor or a freelancer — you are considered self-employed and will need to pay quarterly self-employment taxes.

When you set up your own business, you'll have more flexibility with scheduling, choosing clients, and setting your rates, but you'll also have to find your own customers, set up your business, and pay self-employment taxes. Establishing a tutoring business is easy and has relatively low start-up costs. Some items you'll need to get started are a phone line or smartphone, a computer, high-speed internet access, a printer, and a scanner, and a website to market your business. Don't worry — you can set up a site in a few easy steps for little to nothing by using WordPress.

Where to Find Online Teaching Jobs

Now that you know about the various ways in which you can teach online, here are your options, requirements, and hiring companies and platforms.

Online Teaching Jobs

Amplify

Amplify hires remote professional learning specialists for grades K-12 in a variety of subjects. Most of the positions are part-time, independent contracting roles. You must have a Bachelor's degree and two years of teaching experience. To locate remote positions, click the “remote” box on the left-hand side of the screen.

Edgenuity

Edgenuity provides online instruction for grades K-12. With this online teaching job, you must have state certification in the core subject and at least three years of teaching experience. Edgenuity offers a competitive salary and benefits. To locate these positions on their career page, search for the keyword, “remote.”

Edmentum

Edmentum hires virtual teachers to teach a wide variety of subjects. Positions require a teaching certification and experience in the subject matter area. To locate their work-from-home positions, look for the keywords, “virtual” or “remote” in the job listings.

FlexJobs

FlexJobs is a paid subscription site that caters to flexible and remote positions. The nice thing about FlexJobs is that you can search for jobs by occupation, location, schedule, or remote work level. But my favorite aspect about FlexJobs is that they hand-screen each job posting, so you know you're dealing with legitimate companies, and not scams.

K12

K12 offers individualized and tuition-free online public schooling and has a variety of job openings for part- and full-time virtual teachers grades K – 12. Remote positions are designated with the keywords, “virtual” and “remote.”

Pearson Online & Blended Learning K-12

Pearson Online & Blended Learning K-12 (formerly Connections Academy) is an online public school system that hires virtual teachers, product consultants, school support communications managers, and curriculum writers. Teaching positions require a Bachelor's degree and active teaching certification. 

Online Tutoring Sites

Chegg

Chegg hires independent contractors to tutor students in middle, high school, and college in a variety of subject matters. Tutors earn approximately $20 per hour and have flexible schedules.

Course Hero

Course Hero is a platform that connects students with tutors to get help with homework in a variety of subjects. With Course Hero, you don't need to be a certified teacher, but you'll need to prove your credentials. Tutors earn money on a per question basis, and top tutors earn up to $500 per week.

Kaplan 

Kaplan hires remote-based tutors and teachers for a broad range of subjects and areas from test prep and higher education, to international and professional training. To find the work-from-home positions on their career portal, click the checkbox on the left-hand side-bar that says Remote/Nationwide USA.

Pearson

Pearson hires part-time home-based tutors. All tutors must complete an online training program that focuses on skills and online instructional practices. Tutors must work a minimum of eight hours per week and are paid by the hour.

PrepNow

PrepNow hires online tutors and test prep instructors. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree and at least one year of teaching or tutoring experience. You'll also need a score of 28 or higher on the ACT or a 650 or higher on the SAT. You should be able to work a minimum of six hours per week.

Skooli

Skooli connects students to qualified tutors who have at least a Bachelor's degree, teaching certification, and core competency in the subject being taught. With the Skooli platform, you can work when and where you'd like.

Studypool

Studypool is an online learning portal, where you can answer students' questions for money. According to their website, you can choose when you want to work, how many hours, and you can earn up to $7,500 a month working as an independent contractor.

Sylvan Learning

Sylvan Learning hires online tutors, test prep instructors, and teachers. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree and at least one year of experience teaching or tutoring students.

Tutor.com

Tutor.com is a company that offers online tutoring services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To become an at-home tutor, you must fill out an application and pass an extensive screening test. Tutors can work anywhere but must work a minimum of five hours per week. Tutors are paid monthly, and rates are based on the number of subjects tutored and the subject.

