How to Make Money Online as a Teacher – 10 Ways to Boost Your Teaching Career

Twenty years ago, there would have been no way to answer this question. Yet now, education is rapidly evolving in the face of new internet technology. This is good news for the teaching profession especially if you’re feeling underpaid, stuck with unemployment, or simply want to spice up your career. 

Here are 10 exciting ways on how to make money online as a teacher in 2020 and beyond. 

#1 – Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) 

TpT, in short, is an online marketplace and community for sharing educational resources such as digital lesson plans, worksheets, printables, project ideas, and so on. It’s primarily used by K-12 educators across all kinds of subjects and the materials are mostly priced between $5 to $10, although you can also offer them for free. 

As a teacher seller, you get to create your own online store for better organization of your products. Buyers can view your profile, ask questions, and also give appropriate ratings for your work. There are two seller memberships to choose from – the free Basic and the Premium which costs about $60 per year. 

Earning potentials – If you’re a Premium seller, you get to keep 80% profit from the sales, not disregarding platform transaction fees and PayPal fees. Some of the top sellers in TpT are said to earn well over 5 figures while others make a few hundred dollars each month. 

This platform is best for K-12 teachers, school staff, and educators who have the knack for creating their own learning materials using online tools like Canva for designing digital learning materials. 

#2 – VIPKid

VIPKid is an education technology company that aims to teach English skills to kids aged 4 to 12 years old in China. Through distance learning, they hire native-speaking teachers from the US and Canada to conduct live virtual classes that last about 25 minutes per 1-on-1 session. 

Lesson plans similar to the elementary level in North America are provided and you’re expected to commit a minimum of 7.5 hours per week for at least 6 months. A college degree in any field is required and you must have at least 1 year of teaching experience before applying. 

Earning potential – A VIPKid tutor’s earning is the summation of base pay and incentives. The base pay ranges between $7 to $9 per session while incentive varies between $1 to $5 depending on what action is accomplished. If you’re able to teach between 15 to 20 hours per week, it’s not impossible to earn an average of $2k per month. 

This platform is great for K-12 teachers or any charismatic individual who wishes to dabble in simple online teaching. There is plenty of room to be creative here, especially if you like interacting with young children from a different culture. 

#3 – Teaching English and Other Languages 

Taking it up a notch higher, what about teaching languages to adults instead? There is plenty of demand in this area especially among students who are pursuing degrees in foreign countries or professionals who are working for foreign companies. Here are some sites to consider; 

• Babbel
• Colanguage 
• Hello Talk 
• Italki 
• MyTefl 
• Verbling 

Since these sites are often used by serious learners, the application process can be quite lengthy. In most cases, you’d need to go through a background check, submit certificates, present a short video, and pass a designated test to prove that you’re qualified. Only then, can your profile be viewed by the students. 

Earning potential – The class prices vary and most tutors usually set their rates between $20 to $75 per hour. The amount you make will depend on how much time you spend teaching and the quality of your lessons, after deducting the necessary platform and payment processing fees of course. 

Teaching English and other foreign languages online is suitable for those who’re qualified and passionate about helping others achieve language proficiency through virtual classes.  

#4 – Wyzant 

What if your expertise lies outside of the language domains? Well, you can still teach 1-on-1 via Wyzant. It’s an online marketplace that caters to all levels of students who need private coaching on a specific subject. 

The platform doesn’t require tutors to have any professional teaching experience but he/she must be at least 18 years old and residing in the US. Upon successful bookings, you’d be using the in-house whiteboard tool to conduct live teaching sessions with the students. 

Earning potential – Depending on your experience and skills, classes are priced anywhere between $35 to $70+ per hour. But before passing the profits to you, Wyzant will deduct 25% commission from the sales you generated to compensate for the free listing they provide.   

This site is suitable for certified teachers, graduates, and industry professionals from other education domains such as Science, History, and Economics, looking to start a side career in online teaching. Just be aware there will be competitions from other tutors since it’s a fairly huge marketplace. 

#5 – Udemy

On-demand courses are powerful learning modules because they provide convenience and oftentimes, affordability. One of the most popular online class marketplaces is called Udemy and there are all kinds of skills you can teach here, from coding to cake decorating. 

Video tutorials are the primary teaching method on this platform but you can also add in downloadable resources, assignments, and quizzes. On the course page, one will be able to see your profile, the course layout, and previous student reviews which is reflective of the quality of your lessons. 

Earning potential – Listing on Udemy is free and you’re in charge of setting the values of your courses. Since it’s a marketplace, revenue sharing is to be expected but it’s also recurring in nature. If you’re part of the Marketing Boost Program, you make 25% per sale. If a student enrols by coming through Udemy’s organic search, you make 50%. However, if the sale is generated from your own teaching website, your earnings will shoot up to 97%. 

Udemy has a global audience and therefore, there’s a massive opportunity to grow your own online community. It’s a good launching pad for teachers/instructors who enjoy coming up with their own lesson plans, teaching through videos, and engaging in online discussions. 

#6 – Teachable

Marketplaces can be overcrowded sometimes so creating a mini online school is another way to teach skills and build loyalty. Teachable is one such platform and it’s used by more than 30,000 users to deliver personalized courses using engaging multimedia and even memberships. 

You may want to sign up for some free classes to get an idea of what the interface looks like from the front end. #Spoiler Alert – Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Income is currently offering some free courses here. Alternatively, you can also join the 3-hour free training from Teachable University as they show the entire setup process from topic selection to launching a course. 

