Teaching English online is an excellent way to earn money in 2023 without leaving your home. The demand for online English teachers continues to grow as more students around the world want to improve their English skills. With some preparation and searching, you can find legitimate and well-paying teaching opportunities online.
In this article, we’ll look at 10 ways you can make money by teaching English online, including the qualifications, earning potential, and best companies to check out. If you want to earn extra income or even start a new remote teaching career, teaching English online could be a great option. Keep reading to learn more!
Key Takeaways for Teaching English Online
Teaching English online provides flexible opportunities to earn extra or even full-time income in 2023 and beyond. With so many companies and platforms hiring online teachers, you can find options that fit your schedule, interests and qualifications.
Some key points to keep in mind as you search for online teaching jobs:
- Having a bachelor’s degree and teaching experience makes you eligible for more (and higher paying) ESL jobs
- TEFL or TESOL certification shows you have training even if not required
- Be open to teaching students of different ages and skill levels
- Prepare to market yourself and demonstrate your abilities on video
- Develop lessons and activities that engage students across cultures
- Set a schedule you can stick to consistently and responsibly
Teaching English online takes commitment and preparation but can be incredibly rewarding. And it provides a way to generate income while making global connections. With so many possibilities to choose from, you can find online teaching jobs that match your goals.
What are the requirements for teaching English online?
Before diving into specific teaching platforms and jobs, let’s review the basic requirements for teaching English online:
- Native or fluent English speaker
- Teaching/tutoring experience (usually preferred but not always required)
- Bachelor’s degree in any field (sometimes not required)
- TEFL/TESOL certification (sometimes not required)
- Computer, webcam, headset/microphone
- High-speed internet connection
- Ability to set own schedule or work set hours
As long as you meet most or all of these requirements, you can likely find online ESL companies willing to hire you. The highest-paying online tutoring companies often require a bachelor’s degree and teaching experience. But many companies are willing to hire native English speakers without a degree or TEFL certification. We’ll cover more details below on which companies have which requirements.
What is the earning potential for teaching English online?
Most online English teaching jobs pay between $14 – $25 USD per hour, depending on the company, your qualifications, and student type. But some teachers report earning up to $35 per hour with the highest-paying ESL companies.
You can expect to work around 20 hours per week as an online English teacher. Some companies require you to teach a minimum number of hours, such as 10-15 hours weekly. The more hours you’re willing to work, the higher your earning potential. It’s possible for full-time online teachers to make $2,000+ per month.
Be sure to set aside a portion of your income for taxes if you live in the U.S. or other countries that tax independent contractor work. Also, know that it takes time to build up a consistent student base. But within a few months of dedicated teaching, you can start earning a healthy part-time or full-time income.
Now let’s look at the top ways you can start earning money teaching English online.
1. Teach for online education platforms like VIPKid
Some of the most popular and highest paying companies for teaching English online are education platforms like VIPKid, DaDaABC, and iTutorGroup.
These platforms allow you to teach English to students in China and other countries from your home computer. They connect teachers with paying students for online 1-on-1 ESL classes.
The requirements are fairly minimal – you need to be eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada, have a bachelor’s degree, and at least 1 year of teaching experience. TEFL certification is not required. These platforms pay between $14 – $25 per hour.
VIPKid and other similar platforms take care of student acquisition and lesson plans. As a teacher, you just need to show up online prepared to teach 25-minute lessons. It provides flexible part-time or full-time work, and you can make your own schedule.
2. Find private students through online tutoring platforms
In addition to structured education platforms, you can also find and teach ESL students through tutoring platforms like Preply, Tutor.com and Wyzant.
These websites allow you to create an online tutor profile and market your services to connect with students around the world seeking to improve their English. You set your own hourly rates, schedule and curriculum.
The earning potential teaching through these platforms varies widely, but experienced ESL tutors report making $20 – $35 per hour. This provides more flexibility in your teaching approach compared to teaching for a single company or platform.
A downside is that you’ll need to spend time on these platforms applying for tutoring jobs and marketing yourself to attract students. But they provide an excellent way to gain online teaching experience and earn great ESL tutoring rates.
3. Look for online teaching jobs with ESL companies
There are many reputable ESL companies that hire online teachers, including English First, EF Education, and more. These companies directly hire native English speakers with bachelor’s degrees to teach ESL classes or 1-on-1 lessons.
Pay rates are often around $20 per hour. But the exact pay depends on your experience level and the company. Teaching with an established ESL company provides more structure and predictability than independently finding students as a tutor.
Positions may involve teaching children, business professionals, or students studying for English proficiency exams. Classes usually follow a set curriculum set by the company. This can be a good option if you’re looking for steady online ESL teaching opportunities.
4. Teach English online with companies hiring worldwide teachers
Many companies teaching English online to students around the world look to hire teachers living anywhere with internet access and proficiency in English.
For example, companies like SkyEng, BlingABC and Qkids hire online teachers from many countries including the U.S., Canada, UK and South Africa. Typically, you need to have TEFL certification and a bachelor’s degree along with strong English skills.
These companies pay $16 – $20 per hour on average. While the base pay rate may be slightly lower than teaching for a U.S. or Canada based company, they provide opportunities to teach English online from anywhere. Hours are usually early morning and evenings based on time zones.
5. Tutor students in academic subjects like math, science, history
While less common, some online tutoring platforms and companies allow you to tutor students learning subjects like math, science, history and literature in English.
For example, you may be able to tutor English-speaking students studying chemistry or algebra. Or help international students learning history or literature courses in English.
