Remote teaching jobs for a career in distance learning

How I built a remote teaching career from scratch
(and how you can, too)

Author: Alessa Hickman

How to find the right remote teaching job for you

  1. Decide what subject(s), age group, and time zone you're available for — this matters a lot for ESL roles with international students

  2. Choose whether you want to be self-employed (a contractor) or work as an employee through a company

  3. Search for jobs on platforms like Indeed, and look for ones that offer fair pay and provide lesson materials

  4. Get initial experience through tutoring, volunteering, or informal teaching work to strengthen your resume 

  5. Get certified (like a TEFL or TESOL) if needed for your target jobs

  6. Prepare a 5-minute demo lesson video ahead of time

  7. Don’t take rejections personally — sometimes it's just a time zone mismatch or scheduling conflict

  8. Before your first day, get familiar with any teaching platforms and test your software (Zoom, mic, headset, etc)

  9. Keep growing — switching jobs every year or so can help you boost your pay and expand your skills

When I first started looking for remote work back in 2020, I had no idea how it would shape my career. Like many students, I was studying full-time during COVID, and everything had shifted online — including work opportunities.

I started searching for online jobs that felt more aligned with my interests, specifically in education. That’s when I realized how many online tutoring and teaching jobs were out there — and even in 2025, that hasn’t changed much. Remote teaching is still in high demand, especially for ESL.

I kept things simple: I mostly looked on Indeed, which is still where I’ve found all my teaching jobs to this day.

Start with what you know

At the time, I was studying Social Work and English, so I decided to apply for an English tutor role. It felt like a natural fit and didn’t require extra certifications — just subject knowledge and some relevant experience.

If you're not sure where to start, think about your own background:

  • Do you want to tutor academic subjects like math or science?

  • Are you more drawn to language learning, like ESL?

  • Would you prefer to work with kids or adults?

  • What time zones can you realistically teach in?

Once you have clarity on that, you can start building around it. For many teaching jobs, you either need a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject or a certification like TEFL or TESOL. These are especially helpful if you don’t have a degree in education.

You’ll also want to think about whether you prefer being hired as an employee or working as an independent contractor. Contractor roles (which are common for remote teaching) offer more flexibility but come with added responsibilities, like managing your own taxes, tracking income, and going without benefits.

You’re usually paid through PayPal and might need to invoice the company yourself as a freelancer.

Employee roles can offer more structure, predictable pay, and access to materials or training, but they often come with stricter schedules and less control. Think about what matters more to you — flexibility or stability — and be clear on the expectations before accepting a job.

Get some experience (even if it’s small)

Before I even applied for my first online job, I already had experience working with kids, which helped. But you don’t need years of experience to get started. Some jobs don’t require any background, just a certificate and a willingness to learn.

Still, I’d recommend building your resume a little before diving in. Try:

  • Volunteering with children or youth programs

  • Tutoring your peers or younger students

  • Working in summer camps or after-school programs

These experiences make your application stronger by showing that you can manage a learning environment, even if it’s informal.

Use certifications to open new doors

After tutoring for a while, I decided to take the next step and earn both my TEFL and TESOL certificates. That move opened up a lot more opportunities — and higher-paying ones.

Once certified, I began applying for remote ESL teaching jobs on Indeed. Because English education is so in-demand globally, I started getting responses quickly, often with interview requests or demo lesson asks.

That said, even if you’re a strong candidate, you might still get turned down — and often, it’s not personal. Many ESL companies serve international students, so if your availability doesn’t match the time zone they’re hiring for, it can lead to rejections. It’s helpful to think ahead about what hours you’re realistically available to teach, especially if you’re juggling another job or studies.

To stand out in these situations:

  • Have a short (5-minute) demo lesson video ready to go. Something simple, like teaching idioms or phrasal verbs to ESL learners

  • Focus on what makes you a strong candidate — whether that’s a TEFL certificate, past teaching roles, or experience working with students

  • Mention if you can teach different subjects or age groups, because it makes you more versatile

Set boundaries and know your worth

One of the best choices I made early on was prioritizing jobs that provided teaching materials. The company I contracted with gave me access to a platform with ready-made lessons, which saved me a lot of prep time. Having materials already in place makes it much easier to focus on the students, especially when you're working with multiple learners or building your schedule around other commitments.

I also set a minimum hourly rate for myself. At the beginning, I wouldn’t accept anything under $20-25/hour for part-time online ESL teaching. Some companies offer $17/hour or less for short lessons (like 25–30 minutes), but after prep time, admin work, and time zones, the hourly breakdown often isn’t sustainable.

My top tips for boundary setting:

  • Even if you're just starting out, aim for fair compensation

  • Ask about lesson plans or teaching materials before accepting a role

  • Changing jobs every year or so might sound risky, but it’s one of the best ways to grow your skills, boost your pay, and avoid getting stuck

Tailor your career one role at a time

Looking back, I realize how intentional (and flexible) I had to be to grow. I went from student to English tutor, then to ESL teacher, and eventually landed a job teaching college-level courses in psychology, sociology, academic writing, and professional development — all within a couple of years.

When I graduated from university in 2024, I wasn’t starting from zero. I already had tutoring, teaching, and real-world experience under my belt — all built through remote roles I found online.

It didn’t happen by accident. It happened because I:

  • Got certified early to open more doors

  • Chose roles that built off one another

  • Focused on gaining experience that aligned with where I wanted to go next

There’s no one right way to succeed in education. What matters is starting where you are, taking intentional steps, and continuously building your skills and experience along the way.

Live feed of remote teaching jobs

Before you apply, be aware:

  1. Watch out for scams. They seem to be getting more and more sophisticated these days. If anything feels off, take a beat and get verification before moving forward. Don’t share anything personal before you feel confident in the company.

  2. Apply outside of your comfort zone. If you’re a fast learner, an empathetic educator, and patient, you’ll be a great candidate for many roles.

  3. Do your due diligence to verify that the offer, company, and details are all legit.

  4. Before applying ask yourself, do I even want this job if I got it? Save the energy if the answer is no.