If you want to teach English online from home, the pay can vary quite a bit from one company to the next.
Below, I've listed five online ESL jobs that can pay $18 or more an hour.
Your starting rate may be lower, depending on the company.
These rates are for teaching time. You'll also need to allow time for lesson prep, written feedback, and gaps between lessons.
5 Online ESL Jobs That Can Pay $18+ an Hour
1 – Bilingval
Bilingval hires online English teachers to work with children ages 4 to 12. You'll teach your lessons through Zoom.
Pay: $10–$12 per 25-minute lesson, or $20–$24 for two lessons. The company says it pays weekly.
Countries: You must be eligible to work in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K.
Requirements: You must be a native English speaker with a bachelor's degree, a TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate, and at least one year of teaching experience that includes working with children. You'll need to be available at least two hours a day, four days a week.
Go here to apply with Bilingval.
2 – Cosmo
Cosmo, formerly ClassUp, hires tutors for several subjects. Its ESL teachers work with students in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Look for the ESL program when you apply, since the pay and requirements for other subjects can be different.
Pay: $20 USD per 50-minute lesson, plus possible incentives, according to its U.S. ESL job listing.
Countries: U.S. and Canada. The U.S. listing excludes Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.
Requirements: You'll need a bachelor's degree and three years of experience teaching K–12 English language arts, ESL, or EFL. You also need to know K–12 English language arts standards.
You must be available at least 20 hours a week and commit to six months. A TEFL certificate is preferred.
3 – Littera Education
Littera Education hires online tutors to work with K–12 students in U.S. schools. Its subjects include English language learning, or ELL. Lesson materials are provided.
Pay: $18 per hour for English/ELL sessions. You also get 15 minutes of paid admin time for each completed hour of tutoring. Training is paid, too.
Countries: U.S. only. You must live and teach in one of the eligible states listed on its tutor page.
Requirements: You must be at least 18, have experience or strong knowledge in the subject you teach, and keep a steady weekly schedule. A teaching certificate isn't required. You'll need a computer, reliable internet, and a quiet place to work. You must also pass a background check and show how you tutor.
These are part-time employee jobs, and hours aren't guaranteed. The current opening focuses on reading and math, but the application also has an ESL/ELL option.
Go here to apply with Littera Education.
4 – Ringle Teens
With Ringle Teens, you'll teach English through one-on-one lessons. Lesson materials are provided.
Pay: $17–$21 per 40-minute lesson or $9–$11 per 20-minute lesson, according to the Ringle Teens FAQ. Your rate depends on your tutor level.
Countries: You must be eligible to work as a self-employed contractor in the U.S. or the U.K.
Requirements: You must attend or have attended a university with a good reputation and have strong grades. You also need strong English speaking, writing, and tutoring skills.
They'll look at how well you communicate and what activities you've done outside of class. You'll also need to do a practice lesson and attend orientation.
Go here to apply with Ringle Teens.
5 – VIPKid
VIPKid, also called VIPTeacher, lets you teach English online on a flexible schedule. Lesson materials are provided.
Pay: $14–$22 per teaching hour before incentives, or $15.60–$28.40 with incentives, according to its teacher pay page. Your rate depends on your contract and qualifications.
Countries: You must be legally eligible to work in the U.S. or Canada.
Requirements: You'll need a bachelor's degree in any subject, an ESL certificate such as TEFL or TESOL, and at least two years of teaching experience. You'll also need to show how you teach and pass a background check.
There's no minimum number of hours you have to teach each week.
You can find more teaching and tutoring jobs on my list of work-from-home jobs in education.
Looking for Even More ESL Teaching Jobs?
You can find more ESL teaching jobs on FlexJobs.
They hand-screen every job listing, so you don’t have to worry about scams or time-wasters.
They list ESL jobs from companies around the world, including jobs with flexible schedules.
FlexJobs charges just $2.95 for 14 days of full access, and you can cancel anytime if you’re not satisfied.
Go here to see the jobs on FlexJobs if you're interested.
Good luck!
Anna Jones is a bicoastal writer, editor, and producer currently living in Atlanta, GA. She is the proud owner of Girl.Copy, a freelance copywriting and editing business that specializes in creating stellar content in the fashion, technology, marketing, and design sectors. She has a husband, human baby, and fur baby that are her favorite parts of any day. She enjoys traveling, reading, and a nice cold Diet Coke while taking an uninterrupted shower. If you want to internet stalk her or make a business inquiry, check out her website at: www.girlcopy.org.