- What’s an online tutor’s average salary?
- How many hours should you teach per week?
- What are the highest-paying subjects for online tutors?
- What is the best way to find students?
- Pros & cons of different ways to find your clients
- Other factors that can influence an online tutor’s salary
- Formal qualifications
- Offline tutoring or teaching experience
- Advanced tutoring subject areas
- Competition with other tutors
- What’s the quickest way to start making money as an online tutor?
- Join one of the best online tutoring platforms
- When and how do you increase your hourly rate?
- Key takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the average hourly rate for online tutors?
- How many hours should I teach per week to maximize my earnings?
- What are the highest-paying subjects for online tutoring?
- What is the quickest way to start earning money as an online tutor?
- When should I consider increasing my hourly rate?
You possess a wealth of knowledge just waiting to be shared! Fortunately, turning that expertise into income has never been simpler. By becoming an online tutor, you can teach others while earning money from the comfort of your home.
From the comfort of your bedroom, you can earn money by assisting students with their homework, helping them prepare for crucial exams, teaching a new language, and much more.
A common question many ask is: what is the earning potential for online tutors? Can you match the income of a full-time position, or is it better viewed as a supplemental income opportunity?
The answers to those questions hinge on your unique circumstances, including your expenses and the cost of living in your area. While we can’t provide specific answers tailored to you, we can certainly offer some valuable insights:
- Average Online Tutor Salary: Factors Influencing Earnings, Including Subject Specialization and Client Acquisition Strategies.
- The quickest and easiest way to start making money as an online tutor
- When and how to increase your rate to make as much money as possible
As you might expect, we’ll dive into those very topics in this blog post. So, let’s get started!
What’s an online tutor’s average salary?
According to internal data from LingualNeeds, online tutors earn an average hourly rate of $18.30 (USD). However, this figure can vary widely, with rates ranging from as low as $10.00 to as high as $38.90, depending on the subject being taught. For advanced topics like business English, calculus, or test preparation, some tutors command even higher fees, often charging $50 or more per hour. At LingualNeeds, we’ve identified several key factors that influence the average salary of online tutors:
- How many hours you teach per week
- The subject(s) you tutor
- How you find new students
How many hours should you teach per week?
Online tutoring offers the flexibility to set your own schedule, allowing you to work as much or as little as you prefer. As a result, your earnings can vary significantly based on the number of hours you choose to dedicate each week.
At LingualNeeds, tutors who dedicate 0-10 hours a week earn an average monthly salary of $117.70. In contrast, those who invest 40-50 hours can see their earnings soar to an average of $1,416.40. It’s important to note that these figures only hint at the true earning potential for online tutors, particularly for those working full-time. Notably, tutors teaching 40-50 hours per week have reported monthly incomes significantly higher than the average, with Japanese and Korean instructors earning impressive amounts of $3,650.70 and $3,601.20, respectively. This highlights the lucrative opportunities available for dedicated tutors in the online language teaching arena.
Among the top earners in education are German teachers, along with Python and Italian tutors, each enjoying impressive average monthly salaries of $2,129.10, $2,106.60, and $2,069.60, respectively.
This shows that while many tutors work fewer hours, full-time tutoring is not only feasible but can also be highly lucrative. In fact, with the right subjects, you can earn significantly more than the average, even while working the same or fewer hours. Curious about which subjects can boost your earnings? Check out the list below!
What are the highest-paying subjects for online tutors?
Here’s what we’ve found to be the top 20 best paying online tutoring jobs for teachers on LingualNeeds:
| Subject | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
| Sales | 38.90 |
| Corporate Finance | 34.00 |
| Hebrew | 32.17 |
| Latin | 30.72 |
| Danish | 30.33 |
| Business | 29.13 |
| Law | 29.08 |
| Acting | 27.75 |
| Norwegian | 27.00 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 26.83 |
| Sign language | 25.11 |
| Python | 25.02 |
| Music | 24.97 |
| Public Speaking | 24.96 |
| Javascript | 24.90 |
| Statistics | 24.73 |
| Dutch | 24.72 |
| Finnish | 24.53 |
| German | 24.48 |
| Arts | 24.03 |
What is the best way to find students?
You have several options when it comes to finding students to tutor online. You can choose to:
- Become an employee for an online tutoring company
- Start your own online tutoring business
- Work independently on an online tutoring platform
Each option comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, particularly when it comes to potential earnings. Let’s explore these factors in detail.
Pros & cons of different ways to find your clients
| Become an employee for an online tutoring company | Start your own online tutoring business | Work independently on an online tutoring platform | |
| Pros | You don’t have to find new students on your own.
You benefit from the company having brand recognition. Your income can be consistent if you work a fixed number of hours per week. |
You get to determine your rate, raise it whenever you want, and keep all the profit.
You can work as much or as little as you’d like. |
You get to determine your rate and raise it whenever you want.
You can work as much or as little as you’d like. It’s easier for new students to find you if the platform is well-known. |
| Cons | Your hourly rate is typically determined by the employer and remains fixed unless you negotiate a pay raise.
The employer will keep a portion of the payment. |
You have to find students to tutor on your own.
