Net Hustlin'

Online tutoring is in growing demand for people of all ages. When I blogged about online tutor jobs in 2007, there weren't many job opportunities in this area because it was still a very new concept. Most of the websites were amateur and underdeveloped. Now there are many interesting opportunities online for education professionals.


The most well-known website is Tutor.com. Everyone can apply to be a tutor on their website, but they do not accept everyone who applies. They require a degree from a US or Canadian University. They also require that you pass their subject examination before you begin tutoring.

According to the job reviews I have read about the site [link], the pay on tutor.com is around $9.50 an hour during a tutoring session (it varies depending on the subject). They also pay $5.50 during the time a scheduled tutor is waiting for students.

While $5.50 an hour isn't even minimum wage in most places, you would be getting paid for doing literally nothing. Most online job don't pay their workers an hourly wage during the times that they're not pulling in profits. So this is worth considering if you're looking for steady, guaranteed income each week. You can be sure that even if no one shows up, you'll get paid at least something.


An option that is quite different from tutor.com is Skype Prime. You are probably already familiar with Skype's VOIP software. That software now has a feature that allows professionals to give advice and get paid without any third-party website or additional software.

When you set up your Skype Prime account, you get to decide how much you charge per minute for your services. Skype takes out 30% commission, so that should factor into your final price. Once you are finished, create a directory listing on the skype website so that people can find you. I also recommend making your own website or a social networking page that advertises your services.

Skype is a good option if you don't meet the qualifications of other websites but you still believe you'd make a good tutor. It's also good if you want more control over your wages, time requirements, and other aspects of work.

Another option is Liveperson, a site that I am registered with, and I have had positive experiences so far. Liveperson also allows you to charge your own rate per minute while taking out 30% commission.

The high commission is my biggest complaint about the site. It is frustrating to have to over-charge my clients to make up for the 30% I will lose. But it is a necessary evil on most websites.

Liveperson appeals to many different kinds of people. Some are looking for tutoring, while most people are looking for other types of advice (essay writing, spiritual advice, counseling, etc.). Therefore, you will not get the same targeted traffic as you'd get on a site like tutor.com. You will likely have less students. I recommend using Liveperson as a supplement to your primary online tutor job. The upside is, when you eventually do get a paying client, the pay is usually good.

One of the most important things to remember about working online is that you don't have to just choose one option. Try out all of these sites if you are unsure which one to start with. You will eventually find the one that works for you.