No matter how the job market is doing, it always feels the same on the ground. You send dozens, even hundreds, of applications, but never hear back. It’s incredibly frustrating and depressing, especially if you know you’re qualified and can bring value to a business.
If that sounds like what you’re going through, then we invite you to consider online tutoring as a career. The market is massive, as the data will prove. As Grand View Research notes, the global online tutoring services market was valued at approximately USD 10.42 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.5% from 2025 to 2030, reaching USD 23.73 billion by 2030.
So, contrary to your expectations, online tutoring isn’t some niche career path. In this article, let’s find out why tutoring is worth looking into.
#1. It’s an Easy Market to Break Into
Even though there will likely be hundreds of tutors in your niche, you still have a great chance at success. There are many reasons for this, however, the biggest one is the low startup cost. Unlike many other businesses or ventures, all you need is a laptop that’s connected to the internet and a webcam with a microphone.
You have tons of free services like Zoom, Google Meet, and Skype (soon to be Teams), which means very little expenditure from your side. The only minor expense is setting up your own website.
We admit that hiring a web developer can be expensive if you go the traditional route. However, if you’re willing to use something like an Hocoos, your venture can remain affordable.
Hocoos explains that there are two ways to go about finding students. One would be selling an online course on ed-tech platforms. Alternatively, you could sell to clients by finding them on search engines and social media. This tends to involve a bit of online legwork (still free), so even though it’s simple, you’ll still have to put in some effort.
#2. Depending on the Subject, It’s Relatively AI-proof
Perhaps one of the biggest fears that people have these days is job security.
You might have already heard people on social media advising others not to get into tech or take up computer science courses. These sentiments are coming from people who are witnessing AI take over many entry-level opportunities.
Now, you could make the argument that the same thing will happen to the tutoring world, but it’s not that simple.
Sure, there are subjects like physics, mathematics, or chemistry that AI tutors will excel at. Early research appears to find that students who stayed home with an AI tutor showed double the learning gains compared to those who received a standard physics lecture. Likewise, the University of Pennsylvania also conducted tests on an AI tutor, which showed a similar positive impact (with some caveats).
However, online tutoring is so much more than academics. Skills and craftsmanship are categories where, even with effective AI tutors, people would still want to learn from a human.
Let’s be honest, if you’re learning the violin, no one wants to be taught how to interpret Bach’s Partita No. 2 by AI. There are so many niches where people value the lived-in experience of a human tutor. The one factor in all of this is that you really need to give each session your 100%. After all, if you approach tutoring like it’s formulaic, you can’t blame people for switching to AI.
#3. The Earning Potential Is Completely Up to You
The other reason why online tutoring can be a fantastic career is that there’s no ceiling to how much you earn. It’s sort of like being in sales. Yes, it can be tough to find your first few clients, but once you get the hang of things, the sky’s the limit. It’s the same way with online tutoring.
A recent Business Insider article states that the cream of the crop also has the potential to earn $180,000. One tutor who worked with clients in Dubai noted that just an hour of tuition earned them upwards of $150. If these same clients are ready for online lessons, it’s some of the easiest money you can make.
Moreover, there are so many tutoring-related niches that you can also jump into. For instance, you can host webinars and workshops in addition to regular lessons. If you are an expert in your field, you can even offer pedagogical training. They seem intimidating at first, but when you get used to hosting them, you unlock a brand new set of income sources.
All things considered, online tutoring is far from being a side gig. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Create a personal brand, get your own website up and running, and with a little outreach, you’re all set. And remember, if you feel like there are only so many time slots in a day, that’s when group lessons can help out a lot.