You need to use your own money to run your business (e.g. website development, marketing) |
The platform will keep a portion of the payment, but it’s typically lower than an employer. |
Other factors that can influence an online tutor’s salary
Numerous factors can affect your earnings as an online tutor. For instance, your hourly rate may be influenced by:
Formal qualifications
Having a recognized tutoring certificate can significantly enhance your earning potential. For instance, if you wish to teach English online, being a native or advanced speaker already qualifies you to tutor non-native speakers. However, obtaining a TEFL certificate allows you to command a higher hourly rate, making your services even more valuable.
Offline tutoring or teaching experience
Just because you’re new to online tutoring, might not mean you’re new to tutoring or teaching.
If you have prior experience in offline teaching, you have the potential to command a higher rate than the average tutor. How can you achieve this? By crafting an appealing tutor profile that highlights your skills and expertise, you can effectively attract more students and showcase your valuable experience.
Advanced tutoring subject areas
Certain subjects demand a deeper level of expertise and more extensive preparation prior to teaching. Fields like business English, calculus, and standardized exam preparation (such as TOEFL) often allow tutors to command higher hourly rates. Tutors with these specialized skills typically earn upwards of $50 per hour, reflecting their advanced qualifications and the additional effort required to deliver effective lessons.
Competition with other tutors
Students have a wide array of choices when it comes to online tutors for various subjects. For instance, LingualNeeds offers a significantly larger pool of tutors specializing in French compared to those focused on sales.
Although many French tutors may set their rates above the average, they face competition from those who offer lower prices. To justify their higher fees, it’s essential for these tutors to craft a compelling profile that highlights the unique value of their lessons. On the other hand, tutors specializing in Sales skills often have fewer competitors, allowing them to command higher rates due to the limited options available to students.
What’s the quickest way to start making money as an online tutor?
The fastest and most convenient way to begin earning as an online tutor is to set up an independent profile on a tutoring platform. This approach allows you to bypass the lengthy hiring procedures of traditional companies and eliminate the initial expenses associated with launching your own online business.
Join one of the best online tutoring platforms
| Platform | Hourly rate | Commission fees | Tutoring subjects |
| Skooli | $49 | Skooli takes 49% commission, so you make $25/hour | Math, humanities, business, languages, science |
| VIPKID | $14 – $18 | N/A | English as a foreign language |
| Tutor.com | $39 | Tutor.com takes 69% commission, so you make $12/hour | Math, humanities, business, languages, science, technology, communication |
| LingualNeeds | You set your own rate | LingualNeeds takes a 100% commission fee for your first lesson with every new student.
In future lessons, the commission ranges from 33% to 18%, depending on the total hours of instruction completed with students on LingualNeeds. The more tutoring you do through LingualNeeds, the less commission you pay. |
Computer science, business, foreign languages, history, humanities, mathematics, marketing, science, social sciences, test prep, and more |
When and how do you increase your hourly rate?
Eventually, you’ll likely feel the need to increase your tutoring fees—and that’s completely justified! As you gain experience and refine your skills in guiding students to success, your value as an online tutor will grow. Here are some ideal moments to consider adjusting your rates:
- if your demand is too high
- if you’ve acquired a new certification
- if you’ve received outstanding reviews when your profile didn’t have reviews before
Although you might be tempted to raise your rates shortly after launching your services, it’s perfectly normal for it to take a few months to gain the experience necessary to justify a price increase. Building that expertise is key to ensuring your rates reflect your value.
When considering a rate increase, aim for no more than a 20% hike unless you have strong reasons to support it. Frequent increases can deter potential clients, so it’s important to strike a balance that maintains your value without alienating your audience.
In conclusion, if you work for a tutoring company, it’s essential to note that your pay rate is likely set and may not be adjustable. If you’re aiming to boost your earnings in the future, you might want to reconsider this choice.
Key takeaways
If you’re eager to boost your income or find a fresh outlet for your teaching talents, online tutoring offers a simple and effective solution. It’s an accessible way to share your expertise while earning extra money from the comfort of your home.
To make the most as an online tutor:
- Dedicate more hours to tutoring per week
- Tutor one or more of the subjects students are willing to pay more for (e.g. sales)
- Choose a method to find new students that lets you set a higher rate
One of the fastest and simplest ways to start earning money is by creating a tutor profile on an online tutoring platform. Take LingualNeeds, for instance—register today, and you could be ready to start tutoring within just a few days!
Ready to take the next step? Create a profile and tutor with LingualNeeds!
Disclaimer
Insights on Tutor Average Salaries: Based on Internal LingualNeeds Data, Not Market Trends
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average hourly rate for online tutors?
Online tutors earn an average hourly rate of $18.30, with rates ranging from $10.00 to $38.90 depending on the subject.
How many hours should I teach per week to maximize my earnings?
Tutors who dedicate 40-50 hours a week can earn an average of $1,416.40 monthly, while those teaching 0-10 hours earn about $117.70.
What are the highest-paying subjects for online tutoring?
Some of the highest-paying subjects include Sales ($38.90/hour), Corporate Finance ($34.00/hour), and Hebrew ($32.17/hour).
What is the quickest way to start earning money as an online tutor?
The fastest way to start earning is by setting up a profile on an online tutoring platform, which allows you to begin tutoring without lengthy hiring processes.
When should I consider increasing my hourly rate?
You should consider raising your rate if demand is high, if you acquire a new certification, or if you receive outstanding reviews.
