The new year has just begun, so it’s time to round up the best paying online teaching jobs this year!
Money isn’t the only motivator for teaching English online, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Most people looking for an online English teaching job hope to supplement their income, pay off debts and save some money.
Some people even want to teach ESL online full-time.
For many, making money by teaching online is about taking control of their life and not pressing pause on the things that matter to them.
With online teaching, you have the flexibility to work from home and make time for things that are important to you.
So take a deep breath! We’ve put together a comprehensive table of the 30 highest paying online teaching jobs right now.
Don’t forget to check out our salary calculator for online English teaching jobs. It factors in your experience, availability and more to give you an idea of how much you can make.
For a list of non-Chinese ESL companies hiring online English teachers, check out our blog on our top 7 recommendations!
| Employer | Hourly pay (USD) | Typical student | Lessons provided | Expected working hours |
Experience, qualifications & requirements |
| English from A to Z | $18 – 72 (depending on the number of students in the class) | Worldwide | Teachers to use YourAgora platform to build their own lessons 60 minutes Small groups (up to 8 students) | Min. 5 hours per week Flexible times as students are from all over the world | BA required Fluent English speakers preferred TEFL required 1-year teaching experience preferred |
| Tutor Supply | $20 – 32 | Chinese children (all ages) |
All lessons & materials provided | No minimum Beijing time | BA required TEFL/TESOL/CELTA |
| USTKiD | $20 – 33 | Chinese children (all ages) |
All lessons & materials provided 30 minutes +, one-on-two/ One-on-four classes |
No minimum Beijing time | BA required Fluent speaker from Canada/UK/US Teaching experience |
| Panda ABC/Teach Future | $20 – 30 | Chinese children (all ages) |
All lessons & materials provided 25-minute, one-on-four classes |
Min. 7.5 hours per week Beijing time | BA required TEFL/TESL Fluent English speaker preferred 1-year teaching experience |
| USKid | $17 – 28 | Chinese children | All lessons & materials provided One-on-one classes | Min. 5 hours per week Beijing time | BA required Fluent English speaker |
| SayABC | $17 – 28 | Chinese children (7 – 9 years) |
All lessons & materials provided 40-minute one-on-four classes | Same 3 times for 3 months Beijing time | BA not required for contracts under 3 months TEFL/TESOL/CELTA required Fluent English speakers |
| BlingABC | $21 – 27 Star teachers can make up to $50 if they have experience in child education | Chinese children (5 – 12 years) | All lessons & materials provided 40-minute, one-on-one or small group classes |
Fixed hours Beijing time | BA required TEFL/TESOL/CELTA preferred Fluent English speaker (American, Canadian, Australian and British accents preferred) |
| Magic Ears | $22 – 26 | Chinese children (5 – 12 years) |
All lessons & materials provided 30-minute, one-on-four classes |
No min. hours per week Beijing time | BA not required but preferred Fluent English speaker from US/Canada 8 months + ESL teaching experience TESOL/TEFL |
| Landi | $18 – 25 | Chinese children (5 – 12 years) |
All lessons & materials provided 25-minute, one-on-one or One-on-two classes |
Min. 12 hours per month (4 teaching days per week) | BA required TEFL/TESOL/CELTA preferred Teaching experience preferred |
| GoGoKid | $14 – 25 | Chinese children (4 – 12 years) |
All lessons & materials provided One-on-one classes | No min. Beijing time |
BA required Fluent English speaker (American, Canadian or legally able to work or reside in the USA or Canada) |
| UUABC | $15 – 25 | Chinese children | All lessons & materials provided | Min 4 hours per week Beijing time | BA required TEFL/TESOL/ CELTA Fluent English speaker (North America, UK, Australia/New Zealand, Ireland) Basic command of Chinese if an advantage 1-year teaching experience |
| Hugo English | $15 – 25 | Chinese children (5 – 16 years) |
All lessons & materials provided One-on-one classes | No minimum Beijing time | Fluent English speaker (North America, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa) |
| Boxfish | $10 – 24 | Chinese children (K12) | All lessons & materials provided 25-minute classes, max. 4 students |
No minimum Beijing time | BA required TEFL/TESOL preferred Fluent English speaker (American, Canadian, Australian and British accents preferred) |
| DaDa | Up to $23 | Chinese children (4 – 16 years) |
All lessons & materials provided 30-minute, one-on-one classes | Min. 2 hrs per day + 2 days per week Shanghai time |
