If you’re a teacher, you know that the income generated from a teaching salary is typically far below that of other professionals with college degrees. Because of this income discrepancy, many of us want to know how to make money in education without infringing on our current job.
Well, going back to school and getting a Master’s degree, or another advanced degree is one option, but the increase in your salary is usually minimal for the amount of time required, and truthfully, it’s only helpful if you know you plan to stay in the classroom.
You could spend your summers teaching summer school, but then you severely limit your “recharge” time and the pay isn’t always as good as it could be.
But another option is starting a side hustle or getting a second job in order to help increase your yearly income!
This would obviously require a time investment, but what if you were able to find something that…
- allowed you to stay in the education field,
- was super-flexible and wouldn’t interfere with your brick and mortar teaching job,
- was able to be done remotely from home, and
- was interesting enough to force you outside your comfort zone and potentially into a different career altogether
Would you want to learn a bit more?
Well, I’m 100% confident that you said yes, so I’ve put together a list of some of the greatest work from home jobs for teachers. They are ideal for weekends, school breaks, summer months, and as though that wasn’t enough, they are also uniquely suited for teachers who are thinking about leaving the classroom to become an entrepreneur or pursue other careers outside the classroom.
And they are things you can start doing now in order to save up the money you need to leave and get you the experience you need to take them full-time. Yep, you heard that right…every single one of these options has the potential to become your full-time job.
So whether you are an elementary teacher, who is tired of the parental disrespect, a middle school teacher, who is sick of dealing with hormonal teenagers, a high school teacher, who wants to become an authority on a particular subject and do more than just teach high school, an administrator, who is tired of being part of a broken system, or anyone in-between, there are options and I am going to show you how to make money in education from home.
Work From Home Jobs for Teachers
1. Tutoring
As a teacher, you are already very familiar with the scope and sequence of specific grades as well as what students need to know to exhibit mastery. Therefore, it just makes sense that you might consider becoming a tutor on your own time.
In-Person Tutoring
You know the standards and requirements in your state. If you have been teaching for a little while, it is highly likely that you are also familiar with many of the children and families in your local area that would seek your services.
So, who better to tutor kids that are struggling than you?
If you have extra space, you can have students come to your home, and depending on the demand, you can work as much or as little as you want because you have the power to create your own schedule. You can also set your own rates based on what you feel is appropriate since you’re not affiliated with local school districts or any other company.
Just keep in mind that while there is no hard and fast rule for the best hourly rate, you need to know what is going to be affordable for the clientele you plan to serve. If you know there are others in your area that offer similar services, see what they charge and the subject areas in which they specialize. This will give you some “comparables” to use as you determine the sweet spot for pricing.
The only real downside or “cons” to in-person tutoring are knowing that you have to…
- build up a fairly consistent client base in order to generate a higher salary than your current teaching job.
- consistently be seeking new kids to add to your schedule, which can become quite time-consuming
- be available on the dates you pre-determine, which can infringe on your ability to take vacations, holidays, days off, etc.
- have a quiet place to complete your tutoring sessions
While none of these are deal-breakers, you definitely need to think through them before you decide to go this particular route
Online Tutoring
With the advent of Zoom and many other online meeting technologies, being a tutor online has never been easier. You have the ability to connect with learners from all over the globe by simply logging on to your preferred online platform.
If you like the idea of tutoring, but you feel uneasy with starting your own tutoring business, you can find a multitude of online tutoring companies looking to hire qualified teachers. Some of the more well-known companies are BrainFuse, PrepNow, Tutor.com, and Varsity Tutors.
By working for a company, you don’t have to find new clients; you simply teach the classes you are either assigned or choose to teach.
2. Online Teaching
While at first glance, it might seem like tutoring and online teaching are the same thing, they are actually very different. With tutoring, your goal is to help students gain a better understanding (or even mastery) of skills they’ve been taught by providing extra help. Online teaching on the other hand, is all about teaching students new content.
Obviously, there will be overlap in that tutors will have to teach content where students have gaps in knowledge and teachers will need to reteach information students just didn’t grasp. But the main difference is that tutors are dedicated to review and practice while teachers focus on new information.
So now that we have that cleared up, let’s dig a little deeper into online teaching because it is absolutely one of the best work from home jobs for teachers.
VIPKid
I have been a teacher with VIPKid since 2018 and it has been a tremendous blessing for my family. However, in October 2021, VIPKid had to make some huge changes to its business model and plan because of strict regulations passed down from the Chinese government regarding foreign teachers teaching students in mainland China.
Since that time, VIPKid has struggled to regain its status as the #1 Online ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching company. And because I always want to be completely honest, I felt I needed to mention that. However, it is still a great option if you want to explore online teaching jobs.
