Five Online Tutoring Jobs to Make Money at Home for College Students

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By Hanneh Bareham, Bankrate

Online tutoring is a great way to make money as a college student while focusing on your education. Online tutoring positions can offer a competitive rate and are easier to manage with a class schedule than other jobs, since you don’t have to factor in a commute and some companies let you set your own hours.

There are online tutoring jobs for a variety of subjects, specialties, grades and focuses, from teaching English as a second language to tutoring high school students.

Here are five online tutoring companies that offer positions to college students:

• Tutor.com.
• TutorMe.
• Studypool.
• Cambly.
• Magic Ears.

Read More: 3 Ways to Start College for Free

5 paid online tutoring jobs for college students

Not all online tutoring companies are created equal, and each one has different rates, experience requirements and positions. Here’s a rundown of five companies, including what they offer per hour and the general requirements for employment.

1. Tutor.com

Tutor.com is associated with the Princeton Review and offers tutoring services for a wide range of subjects and topics. It provides online tutoring for everything from basic courses like English and math to specialized courses like managerial accounting and health care administration.

College sophomores and higher are welcome to apply, but current undergraduate students will likely be responsible for tutoring students in lower grade levels in basic courses. Tutors may set their own hours, but they must work a minimum of five hours per week to stay employed.

Hourly rate: Varies by subject

Requirements:

• Qualify as an expert in your subject by taking a competency exam.
• Be enrolled as a sophomore or higher at an accredited four-year university, or have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited four-year university.
• Reside and be eligible to work in the U.S.
• Where to apply: https://www.tutor.com/apply

2. TutorMe

TutorMe offers a competitive hourly salary and the ability to choose your own schedule. Tutors have a wide range of subjects to choose from, including standard education courses and professional skills like driver’s safety and Photoshop.

The company provides interactive resources like a virtual whiteboard, a text editor and the ability to screen-share. TutorMe also specializes in prep for major high school exams like the ACT and SAT, but you’ll likely need professional tutoring experience for this specific type of tutoring.

Hourly rate: $16

Requirements:

• Be enrolled in or have graduated from an accredited university.
• Qualify as an expert in your subject.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have previous tutoring or teaching experience.
• Where to apply: https://tutorme.com/apply/

3. Studypool

Studypool is an online tutoring service that allows tutors to bid for and answer questions that students submit. Students will set a time limit and price range, and multiple tutors will bid for each question. The student will then choose the tutor who best fits their needs and submit the payment to Studypool. Once the question has been officially answered and approved by the student, the payment will be distributed to the tutor.

After passing the application process, you won’t need to establish a schedule, since you have the ability to bid for the questions that you have time for. Many college students use Studypool as a way to make some extra cash, but others rely on the site as a full-time job, making as much as $7,500 a month.

Hourly rate: Varies based on the questions you answer

Requirements:

• Be a current college student with a valid student ID.
• Have a university degree and a valid academic transcript.
• Where to apply: https://www.studypool.com/online-tutor-job

4. Cambly

Cambly partners native English speakers with students learning English as a second language. No degree or teaching license is required to get accepted, and tutors set their own schedule. However, you’ll have to be willing to work some untraditional hours due to the different time zones of your students.

Hourly rate: $10.20 on Cambly, $12 on Cambly Kids

Requirements:

• Be a native English speaker.
• Where to apply: https://www.cambly.com/tutor/signup

5. Magic Ears

Magic Ears pairs fluent English speakers with students in China learning English in a classroom setting, with one teacher for every four students. Students in the program can be anywhere from 4 to 12 years old. After 10 classes, tutors have the option to apply for a “standby” class - essentially serving as a substitute teacher when the primary teacher cancels or doesn’t show up.

While teachers aren’t required to hold a degree, they must have an academic transcript to prove that they’re currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program. They must also hold a 120-hour ESL Certification. After an initial six months with Magic Ears, teachers are evaluated by a development coach to determine whether they can continue their contract.

Hourly rate: Up to $26

Requirements:

• Speak English at an idiomatic level.
• Hold or be actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Hold a 120-hour ESL Certification.
• Where to apply: https://t.mmears.com/v2/

Read More: 3 Ways to Spot Student Loan Scams

How to get paid to tutor online

On most tutoring websites, you’re responsible for building your reputation as a tutor. In order to maximize your potential earnings, it’s important to be as professional and prepared as possible.

Here are a few things to consider before applying for online tutoring jobs.

Focus on your expertise

When interviewing for different jobs, stick with your subject of expertise. Typically this means focusing on a subject related to your degree. Not only will this help you feel more confident in your role, but it will also establish your reputation on the site and attract more clients. Many of the sites also require potential tutors to take competency tests in specific areas, so capitalize on the subjects you’re most comfortable with.

Determine your requirements and hours

When you first start your business as an online tutor, set boundaries for yourself as soon as you can. It can be tempting to work around the clock, especially when time differences are a factor, but don’t overwork yourself, and remember to focus primarily on your schoolwork.

Before applying, check each site’s class schedules, the countries that your potential students live in and any time zones you’ll need to adjust to. Creating a schedule right off the bat will help you set those boundaries necessary for a healthy work-life balance.

If you decide to freelance rather than work through a website, research the rates for online tutors with your level of experience to set a fair and competitive hourly rate.

Advertise your business

If you’re choosing to start your own tutoring business, advertise your expertise, rates and experience on every social media platform possible. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are great ways to get connected with people looking for tutoring services.

Facebook groups can also provide you with potential clients. There are groups for just about everything; posting your business information anywhere relevant is key to gaining momentum.

How much can I make from online tutoring?

How much you could make from online tutoring depends on the hourly rates set by the website and how many hours you work a week. There are many people who tutor full time, with some even reporting six-figure salaries.

However, the rates will vary depending on the subject, your experience and the company, so research a few online tutoring companies before applying to make sure that you’re getting compensated fairly. Also keep in mind that most companies charge service fees, which can be 20 percent or higher - you’ll have to factor this into each expected payment.

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