Best Online Tutoring Jobs of 2021

If you have a knack for teaching, a proliferation of online tutoring platforms have created numerous opportunities to make extra money helping students learn various subject material — from math and English to physics and political science.

Tutoring online can be a nice side gig for current or former teachers and even college students who have great subject matter mastery and some teaching skills.

While traditional tutoring requires you to meet up with local students face to face after school or on weekends, an online tutoring job allows you to teach students all over the world from the comfort of your own home. There are opportunities to have a flexible schedule and tutor students when it’s most convenient for you.

10 Great Companies for Online Tutors

The following list highlights online platforms that offer some of the best online tutoring jobs around.

1. Tutor.com

Established in 1998 and affiliated with The Princeton Review, Tutor.com helps K-12 students, as well as college students and adult learners. It offers assistance for a broad range of subjects from math and English to art history and finance. Tutor.com also provides SAT prep and other test prep services.

This tutoring company partners with libraries, schools and universities, the military and private-sector businesses to provide tutoring services. Individuals can also sign up for academic assistance.

As a tutor for Tutor.com, you can create your own schedule or pick up unscheduled sessions. Tutoring services are available 24/7.

You don’t have to be an experienced tutor or have a teaching degree, but you will have to take an exam to test your subject-matter expertise. The company says it employs many professionals as part-time tutors including teachers, graduate students, math and science professionals and computer science experts.

You must be available to tutor at least five hours a week, but many tutors on this platform average about 10 hours a week. The hours you log are automatically tracked. You do not have to submit any invoices to be paid.

Key Info

Pay Rate: Tutors are paid an hourly rate based on subjects they tutor, with the opportunity to earn incentives. However, Tutor.com does not advertise pay rates. Much of the salary information posted on Glassdoor ranges between $12 and $14 an hour.

Requirements: To You must be at least a sophomore in college pursuing a four-year degree or have a four-year degree or higher. You must live in the United States, be fluent in English and have expertise in the subject you plan to teach. You must be able to tutor at least five hours per week, and your computer and internet service must meet the company’s requirements.

Subjects: Tutor.com offers tutoring services in about 100 subjects, including English, social studies, geometric, algebra, biology, earth science and more.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with Tutor.com.

2. Skooli

Skooli offers tutoring for K-12 courses as well as college-level classes. Students seek tutoring help in a wide variety of subjects on this platform, including math, science, humanities, business and language.

Those interested in providing tutoring services through Skooli need to have a college degree or teaching certifications. This platform also requires prospective tutors to undergo a criminal background screening.

With Skooli, you can schedule sessions with students in advance or go online and pick up tutoring sessions from those requesting help at that moment. Enjoy the flexibility to set your own schedule.

Key Info

Pay Rate: Skooli pays tutors an hourly rate based on their qualifications and experience. On Glassdoor, Skooli tutors list their pay from recent online tutoring jobs as ranging from $14 to $27 an hour.

Requirements: Tutors need to have either a bachelor’s degree (or higher), a government-issued teaching license or specialized instructor qualifications. All Skooli tutors must also pass a criminal background check.

Subjects: Skooli offers help in dozens of subject areas, including writing, chemistry, biology, calculus and Spanish.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with Skooli.

3. Yup

Are you good at math? If the answer is “yup,” this company could be a good fit for you.

Yup offers 24/7 online tutoring in math up to calculus AB. It also offers SAT test prep.

Tutors assist students of all ages with math problems using a combination of messaging, photo sharing and going over problems on a virtual whiteboard to create an adaptive learning experience.

You can choose when you want to work on this platform and answer students’ questions on demand.

Yup has a rigorous application process to make sure prospective tutors are well qualified. The company accepts less than 5% of applicants.

Key Info

Pay Rate: Online tutors for Yup make between $10 and $15 per hour, according to Glassdoor.

Requirements: Applicants must submit a written application, pass a math proficiency test and take a teaching exam that’s set up like a mock tutoring session.

Subjects: Yup tutors cover early math, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability, pre-calculus and calculus AB.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with Yup.

4. TutorMe

TutorMe offers 24/7 online tutoring in over 300 subjects, as well as test prep to prepare students for exams like the ACT or the GRE.

