How to Work From Home Teaching and Tutoring Individuals Online

By Holly Reisem Hanna

Did you know that remote teaching and tutoring 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 first let's talk about the difference between tutoring and teaching.

A tutor is an informal professional who gives individuals additional or remedial instruction in a given subject. While you need to have extensive knowledge of a subject (reading, math, foreign language, etc.), you don't need any specialized training to be a tutor. Some examples are a college student who is majoring in math, a school teacher, or a person who is fluent in more than one language.

When you're working as a tutor, you can be hired on 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.

A teacher, on the other hand, is a trained professional who teaches a group of students. Teachers in the United States are required to have a Bachelor's Degree as well as teaching license or state certification. Teachers' pay rates vary considerably depending on the grade level that is being taught, the level of education that the teacher has (Bachelor's Degree vs. Master's Degree), which state they reside in and whether the position is full-time or part-time. Most remote teachers are hired on 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 setup your own business. There are pros and cons with each arrangement. When you work as an employee, you don’t have to invest any money up front or find your own clients, but your pay rate, work hours, and how you work will be more restricted. Please note, if you’re hired on 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 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 scanner, and a website to market your business. Don’t worry — you can set up a website in a few easy steps for little to nothing by using WordPress.

Where to find teaching and tutoring gigs:

Online teaching jobs.

• Connections Academy in an online public school system that hires virtual teachers, product consultants, school support communications managers, and curriculum writers. Positions require a Bachelor's degree and active teaching certification for teaching positions. 
• Educate-Online hires online instructors to teach in a variety of subjects, grades K – 12. Must have a Bachelor’s degree with an active state teaching certification.
• FlexJobs is an online job board that caters to flexible and remote positions. Just type in teaching, and it will show you a big list of companies that hire teachers. Best of all, each job is hand-screened, so you know you're dealing with legitimate companies.
• K12 offers individualized and tuition-free online public schooling and has a variety of job openings for virtual teachers grades K – 12, in varying disciplines.

Online tutoring jobs.

• Chegg hires tutors to work with K-12 students, college students, and professionals in a variety of subjects. Tutors earn $20 per hour and have flexible schedules. Chegg has an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau.
• Class of 1 hires remote-based tutors to teach English, math, science, as well as it offers assistance with homework. To become a tutor individuals must have a college degree and be comfortable using a computer.
• Kaplan hires remote-based tutors and teachers for a broad range of subjects and areas from after-school programs to test preparation, higher education and professional training. They are looking for experts to teach finance, accounting, business, insurance, IT, real estate, legal, and healthcare courses. Average pay is around $21 per hour for individuals with experience.
• SmartThinking hires home-based tutors. All tutors must successfully complete an online training program that focuses on skills and online instructional practices. Tutors must work a minimum of nine hours per week and are paid by the hour.
• Sylvan Learning hires online tutors to teach math and reading. Applicants must have a current teaching certification, be computer savvy, and have a high-speed Internet connection.
• 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.
• Tutor Vista offers online tutoring services; you can also apply to become an online tutor. Qualified candidates will be a post graduate in your subject, have a computer, and be able to work a minimum of four hours per day.

Teach English as a second language (ESL) classes.

• Cambly is an online, foreign language, tutoring platform that lets individuals practice their 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.
• English Hunt is an online platform that hires individuals to teach ESL courses. Prior teaching experience is not required, and compensation is determined on a case-by-case basis. All payments are made via direct deposit.
• ESL Employment is an online job board for individuals who are looking to teach ESL classes. The site offers job listings, resources, articles, an educational corner, as well as a forum. This website contains third-party ads, so be sure to do your due diligence when researching opportunities on this website.
• ISUS hires online, ESL, telephone teachers. Applicants must be a native English speaker, IT literate, and have prior experience with ESL or other education qualifications. Pay rates are competitive and quoted when you're hired.
• Tutor Group hires individuals to teach English as a second language (ESL). Applicants are required to have a college degree, as well as computer skills and knowledge. The Tutor Group is open 24 hours a day seven days a week. Teachers will be required to teach a minimum of 15 classes per week. ESL teachers are paid a base rate for each class taught, and rates are determined by experience and other qualifications.
• VIPkids hires individuals who have at least one year of teaching experience to teach English online to kids in China. The pay is $18.00 – $22.00 per hour and payments are made through direct bank deposits between the 10th and 15th of each month.

Other ways to charge for your expertise.

Do you have an extensive knowledge of a certain subject? Maybe marketing, guitar, piano, cooking, Spanish, yoga, finance, etc. You can use the following platforms to sell your knowledge:

• Expertory is an online platform where experts can sell their knowledge through live online video chat. Often referred to as “The eBay of Learning,” Expertory gives professionals a platform to market, schedule, accept payments, and instruct individuals all in one place. Totally free to join, you decide when and where to teach, and how much you’ll charge. Expertory doesn’t take a cut until you’ve been paid, and fees will vary depending on where the referral comes from.
• Udemy is an online teaching platform that allows individuals to teach on a variety of subjects (business, design, art, education, music, etc.) Instructors create their content, publish it on the site, and then promote it. As an instructor, you'll set your rates and promote your classes for which you'll receive 100% of the revenue. If a class is promoted through Udemy and a sale is made, they keep 50% of the revenue. Using Udemy is free, except for a small processing fee for accepting payments. According to their site, most instructors make an average of $7,000 annually. Udemy has been featured on Mashable, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

Here are nine more sites that allow you to make money by teaching what you love!

Start your own teaching or tutoring business.

• Healthy Hands Cooking offers a custom-made business opportunity for women who enjoy cooking and children, and want to make money on their own terms. Online training, certification, and marketing materials are $497.
• KinderSigns offers a home-based business opportunity program for baby sign language instructors. The premium kit with website costs $249, and basic course costs $89.
• The Tutor Coach offers classes and one-on-one coaching for starting a successful home tutoring business.

Love kids and teaching? Wondering what other opportunities are available for teachers? Check out these articles for ideas!

• 10 Work-at-Home Jobs for People Who Love Kids
• 5 Flexible Online Summer Jobs for Teachers
• Teachers Pay Teachers: Put a Little Cha-Ching in Your Pocket
• 5 Flexible Online Jobs That Let Teachers Work From Home

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