BA required TEFL or CELTA preferred Teaching experience Must be a fluent English speaker |
| A+ Gateway | $18 – 22 | Chinese children (grades 7 – 12) |
All lessons & materials provided 40-minute, one-on-one classes | No minimum stated Beijing time | BA required 2 years’ teaching experience Can work in USA/Canada |
| 51Talk | $15 – 22 | Chinese children (4 – 12 years) | All lessons & materials provided 25-minute classes | 30 hours per month Beijing time | BA required TEFL/TESOL/CELTA preferred Experience with young learners |
| ALO7 | $15 – 22 | Chinese children (K12) | All lessons & materials provided 25/50-minute classes | Min. 12 classes (6 hours) per week Beijing time | BA required/currently enrolled in a 4-year program TEFL/TESOL Fluent English speaker from the USA, Canada, UK & Australia |
| Western Wise | $15 – 22 | Chinese children (5 – 14 years) |
All lessons & materials provided | No minimum stated Beijing time | Either a TEFL/CELTA, 3 years of experience or a language degree required Fluent speaker – North American accent |
| VIPKID | $14 – 22 | Chinese children (4 – 12 years) | All lessons & materials provided 25-minute, one-on-one classes | Min. 7.5 hours per month Beijing time | BA required TEFL preferred US/Canadian citizen or eligible to work in US/Canada (i.e. work visa/green card) |
| Stewart English | $20 | Children (4-12 years) |
All lessons & materials provided | No min. Eastern European Standard time |
BA required Min. one year of teaching experience |
| Golden Voice English | $20 | Chinese children (grades 1 – 9) |
All lessons & materials provided One-on-one or small group classes (max. 7) |
Min. 8 hours weekly Beijing time | BA required, BE preferred TEFL/TESOL/TESL 6 months ESL teaching experience |
| ESLstarter | $20 | Chinese children (under 12 years) |
All lessons & materials provided 45-minute classes | Flexible but must be available during peak hours Beijing time | BA required TEFL/TESOL US/Canadian nationality |
| Live Lingua | $20 | Worldwide (all ages) | Make your own lesson plans & assess students 1-hour, one-on-one classes | Worldwide flexible | BA required MA/Ph.D. preferred TEFL/TESOL/CELTA Fluent English Speakers (US, UK, Australia, China) 2 years of experience Additional language (so that you know how to learn & teach a language) |
| Qkids | $16 – 20 | Chinese children (5 – 12 years) |
All lessons & materials provided 30-minute, one-on-four classes | Min. 6 hours per week, up to 19 hours Beijing time | BA required (enrolled in a four-year program) Eligible to work in USA/Canada Teaching experience/training |
| Hujiang | $16 – 20 | Chinese children (5 – 18 years) Chinese adults |
All lessons & materials provided 25-minute, one-on-one classes | Min. 10 hours per week Beijing time | BA required Fluent English speakers from UK, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand Preference to teachers who will work weekends |
| iTalki | Teacher sets own rate iTalki takes 15% | All ages Worldwide |
Teacher creates own lessons & materials | No minimum Flexible times as students are from all over the world | Fluent English speaker (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland) Professional teacher /BA in Education /Professional teaching experience/ TEFL/CELTA/TESOL |
| Skimatalk | $8 – (can set own rate -20%) | All ages Worldwide |
Can download lessons from website but teachers encouraged to create their own 25-minute classes | No minimum Flexible times as students are from all over the world | BA not required Teaching experience preferred Fluent English speaker |
| SkyLearn | Up to $35,000/year, full-time | Worldwide All ages |
All lessons & materials provided 50-minute classes | Fully flexible as worldwide learners | BA required North American accent preferred TEFL/TESL preferred |
We’ve already talked about the benefits of teaching English online on the blog, so let’s quickly recap:
1. What’s teaching English online like?
The idea of managing your calendar, not having a boss breathing down your neck and the flexibility to work when and how you want might seem too good to be true.
But it’s not!
The global demand for online English teachers is constantly growing as countries try to get their students up to speed with the increasingly universal language.
2. What are the benefits of teaching English online?
- A great hourly salary
- Flexible hours (teach at a time that suits you)
- The world’s shortest commute (one of our teachers boasts about a 30 cm commute)
- Get some teaching experience while getting paid so you can teach abroad
- Lessons are provided but open to interpretation (you can get creative!)
- Time to write a book, work another job or study for an MA with all those free hours floating about