VIPKid does not require a Bachelor’s degree in education, but as teachers we have a unique skill set. We have experience with children and we can troubleshoot areas of confusion in ways that others cannot. So that makes us ideally-suited to be VIPKid teachers.
The best part about VIPKID is that you can work as much or as little as you want. There are no required hours, but obviously, the more consistently you work, the more repeat kids you’ll have. Because of the flexibility in the schedule, it’s a wonderful option for teachers who are currently in the classroom.
In fact, one of my dear friends is currently doing VIPKID part-time while working at one of our local public schools. She teaches as many VIPKid classes as she feels like she can handle on a regular basis during the school year, and then she picks up extra classes during holidays, breaks, and summer break.
Truthfully, it’s the perfect option if you’re looking for something to supplement your income and help you reach your financial goals! But if you are a little unsure about VIPKid, then I have some other online teaching companies to tell you about.
Other Online Teaching Companies
Even though VIPKid was the pioneer in online education, so many other online teaching companies have since learned from VIPKid’s example and created similar platforms.
Most of the original companies that popped up following the inception of VIPKid were ESL companies. These companies realized they could hire native English speakers to teach students online without having to transplant teachers to a different country. This allowed them to provide a completely immersive experience at a fraction of the cost.
However, during the pandemic, the world saw the value and accessibility that online classes offered students worldwide, so there were a plethora of online teaching companies that popped up accordingly. And while some of these were new ESL companies, many of them were simply online teaching companies.
Now, there are LOTS of good options for online teachers, so you just have to decide if you want to go the ESL route or not. Once you know that, you can start researching which ones would be a good fit for your needs.
3. Blogging
As you’ve been contemplating how to make money in education, you might have considered the world of blogging. The good news is that blogging can provide a lot of money if you are willing to commit to the long game approach.
There are tons of online courses designed to help you become a successful blogger, but the key is understanding the fact that blogging is not going to provide you with an immediate income.
It seems crazy to think that simply writing blog posts can be profitable, but with the advent of affiliate marketing, ads (via companies like Mediavine and Google Adsense) and hard work, the income potential with blogging has no cap. So, that alone makes it worth mentioning.
As teachers, we’re already at an advantage when it comes to “educating” or “teaching” through a blog regardless of the topic we choose to pursue. And that’s why so many teachers have become successful bloggers!
Until 2016, I had never even considered starting a blog…but in all fairness, blogs were relatively new up until that point. I just decided that I wanted to help other teachers and homeschooling parents, like myself, find tips and tricks for educating as well as great teaching resources.
So that’s how Happy Teacher Mama came to be.
And even though it has been really difficult at times, it’s been a huge blessing for our family. So I definitely want to encourage you to keep an open mind about it. I bet you have all sorts of goodness that you could share with the world.
4. Selling Educational Materials on TpT
If you’ve been a teacher for more than 15 minutes, you’re probably quite familiar with the Teachers Pay Teachers marketplace. And if you’ve been a podcast listener for any length of time, you’re familiar with just how lucrative being a TpT seller can be when approached properly.
I’ve had the unique opportunity to interview several teachers who have left the classroom and are earning more each month from their TpT shop than they did from their teaching position(s).
Teachers like Joey Udovich, Michelle Griffo from Apples and ABCs, Tanya G. Marshall from The Butterfly Teacher, and Nicki Dingraudo from The Sprinkle-topped Teacher have shared their personal experiences as Teachers Pay Teachers sellers and how they turned a little extra income into a full-time job.
Each of these amazing teachers has created an online business that allows them to use their education degree and tap into their personal experience.
Although selling TpT products is not my main source of income, I consistently sell resources every month since I started my TpT shop back in 2016! While there are definite ebbs and flows in the amount you will make each month as a TpT seller, it’s a great way to earn a passive income while still adding value to the teaching profession.
And one of my favorite things to see is teachers who have the option to leave the classroom because they have treated selling on Teachers Pay Teachers like a business and have turned that little bit of extra cash into a full-time business venture.
If you’re interested in learning more about selling on TpT or if you just want some advice on where to start, I have an entire category devoted to all things TpT. So, if you think this would be a good fit for you, be sure to check it out!
5. Test Scorer
To tell you the truth, I’d never really heard much about this option until I started doing some researching myself. I knew these particular jobs existed, but I didn’t know you could actually do them from home!
The nice thing about these is that the amount of time you spend learning the ropes and completing orientation may count for required professional development. If you decide to pursue this option, definitely check with your local school superintendent for more information about PD.
Pearson
For over 50 years, Pearson has been the top name in testing. They have opportunities for individuals interested in becoming test scorers. You can work from home, but you must have a Bachelor’s degree…which shouldn’t be a problem since you’re already a teacher.
To find out more about their current career opportunities or to see see if they have any position for which you would qualify, check out Pearson.com.