This service partners with libraries, schools and local community colleges — as well as individuals — for live, one-on-one assistance via virtual whiteboards and video communication. Tutors and students rate each other after each session to help ensure high-quality tutoring.

TutorMe has an intense application process, with a 4% acceptance rate for online tutors, so be sure you are fully qualified before applying.

Key Info

Pay Rate: TutorMe tutors are paid $16 an hour. The company pays weekly via PayPal.

Requirements: To be considered as a tutor, you must be currently enrolled or have graduated from an accredited university. You also need previous experience teaching or tutoring, as well as mastery of the subject you wish to teach.

Subjects: TutorMe offers academic help in over 300 subjects, including history, engineering, computer science and Mandarin. It also offers test prep.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with TutorMe.

5. Outschool

Outschool is a learning platform that lets you host live online classes in any subject for students ages 3 to 18.

Outschool extends beyond traditional academic subjects. You can make money teaching students how to master the bass guitar or introducing kids to the basics of origami.

Tutors create a listing for their class and set the price. Learners can sign up and attend classes through live video and messaging, and Outschool keeps a 30% fee from enrollments.

You can set your own hours and craft your own curriculum. Unlike other online tutoring platforms, you’ll teach kids in small groups rather than one-on-one.

No formal education or credentials are required.

Key Info

Pay Rate: You set your own rates, and Outschool keeps 30%. The company told The Penny Hoarder that teachers can earn between $40 and $100 per hour. On its website, Outschool claims the average is $50 an hour.

Requirements: You don’t have to have formal teaching credentials — just knowledge or skill in a certain subject. You have to pass a criminal background check and must be a citizen or resident of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom.

Subjects: You can teach almost any subject you desire. On this platform, there are classes in Minecraft and Fortnite as well as more traditional subjects like poetry and fractions.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with Outschool.

6. TakeLessons

TakeLessons lets you tutor students in academic subjects like writing and chemistry or teach skills like drawing or how to play a musical instrument. The platform offers over 300 subjects.

Popular subjects include singing, various musical instruments, language lessons, acting, dance and drawing.

Students can use TakeLessons to book live online instructional time — either one-on-one or in group settings. They can also book private tutoring in person if they live nearby and you’re up to taking on a local tutoring job.

TakeLessons also lets teachers set their rates and schedules. The platform handles booking and payment.

Key Info

Pay Rate: Tutors set their own prices. Like other sites where you set your own rates, TakeLessons take a percentage to cover marketing and payment processing. The company says teachers retain up to 90% of their listed lesson price.

Requirements: You must fill out a profile of your experience and pass a background check.

Subjects: Tutors can teach a variety of academic subjects, like math and reading, or subjects that focus on the arts.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with TakeLessons.

7. Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors facilitates online learning through one-on-one assistance, live online classes, practice tests and study resources. It also offers in-person tutoring opportunities.

Tutors cover a wide range of academic subjects. You can also help high school students prepare for college with SAT and ACT test prep.

Varsity Tutors has a stringent application process and only accepts a small percentage of tutor applicants.

Key Info

Pay Rate: Tutors earn between $14 to $24 an hour, according to Glassdoor.

Requirements: Tutors must have prior teaching or mentoring experience and subject matter expertise. You must complete an online application, go through an interview process, pass a background check and conduct mock tutoring sessions.

Subjects: Varsity Tutors offers thousands of subjects, including grammar, geometry, physics and French.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with Varsity Tutors.

8. Cambly

Cambly is one of the most flexible platforms for teaching English online. It doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree or prior experience, and you don’t have to go through an arduous onboarding process.

To qualify to teach through Cambly, English tutors just need a native level of fluency, a computer with a webcam and high-speed internet.

You’ll just create a tutor profile, where students — adults and children — can find you and book lessons. You can tutor as much or as little as you like. There is no minimum number of hours you must reach.

Key Info

Pay Rate: Tutors with Cambly get paid 17 cents a minute (or $10.20 an hour). Tutors with Cambly Kids get paid 20 cents a minute (or $12 an hour). Tutors get paid weekly via PayPal.

Requirements: You must be a native English speaker or have a native level of English fluency.