TutorMe

TutorMe hires highly qualified tutors to teach in over 300 different subjects. According to their website, they only accept about 4% of tutors that apply to the platform. With this opportunity, you can earn an average of $16 per hour, you get to make your own schedule, and payments are distributed weekly.

Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors connects tutors with students who need help in a wide variety of subject matter. In this independent contracting role, you choose when you want to work and the students you'd like to instruct. According to its website, it only takes three minutes to apply to be a tutor.

Wyzant

Wyzant is a freelance marketplace that connects students with tutors. Tutors do not need a teacher certification, but you will need to prove your academic expertise in the application process. With Wyzant, you can teach online or in-person, and payments are made via direct deposit.

For more online tutoring positions, read: 16 Companies that Hire for Online Tutoring Jobs

Teach English as a Second Langauge (ESL Classes)

Cambly

Cambly is an online, foreign language tutoring platform that lets individuals practice their English language skills with a native speaker. Online tutors make 17 cents per minute ($10.20/hour) talking to paying Cambly users. To get started, you must be a native English or Spanish speaker; you must have a webcam and Internet connection. Payments are made via PayPal.

EF (Education First)

EF hires part-time ESL teachers. Applicants must be native English speakers from the US or the UK, and they must hold a Bachelor's degree and have some sort of teaching or related experience. Teachers can earn up to $20 per hour to start through a combination of base fees and incentives.

iTutor

iTutor hires individuals to teach English as a second language (ESL). Applicants must have their TESOL or TEFL Certification (or a willingness to obtain it). Must have a Bachelor's degree and one year of teaching experience. ESL teachers make a base rate for each class, and rates are based on experience and qualifications. Payments are distributed monthly via direct deposit.

Magic Ears

Magic Ears hires part-time teachers to instruct students ages 4-12 English as a Second Language. You can earn $20-$26 per hour. These positions come with flexible hours and free training resources. You must be from the US or Canada and have a Bachelor's degree.

VIPKID

VIPKID hires individuals who have a Bachelor's degree and some sort of experience with kids to teach English online to children in China. The pay is $15.00-$22.00 per hour, and payment is made through direct bank deposits between the 10th and 15th of each month.

For more companies that hire ESL teacher, read: Work-From-Home Teaching ESL Classes Online

Start Your Own Tutoring or Teaching Business

Would you like to start your own tutoring or teaching business, but you're not sure where to start? These business-in-a-box solutions and courses can help guide you down the right path.

Baby Signs

Baby Signs is a program that teaches individuals how to become an independent Baby Signs instructor. With your business kit, you'll get lesson plans, marketing tools, training, and support for $349 plus shipping and handling.

Healthy Hands Cooking

Healthy Hands Cooking is a home-based franchise that offers a business opportunity for individuals who enjoy healthy cooking and children, and want to make money running a business. Online training, certification, and marketing materials are $1,995.

The Tutor Coach

The Tutor Coach (Adrianne Meldrum) offers online courses and one-on-one coaching for people who would like to start a successful tutoring business from home.

For more ideas, read: Work-From-Home Business Ideas When You Leave the Teaching Profession

Conclusion

Whether you want to teach young kids or college kids, math or art, there are so many online teaching jobs available, with new opportunities popping up all the time.

Do you work from home teaching or tutoring individuals? Do you own your own business or work for a company? Drop us a note below; we'd love to hear from you.

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Originally published in March 2009. Content updated April 17, 2020.

Holly Reisem Hanna is the publisher and founder of  The Work at Home Woman, which has been helping individuals find remote careers and businesses that feed their souls since 2009. Through her unconventional career path of holding over 30 jobs and obtaining two college degrees, she's been able to figure out how to find a career path that you're truly passionate about. Holly's shared her expertise on sites like CNN, MSN Money, Huffington Post, Woman's Day Magazine, as well as being recognized by Forbes as one of the “Top 100 Websites for Your Career.” Holly resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband and daughter and enjoys reading, traveling, and yoga.

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