How much can you earn teaching English online?

Online English teaching is more popular than ever. The pandemic saw traditional classroom-based teachers move online to continue working, and many people found that they actually prefer it to go to school. According to The Pie News, ‘the value of the global online English-as-a-second language learning market is worth $10 billion in 2021’. It’s most definitely a booming industry, so if you are considering earning money from online teaching, now is the time to start.

What are the benefits of online English teaching?

Neither the teacher nor the students have to travel to get to a class which saves time

Students get direct access to qualified native English speakers

Online teaching is convenient and easy to set up.

It’s a great way to make money.

Online teaching is often seen as a side-hustle. But that doesn’t have to be the case. So, whether you’ve been teaching English for years or you’re a newly qualified teacher, online teaching might be the perfect job for you.

How much will I earn?

The amount you earn depends on how you decide to teach English online. There are two main options ESL teachers tend to choose from.

Work for an online company

If you are new to ESL teaching, this is probably the best option. Working for an online company means you’ll be able to get valuable experience teaching. Something you’ll need if you want to charge more later on in your career.

The main benefit of working for an established company is they find students for you. You don’t have to market yourself. They will also provide lesson plans, so there is very little work to do away from your timetabled lessons.

They also deal with all the admin, meaning they take payment from students and organise the scheduling of lessons. You just have to switch on your computer and teach.

Choose the company carefully

You do need to consider which company you work for. Look for ones that offer bonuses and incentives. Also, look at what the company’s peak teaching times are. If you want to make online English teaching a full-time job, you’ll need to be available at those times. Plus, consider your qualifications. A company will tend to pay higher rates if you have more qualifications.

Expect to earn between $10-$25

The San Diego Union-Tribune offers some advice on how to find an online English teaching job.

Work for yourself

There is a much higher earning potential if you decide to go it alone and set up your own online English teaching business. This is a braver move as you’re also choosing to become a business owner as well as an online teacher.

However, as your own boss, you get to choose what you teach and what age groups and abilities you teach. You also decide how many students you teach and how much you’ll charge. Being your own boss gives you so much more flexibility.

What can I teach?

Many online English teachers find their niche and specialize in teaching either of a particular type of lessons.

1. Business English

This is probably the most lucrative type of lesson you can teach. You’ll be teaching adult learners and can charge top prices for your classes. Teaching business English means you’ll have lots of planning and preparation to do in between lessons which may not appeal, but you can factor this extra time into the cost of a lesson.

Expect to charge $25 per lesson

2. Exam preparation

Another popular type of lesson, many English language learners are preparing for IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge proficiency exams. These students often require extra support and look online for ESL tutors to help them.

You’ll need a good understanding of the exam to be able to help and guide students properly.

Expect to charge $19 per lesson

3. Interview Coaching

These are conversational classes where you’ll be supporting learners to use spoken English. There’ll be lots of role-playing and scenarios acted out to help students feel confident when speaking English

Expect to charge $19 per lesson

For a more detailed answer to the question How Much Can I Earn Teaching English Online? TEFL Org has done all the research to help you.

Do I need to spend money to become an online teacher?

You may have to spend some money to set up as an online English teacher, but you don’t have to pay a fortune for equipment.

What you’ll need:

·       A laptop or computer

·       A webcam

·       A headset

·       Some fun props, especially if you’re teaching children

·       Some resources and/or ESL textbooks

Other tips to help you become a successful online teacher

Try to block book lessons. This means you’ll have a guaranteed income for a certain length of time. Students love incentives, so try offering a discount if they block book 10 lessons with you.

When pricing your lessons, use the currency of the country your students live in. It makes it easier for them to know precisely what they will be charged.

Use Paypal to get paid. It’s quick and easy to use, and most importantly, safe.

How do I increase my earning potential?

If you are determined to make online English teaching a profitable career, you should remember these things.

·       Make sure you get a TEFL qualification if you haven’t already

·       Look at any additional training you can do, especially if you don’t have a degree

·       Get vital experience with an online company

·       Be patient and build up your teaching hours

·       Don’t give up

Ultimately, it’s a rewarding job

There are so many successful online English teachers out there, and the demand is still rising. If you work hard to market yourself and deliver high-quality, engaging lessons, you’ll find yourself fully booked and in a position to charge more for your time.

Interested in starting a career as an online English teacher? Take a look at this article about taking an online TEFL course. Or, if you’re already teaching online, take a look at this article discussing how children learn in a home environment.