Earning potential – The amount you make depends on the value of the courses and this could range anywhere between $50 to $900+, after deducting transaction and platform fees. Teachable is a paid platform and there are monthly and annual plans available to suit the needs of your teaching capacity. 

Anyone looking to level up their teaching game, be it coaches, trainers, consultants, or bloggers, can consider using Teachable to reach out to their audience. The premium features will make your teaching approach more professional and most likely get your students coming back for more.  

#7 – YouTube 

YouTube, the second largest search engine after Google, isn’t just for gamers like Pew Die Pie. Teachers can also leverage the service to teach ANY topics under the sun and deliver to millions of students around the world – for free!  

Eddie Woo is one such educator who is able to transform a daunting subject like Mathematics into something engaging through his own YouTube channel which has garnered over 1 million subscribers. Besides recording classes with students, he also does whiteboard teaching and analyzes equations using real-life examples. It’s amazing how he does it in such a fun way! 

Earning potential – There are 5 ways YouTubers can generate an online income; ad revenue (pay per thousand views OR pay per click), affiliate marketing, sponsorship, donations, and merchandise selling. Generally, the more videos you produce, the more money you’d make. Beginners usually make a few hundred dollars and when your channel has an established reputation, it’s not impossible to hit the million-dollar mark. 

Anyone can publish educational videos on YouTube as long as they adhere to the community terms and conditions. If you’re comfortable being in front of the camera and possess a creative way of teaching, this platform is going to be a game-changer. 

#8 – Kindle Publishing 

Kindle is a type of mobile reader designed by Amazon that gives you access to books, magazines, newspapers, and other digital media. Basically, you’ll be writing eBooks and marketing to the millions of customers who shop on the Amazon marketplace. 

The process is known to be faster than traditional publishing and your book could easily be up in the Kindle store within 1-2 days. KDP University has got free training to walk you through all the fundamental steps, but if you’re looking for practical approaches or mentorship in this area, it’s worth paying for a course designed by an actual Kindle self-publisher. 

Earning potentials – Most authors price their books between $2.99 to $9.99, but you can certainly go above that. Payments are made monthly based on royalties and you can request a check, wire transfer, or direct deposit. Just keep in mind there’s a 60-day waiting time from the point of sales. 

Book publishing can be quite a meticulous endeavour but it’s a good way to unleash the creative minds of aspiring authors. You can write anything you’re knowledgeable or passionate about; it doesn’t necessarily have to be fictional. 

#9 – Freelance Writing 

If writing a book sounds intimidating, you can always do freelance writing for niche sites instead. Fresh content is highly sought after on websites nowadays and your expertise can be put to good use here. Having additional qualifications like journalism and communication can give you a good head start but they aren’t always necessary.

What’s essential is the ability to communicate, research a topic, and commit to producing a good piece of work. Give your resume a good polish with your latest credentials and search for opportunities on places like Fiverr, People Per Hour, and the ProBlogger job board, just to name a few. 

Earning potentials – The amount one makes through freelance writing varies greatly because some gigs are paid by the number of words and project hours while others are based on the level of skills and experience. The more prolific you become, the better you’d get at negotiating for higher rates.  

Freelance writing is a nice gig to get involved in without too big a commitment. You get to explore new ideas and it’s a good transition for anyone who’s planning a career working from home. Equipped with good writing skills, you can move on to doing bigger things like blogging which I’ll discuss in the next point. 

#10 – Affiliate Marketing

You’re probably wondering, what does teaching have to do with marketing? Well, teaching is a skill but if you don’t know how to market it, you’re going to be stuck with the conventional method and that’s not going to take your career very far. 

Many things are happening within the modern education niche as we speak. The internet is populated with online course platforms, teaching software, learning apps, and marketplaces catering resources for educators. 

Through affiliate marketing, you can leverage trusted companies and make small commissions recommending their products and services to other users through online reviews. It provides a nice additional income than just relying solely on teaching and you get to build a larger audience size besides the students you serve.  

Let me give you some examples; 

• Online courses – Help college students and professionals upskill by finding the right learning program through education platforms like Coursera, FutureLearn, and Creative Live. 
• Learning app/sites – Help students find the right software/apps for self-paced learning through sites like Rosetta Stones, Rocket Languages, and Scribd. 
• Productivity app – Help students organize notes and write better through apps like ClickUp, Grammarly, and Evernote. 
• Stationary and Gifts – Help students and teachers work better with the right supplies through online stores like Paper Source, Discount School Supply, and Etsy. 

Every name mentioned above is a niche on its own and they have affiliate programs that are free to join. You can either sign up directly or look them up on affiliate networks like ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, and AWIN. Before doing that, make sure you’ve got a blog because that’s one of the best ways for Google and other people to discover your reviews.   

Use this simple tool to create a WordPress blog for free, if you haven’t got one already.

Become a Teacherpreneur 

Yes, that’s the official word 🙂 and many teachers are starting their own (side) business as digital learning continues to shape modern education. You should embrace this trend as well considering all the opportunities I’ve highlighted so far. 

Whether you love to be in front of the camera or have a huge drive to write, there’s something for everyone. If any of the “teacherpreneur” ideas strike a chord, I say give it a go. But if you’re still unsure how to make money online as a teacher, this comprehensive training will give you the fundamental skills to get started. Sign up for free and I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step. 

I would love to hear what you have to say about this topic, teachers so leave your comment down below!