WriteScore
For this company, only a 2 year college degree is required, but you have to pass a “final exam” before you can begin. While there is no financial investment up front, you are required to go through a rather intensive orientation and training before you become certified.
Once you’re qualified, you start scoring and making money. To find out more, you can visit WriteScore.
6. Virtual Assistant
This is a relatively new field that has opened up and it is the best way to get your feet wet in a lot of different areas to determine your strengths. As a virtual assistant, you can do anything, and yes I literally mean anything. Everything from writing lesson plans to sending emails, social media managing to photography, and everything in between.
Becoming a virtual assistant is a good way to have your own business without having to learn every single part of owning your own business. You are paid like a consultant or contracted worker because you work for yourself and charge whatever fee you deem acceptable.
Once you get several clients under your belt and you have a more diversified portfolio, you will be in high demand which will allow you to choose your specific speciality areas.
If you discover you don’t like writing, you can turn down any jobs that require writing. If you aren’t interested in learning more about product photography, you can turn down jobs related to photography.
As you are learning how to make money in education and specifically as a virtual assistant, you need to be willing to try several things in order to determine what works well for you and what is not the best fit. Then you can focus on those skills you have as a former teacher that make you the perfect virtual assistant.
7. Freelance Writer
If you enjoy writing and you would love to get paid for your writing skills, then this would be the perfect job for you.
There are so many options as a freelance writer including writing…
- articles for magazines,
- blog posts for bloggers,
- reading passages for teachers to sell on TpT,
- and so much more
You can even expand your writing offerings as a virtual assistant and write emails for bloggers, sales copy for courses, and even product descriptions for Teachers Pay Teachers sellers.
There are a number of people that loathe writing these types of things and will pay top dollar to have someone else do it for them. So you just need to be ready to accept their money!
Being a freelance writer is also a great thing if you have spare time at weird hours. Because you aren’t required to work during traditional working hours, you can write whenever you have time, feel inspired, or just want to write; you keep your own hours. The only requirement is that you get the work done by the deadline!
8. Starting a YouTube Channel
Just as blogging allows you to provide valuable educational content to readers, podcasting provides you with a vehicle for helping listeners, a YouTube channel gives you this same ability but with educational videos.
If you like the idea of talking as opposed to writing and you don’t mind being on camera, this could be a really good option for you.
Of course, just providing free content isn’t going to pay the bills. So some of the easiest ways you can monetize your channel are by working with brands, being part of various affiliate programs, sharing sponsored content, and placing ads on your channel.
These “repay” you for all of the great free content you are providing subscribers and random watchers.
Perhaps you are an elementary school teacher and you have a passion for books. You can create a channel where you review children’s books or help teachers create interactive lessons based on a particular book series.
The thing you want to remember is that you want to find a niche in the field of education that showcases your unique skills.
9. Opening a Childcare Center
I left this one for last because it seemed to be the most unique option and quite frankly, it may be way too far outside your comfort zone. But if you are genuinely interested in how to make money in education this could be a really good idea.
Now let’s go ahead and look at the downside to this particular venture.
If you are interested in opening a childcare facility of any kind you will need to do quite a bit of research in order to become familiar with your state regulations (especially if you want to open it in your home). But on the bright side, it could be an excellent way to fill a desperate need for families in your area.
Because every state has specifics for the location and amount of “real estate” you need per child, in order to operate a child care center, you need to be ready to invest some time into learning. But don’t count this one out until you have more information.
And remember, you have the option to only offer preschool as opposed to all ages. This would minimize some of the more stringent rules for infants and toddlers while allowing you to tap into your experience as a teacher.
You would be providing a quality learning environment and preparing these children for school, and I know their future elementary teachers would be grateful for your investment of time, energy, and expertise.
We have spent a lot of time looking at how to make money in education from home, but the truth is, if you are looking for an easy way to make money with no effort, you aren’t going to find it on this list.
Anything worth doing is going to take time and require an investment on your part. And although this is certainly not an exhaustive list, I hope it has helped you see a few of the different ways you can make this happen.
Remember, as a teacher, you have a set of valuable skills that the average person doesn’t possess, but it is important for you to realize just how amazing you truly are.
Yes, you can…
- be your own boss,
- help fellow teachers in a ton of different ways, and
- improve the education industry from the comfort of home.
The only question that remains is, “What are you going to do with this new knowledge?”
Whether you just want a little side job to supplement your income, a summer job to make extra money, or something that could be sustainable long-term, these opportunities could give you the clarity you need to take the plunge into a new career outside of the classroom.
You can do this if you are just willing to allow yourself to dream big. There is a big world out there that needs your unique brand of awesome. So as Ms. Frizzle always says, “Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy! The best way to know is to do.”