Look for positions described as teaching “English as a subject” as opposed to “English as a foreign language.” Pay rates are similar to regular ESL teaching. This is a good option if you want to teach academic content rather than just English skills.
6. Teach without a degree through platforms like AmazingTalker
Although most online ESL jobs require a bachelor’s degree, some new platforms like AmazingTalker allow you to teach without one. You still need to be a native English speaker, but previous teaching experience or a TEFL certificate is not mandatory.
The pay rate is around $15 per hour, which is on the lower end compared to companies requiring degrees. But this provides an opportunity to gain teaching experience and earn income even without a college degree. Once you get some experience under your belt, you can start applying to higher paying ESL companies.
7. Find short-term online teaching jobs
Some online ESL companies offer short-term teaching contracts ranging from a few weeks to a few months, rather than permanent positions.
This can be a good option if you’re looking for quick ways to earn extra cash from teaching English online. The pay rates tend to be on the lower side, around $14 – $18 per hour. But the positions provide flexible temporary work.
Keep an eye out for summer online teaching positions as well, as demand tends to increase when regular school is out. Short term gigs allow you to teach online for a set period without an ongoing commitment.
8. Create your own ESL business and market services online
Instead of teaching for an established company, another option is to start your own online ESL business. This involves more entrepreneurial work, but allows you to set your own rates and offer services how you like.
You can create a website, run social media accounts, and network to find clients for your online English teaching services. This approach takes more effort to attract and retain students. But you can potentially earn higher rates than teaching for a company that takes a commission.
Starting your own online teaching business provides freedom and flexibility, but requires business savvy and marketing abilities. Still, it’s an option for experienced teachers looking to expand their opportunities.
9. Teach English online without certification through platforms like TutorMe
While most online ESL jobs want some TEFL or TESOL certification, platforms like TutorMe and BestMyTutor allow you to teach without getting certified first.
As long as you’re a native English speaker with some teaching experience, you can create a profile and apply for online tutoring jobs without already having a TEFL certificate. The pay is around $15 – $20 per hour.
This gives you the flexibility to start gaining paid online teaching experience before investing time and money in TEFL certification courses. Just keep in mind the higher paying jobs generally expect certification.
10. Look for corporate English teaching jobs
Finally, some companies hire native English speakers to provide lessons for employees looking to improve their business English skills.
Platforms like Knowre and English Attack connect online teachers with adults and professionals wanting to practice conversational or industry-specific English. Lessons focus on business vocabulary, presentations, emails, and more.
Pay for corporate ESL teachers ranges from $18 – $22 per hour. Hours are set based on corporate schedules and time zones. This can be a good option if you’re interested in teaching workplace English skills online.
FAQ
Q: How can I become an online English teacher and make money teaching English online?
A: To become an online English teacher and make money, you need to have a good grasp of the English language, get a TEFL certificate, and choose an online platform or company that offers online English classes. You can find many online teaching companies that pay well for teaching English online. Before you start, it’s always a good idea to research and understand the requirements of different teaching jobs online.
Q: Can I teach English online from home in 2023?
A: Absolutely! You can teach English online from home. In fact, 2023 is expected to see more demand for online English teaching than ever before, offering opportunities to make money from home. All you’ll need is a stable internet connection and a quiet space for teaching.
Q: What are the best online English teaching companies to work with in 2023?
A: Many online English teaching companies have gained recognition over the years. Some platforms recognize the value of English education from native speakers. It’s important to look for companies that suit your qualifications and teaching style. Some high-rated online teaching companies include VIPKid and TeachAway. Always lookout for companies that let you teach English online with fair pay.
Q: How can I find English teaching jobs online?
A: There are many ways to find English teaching jobs online. You can start by checking job postings on online teaching platforms or websites dedicated to teaching English as a foreign language. There are also many online groups and forums where opportunities are often posted.
Q: Do I need a degree to teach English online?
A: Not always. You can teach English online without a degree. However, having a degree or a certification like online TEFL can boost your profile and help you make more money by helping students around the world learn English.
Q: Can I make a full-time income by teaching English online?
A: Yes, there are many online English teachers who make a full-time income. The amount of money you can earn depends on the number of hours you can commit and the rate you are charging. It’s a great way to make extra money or even a full-time income if you are committed.
Q: How to attract paying students for my online English classes?
A: To attract paying students, you need to market yourself effectively. This could include creating a professional profile, offering a few free lessons to gain their trust, providing quality education, and asking for reviews or recommendations.
Q: What are the perks and cons of teaching English online in 2023?
A: The perks include flexibility, the ability to work from anywhere, and the opportunity to interact with students worldwide. The cons might include occasional technical issues, timezone differences causing odd working hours, and lack of personal interaction with students.
Q: How can I improve as an online English teacher?
A: Continuous learning and development are key. You can take professional development courses, attend webinars and workshops, or join relevant forums and groups. Asking for feedback from your students can also help you identify areas for improvement.
Q: Are online tutoring companies just focused on teaching languages?
A: Not always, many online tutoring companies cover different subjects, including maths, science, programming and more. However, teaching English online is one of the most popular sectors due to the global demand to learn English from native speakers.
Conclusion: Earn Money by Teaching English Online
Teaching English online is an excellent opportunity in 2023 for native English speakers to earn money working from home. The demand for online ESL teachers and tutors continues to grow around the world. With options to work for established platforms or independently, flexibility in schedule, and the potential for high hourly rates, teaching English online has become an appealing remote work option. Whether you want to earn extra income or start a full-time online teaching career, the opportunities abound if you have the skills and motivation to succeed. With this overview of the top 10 ways to make money teaching English online, you can find the right fit based on your qualifications, interests and goals.