Subjects: On Cambly, you’ll teach English to foreign language speakers.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with Cambly.

9. VIPKid

VIPKid is one of the best online tutoring jobs for teaching English as a second language. As an online English tutor for VIPKid, you’ll provide one-on-one ESL tutoring to students in China from ages 4 to 12.

Prospective tutors don’t need to speak Chinese as this learning platform teaches through full English immersion. VIPKid creates the lesson plans and handles parent communication and payment.

If you’re approved as a tutor, you’ll have to sign a six-month contract (which can be renewed). Tutors have the flexibility to set their own schedules with no minimum time commitment.

Key Info

Pay Rate: The base pay for a VIPKid tutor is $7 to $9 per 25-minute session. You also have the opportunity to earn incentives, based on referrals and how many classes you finish in a month. Tutors could earn between $14 and $22 an hour.

Requirements: To sign up as an English language tutor with VIPKid, you need a bachelor’s degree, at least two years of teaching or tutoring experience and work authorization in the United States or Canada. You have to fill out an online application form, complete a short demo class and take a mock class with a current VIPKid teacher.

Subjects: You’ll teach English to Chinese students.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with VIPKid.

10. Landi English

This online tutoring job is another opportunity for ESL tutors. As a tutor for Landi English, you will be teaching Chinese students how to speak English.

You’ll be using full English immersion to teach kindergarteners through high school students.

You must be able to commit to at least 12 hours of online tutoring each week. Since you’ll be teaching children in Beijing, you’ll need early morning availability between the hours of 6 to 9 a.m. EST.

Key Info

Pay Rate: Tutors can earn up to $18 an hour.

Requirements: To tutor for Landi English, you’ll need to fill out an online application, get interviewed and complete online training. Tutors will need to commit to 12 hours per week (three hours at least four days a week) between the hours of 6 to 9 a.m. EST.

Subjects: You’ll teach English to Chinese students.

Apply here for online tutoring jobs with Landi English. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming an Online Tutor

Now that you’ve read over our list of the best online tutoring jobs, here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about getting into the game.

What is the Best Online Tutoring Company to Work For?

To find the best online tutoring jobs for you, it’ll depend on what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking to provide extra help in traditional school subjects or help kids with test prep, try Tutor.com, TutorMe or Varsity Tutors. If you’ve got a non-academic talent to teach, consider Outschool or TakeLessons. If you want to apply your tutoring skills to teach foreign speakers English, sign up for VIPKid or Cambly.

The companies on this list are frequently accepting applications for tutoring jobs so you can earn extra income on a part-time basis. You can even work for multiple companies at the same time.

How Much Money Does an Online Tutoring Job Pay?

Most online tutoring jobs pay an hourly rate, so the more time you spend tutoring, the more money you’ll make.

Many of the companies on this list pay between $10 and $27 an hour. A few allow you to set your own prices, so there’s a chance to earn even more.

Tutoring platforms that require prior tutoring experience, a bachelor’s degree and a teaching license or teaching certificate typically pay more than sites with lower barriers to entry. Some companies also provide bonuses or incentives based on performance or referrals.

Is Online Tutoring a Good Career?

Online tutoring is a nice source of supplemental income for current or former teachers or those with past experience as an in-person tutor. With that background and credentials, it doesn’t take much to become an online tutor, as long as you have a good computer at home with a reliable internet connection.

After working for one of the online platforms listed above, you might be inspired to turn your side hustle into a full-time gig and start your own tutoring business. You could choose to offer online tutoring services or tutor students in person. A big part of being successful will be making sure you maintain a steady stream of clients since you’ll no longer have an online platform sending you kids to tutor.

Are Online Tutoring Jobs in Demand?

Online tutoring has seen a rise in popularity due to the coronavirus pandemic. Online platforms have gotten a lot of new students over the last year and a half. Tutoring is also a hot topic among local Facebook groups for parents.

Although many students will be attending public or private schools in person this school year, many families are seeking tutors to help address learning loss from the previous year. Traditional tutoring is an option, but so is teaching online. There are plenty of tutoring jobs available.

Kaitlyn Blount is a former staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Senior writer Nicole Dow contributed to this story.