How to Become an Online Writing Tutor

Amidst the pandemic, virtual learning, and increased expectations to get into college, there is a huge need for online tutoring. Becoming an online tutor can be very lucrative.

Tutoring can provide support for students who need some additional one-on-one learning time, or for anyone who might have struggled with learning in a virtual environment throughout the pandemic.

Regardless of the reason, the Spherical Insights & Consulting forecasts that the global online tutoring market size is expected to be worth $6.52 billion in 2021 and is estimated to reach nearly $20 billion by 2030.

Needless to say, becoming an online tutor and providing lessons for students can become a very lucrative gig job, side hustle, or even a full-time career. By doing so, you can make your own hours, earn extra money, and schedule tutoring sessions based on your availability alongside any other obligations you may have (even alongside a full-time job).

What Do Online Tutors Do?

An online tutor does exactly what a face to face tutor would do. Online tutors work with the individual needs of each learner to review class material and go over assignments or exams with students during tutoring sessions.

Depending on the employer, some tutors are responsible for scheduling instructional activities, evaluating student work, and monitoring student performance/grades.

Skills Online Tutors Need 

While you don’t necessarily need teaching experience to become an online tutor, the experience may be useful. Additionally, online tutors must exemplify soft skills, including skills like:

• Patience
• Positivity
• Empathy
• Understanding
• Creative Thinking
• Problem-Solving

Furthermore, online tutors must have a firm technical knowledge of the topic in which they are tutoring students, as well as the ability to actively listen, communicate, and lead students toward the ability to grasp the subject at hand. 

How Tutors Earn Money

Tutors can make money by conducting tutoring sessions and starting their own tutoring business or by working with an online tutoring company.

You may be able to earn more per session with your own online tutoring business because you won’t have to pay a tutoring company’s fees. With this said, there are benefits to working for an online tutoring company as well.

Online tutoring companies allow tutors to list their services and connect with potential students. These platforms might be appealing because they handle back-end tasks like payment processing and scheduling. Some platforms even match tutors with students and provide lesson plans. This means you don’t have to worry about outside prep work.

However, remember that some tutoring companies have strict requirements, like professional teaching experience or a bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, online tutoring services may require tutors to have specific certifications or teaching credentials. All of these elements might be barriers to entry, depending on your background. 

According to Care.com, individual tutors generally charge according to their level of education and experience.

The website explains that high school students typically charge $15-$50 per hour. Certified, experienced teachers may charge up to $100 (or more) per hour based on their qualifications and teaching experience. Indeed estimates that in general, online tutors make an average base salary of $24.56 hourly.

How Online Tutoring Works 

You’ll need a high-quality webcam, a microphone, and a reliable internet connection to conduct online tutoring sessions. Online platforms, including Zoom or Google Hangouts, allow tutors to connect with students in real-time.

If you’re going through an online tutoring company, they may have their own platform to use to set up the virtual classroom. 

This allows for interactive learning sessions that are convenient and affordable for learners. Using online platforms also enables you to reach a wider client pool and can allow you to tutor students outside your local region.

This may help you increase your client base while simultaneously marketing your services based on local market prices.

When starting with an online tutor, tutors will ask questions about where the student is struggling, and what they feel they need the most help with. From there, online tutors will typically use their resources and areas of expertise to identify how the student will learn best, and what strategies work best for engagement to build a custom lesson plan.

Steps to Become an Online Tutor

1. Determine your areas of expertise to figure out what subjects you would offer the most value of the tutor. Subjects including math, biology, and chemistry are common subjects where students need support. With this said, many students need assistance with reading, writing, and preparation for exams.
2. Assess the application process and initial requirements based on the mode of entry. Are you working with an online tutoring platform that requires you to have a high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree? Do you need a specific certification or teaching experience?
3. Decide if you want to start your own business or if you want to use an online tutoring platform to deliver your services. If you are starting your own business, you’ll need to determine your business plan, payment plan, if you’ll be sending an invoice, and how you will accept payment.
4. Know your audience. When building your tutor profile, consider if you’ll be trying to engage parents or the students themselves. For younger students, you’ll likely be focusing on engaging the parents through your profile. High school students and college students may be looking for a tutor themselves, so you’ll want to speak directly to them.
5. Start hustling! Once you’ve determined how to get started and have built out a tutor profile, start sharing your services in order to gain awareness and build up your client base.

Online Platforms to Find Tutoring Jobs 

Profile platforms like the ones listed below may act as a resource to help you start working as an online tutor.

None of these require a bachelor’s degree from their tutors, but there may be other qualifications needed before the platform accepts an applicant.

Preply

Preply is an online tutoring jobs platform that connects students who are interested in learning languages, academic subjects, and even hobbies with online tutors. No certification or diploma needed, but it may help you market yourself on the platform.

Tutors.com

Tutors.com offers tutoring for everything from math to music. The platform asks about the student’s age, skill level, and location and then matches them with a list of ideal tutors. While a bachelor’s degree is not needed to start working here, they do ask for a GED or a high school diploma.

Wyzant

Wyzant connects students with a list of recommended tutors and has a simple messaging tool for new students to talk to prospective tutors to help them find their best fit. This platform doesn’t require any official qualifications for tutors to get started, only that they’re based in the US and have a social security number.

Revolution Prep

Revolution Prep is an online tutoring platform for individuals or small groups learning together. It covers all the major classes you’d find in a high school curriculum. A bachelor’s degree is preferred, but not required for a tutor to start working there. Tutors are also full-time, which means trading flexibility for job security. Note that the platform requires tutors to conduct 150 hours of training each year.

Knowledge Roundtable

The Knowledge Roundtable website connects students to tutors for the subject of their choice. It also allows tutors to create tutorials for their subject matter in exchange for advertising space to help find students. Knowledge Roundtable has no certification or location requirements to start tutoring. Keep in mind that this platform is much less popular than other sites, so it can be quite hard to get new students.

Other Questions About Online Tutor Jobs

You’ve learned a little more about how to become an online tutor, what online tutoring pays, and different options for earning extra money as an online tutor. With this in mind, you may have some additional questions, which we’ve outlined below:

What kind of education do online tutors need?

Depending on the platform that you’re using, online tutors don’t necessarily need a specific level of education. With that said, it’s desirable for a tutor to have at least a GED or high school diploma.

The more education and specific training you have, the more you can charge. Those with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, teaching credential, or certification will likely make more money with a higher hourly rate.

How Can I Become an English Tutor?

English tutors typically need at least a high school diploma or higher. If you want to teach English as a second language, consider obtaining a credential. 

How Can I Become an SAT tutor?

In order to become an SAT tutor, you’ll need to have a college education with a strong foundation in standardized testing. Having high test scores and getting certified to teach standardized testing will make a big positive impact. 

How Can I Become a Mathematics Tutor?

To become an online math tutor, you need at least an associate’s degree or tutoring certification for math. Some positions require a bachelor’s degree in mathematics or a related field. The more specialized the math is that you’re tutoring on, the more training and education you will need.