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The Global Insight

How much can you make teaching English online with TEFL?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on April 03, 2026

Does teaching English online pay well? Generally speaking, online English teachers typically make anywhere between $10 – $40 USD per hour depending on their level of qualification. If you’re a first-time English teacher with a TEFL certification, you will likely be making $10-$20 per hour to start.

Can I get a job with online TEFL?

At any given time you can find thousands of teaching jobs advertised online. The demand for qualified EFL teachers both abroad and online is huge. Below you’ll find a number of great jobs boards where you can find TEFL jobs all over the world after you’ve gained your TEFL certificate.

Is there a demand for TEFL teachers?

The good news is that there’s plenty of work out there for those who don’t have any teaching experience at all. The number of people learning English across the globe is increasing every year, which is only going to further drive demand for qualified EFL teachers.

Do TEFL jobs pay well?

How much do TEFL teachers earn? A teacher’s salary can be as little as $600 USD per month to as much as $4,000 USD! Each country not only has different salaries, but also different teaching requirements, expectations, and contract lengths to think about.

Is a TEFL certificate worth it?

Is TEFL Certification worth it? Yes. If you want to get a good teaching job and be an effective teacher for your students, then it is definitely worth it. Remember, most schools worldwide require a TEFL certification; and once you’re certified you can the ball rolling on applying and interviewing for jobs.

Is an online TEFL certificate worth it?

Most schools and companies require all of their teachers to be TEFL certified, so by getting certified online, you’ll meet this requirement. With the right certification tailored to the job you want, you can even qualify for a higher starting salary, which definitely makes online TEFL certification worth it!

How easy is it to get a job with TEFL?

How hard is it to get a TEFL job? Landing your first TEFL job is the hardest. Once you’ve got a year or more of teaching experience under your belt, things become easier. And demand for learning English means a constant supply of English teaching opportunities, including plenty for newly qualified TEFL teachers.

Is teaching English as a second language a good career?

Job prospects for ESL teachers are good; the median salary for ESL is approximately $56,000 across the United States. ESL teachers can find jobs within school systems, within organizations that attract foreign workers, with colleges and universities, and as independent tutors.

Are there any TEFL jobs in the United States?

Check out new TEFL job listings on our sister company’s well-stocked jobs board. The fastest-growing sector in the TEFL field, teaching English online is the most flexible way to teach from anywhere in the world (including your own home!)

Where can I get a job teaching English?

Anyone with a TEFL qualification, a webcam, and reliable WiFi can find work online. Some restrictions can apply for certain online teaching platforms, but we’ll get into those later. Where can you work? Anywhere!

Do you need a TEFL to teach English online?

These are the general requirements, but like any job, remember that each company will decide its own. TEFL certification is almost always required; specialized certification in teaching English online is preferred. Depending on the company, you may or may not need a bachelor’s degree.

Can you make money as a TEFL teacher?

You can certainly earn a sizeable salary working as an online TEFL teacher and while many start out by using online teaching as a “side hustle”, the majority actually go on to quit their 9-5s and pursue this as their sole source of income.