Online English teaching can provide extra income or become a larger part of your working week, but there is no single hourly rate that describes every tutor's earnings. Your platform, paid bookings, commission, preparation time and payment costs all affect the result.
For a South African teacher, the useful figure is what remains in rand after those costs, rather than a dollar amount on a profile. A strong advertised rate means little if the lessons are not booked or if unpaid administration takes up much of your day.
This guide explains how the main payment models work, how to estimate your own income and what to check before relying on online teaching for regular expenses.
What determines online English teaching pay?
There are several different jobs within online teaching. A conversation platform may pay per minute. A marketplace lets tutors advertise their own prices and deducts commission. A curriculum provider may pay per completed class under a contract. Independent tutors manage their own fees and business costs.
Experience, specialist knowledge and student retention can influence demand, but qualifications alone do not guarantee higher earnings. Check actual vacancies and your own booking record rather than relying on an industry-wide average.
For a broader comparison with classroom roles abroad, read the TEFL salary report. Compare what each role includes, such as paid hours or accommodation, rather than treating every headline rate as equivalent.
How the main platforms pay
| Route | Payment model | What a South African tutor should check |
|---|---|---|
| Cambly adults | Advertised US$0.17 per paid minute | Paid conversation time, intake and withdrawal costs |
| Cambly Kids | Advertised US$0.20 per paid minute | Separate selection and children's teaching requirements |
| Preply | Tutor sets price; trial and ongoing commission apply | Trial payment treatment and current commission tier |
| italki | Tutor sets prices under the platform's current terms | Open applications, tutor category and current fees |
| Curriculum-based providers | Contract-specific class payments | Eligibility, preparation, cancellation and bonus conditions |
| Independent tutoring | You set fees and arrange payment | Student acquisition, materials, payments and business costs |
Cambly's rates equate to US$10.20 for 60 paid adult tutoring minutes and US$12 for 60 paid Kids minutes. These are not guaranteed earnings for every hour you remain available online. Do not assume immediate approval or full bookings.
Preply takes the full payment for a student's first trial lesson. Its subsequent lesson commission ranges from 33% to 18% as completed teaching hours increase. On other platforms, read the current fee schedule rather than applying Preply's structure to them.
Calculate the amount you actually keep
Start with paid lesson revenue, subtract platform deductions and payment costs, then account for business expenses and the tax that applies to your circumstances. Convert currencies using the actual provider rate, including any separate fees.
For example, suppose you advertise at US$20 for a one-hour lesson. At a hypothetical 33% commission, you retain US$13.40 before withdrawal costs, other expenses and tax. At 18% commission, the same listed price leaves US$16.40. These are calculations using an assumed price, not a claim about typical earnings.
Here is a weekly planning example using the same assumed US$20 rate and 33% commission. It excludes trials, refunds and other deductions:
| Paid one-hour lessons per week | Student payments | After assumed 33% commission |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | US$100 | US$67 |
| 10 | US$200 | US$134 |
| 20 | US$400 | US$268 |
To estimate the rand result, use the actual conversion quote available when withdrawing. Do not build a fixed household budget around an exchange rate taken from an old article.
Count unpaid time and local operating costs
Ten paid teaching hours are not necessarily ten working hours. You may also prepare materials, answer messages, deliver unpaid trials, update your profile and complete administration.
If a session leaves you US$13.40 but needs an hour of teaching plus half an hour of unpaid work, its effective return is about US$8.93 per working hour before other costs and tax. Tracking total time makes comparisons more honest.
In South Africa, include the part of your internet, equipment and power backup costs attributable to the work. A router backup does not necessarily power a laptop or protect against a mobile network outage, so test the whole setup. Check each provider's current technical requirements before buying equipment.
What qualifications are useful?
Some platforms accept applicants without a university degree, while others require qualifications and experience for particular roles. Fluent English, reliable delivery and the ability to help a learner improve remain central.
A 120-hour TEFL course is one initial training route to compare with your chosen provider's criteria. The 180-hour Level 5 diploma offers another option. Check the exact award and any regulated qualification details using the official qualifications register.
A UK qualification level should not be assumed to be the same as a South African NQF level. Verify recognition for any specific purpose rather than making an automatic equivalence.
How long does a full timetable take to build?
There is no reliable universal deadline. Approval, visibility, student demand and repeat bookings vary, and some tutors never build a full-time schedule.
Start with a manageable availability window and track enquiries, trials, returning students and paid hours. SAST remains UTC+2 year-round: East Asian evening demand can fall during the South African day, while lessons for the Americas may require later hours.
You can consider more than one platform where its terms allow it, but avoid double bookings. Keep other dependable income until your own records show that teaching revenue is sufficiently consistent for your needs.
How can you increase your earning potential?
Improve the offer before simply raising the price. Give students a clear learning plan, useful feedback and a reason to return. Match the specialism to knowledge you can demonstrate.
For exam-focused teaching, explore IELTS and TOEFL tutoring. Compare the 300-hour TEFL bundle if its contents address gaps in your training. Neither a new certificate nor a set number of reviews guarantees a particular rate.
Check the platform's pricing rules before changing fees for existing students. For independent lessons, agree the new price and cancellation terms clearly and account for the time needed to find clients.
Do South African online teachers pay tax?
Income from overseas students is not automatically tax-free because it is paid in dollars. Your tax position depends on factors including residence, the nature of the work and applicable rules.
Consult SARS guidance on individual income tax and check whether registration, returns or provisional tax obligations apply to you. Keep records of payments, commission, currency conversion and relevant business expenses. Ask a qualified adviser about deductions and the amount to reserve; a single percentage is not appropriate for everyone.
If you also have UK or US tax obligations, consult the relevant HMRC self-employment guidance or IRS self-employment information. Those systems are not substitutes for checking your South African position.
Is online teaching worth considering?
It can suit someone seeking flexible work from home, practical teaching experience or an additional income stream. Its value depends on reliable bookings, manageable costs and a timetable you can maintain.
If you travel while teaching, check immigration and work rules in the country where you will physically be. An overseas platform and foreign payment do not automatically authorise remote work there.
Frequently asked questions
Can online teaching replace a full-time salary?
It can for some teachers, but there is no guaranteed timetable or income. Compare several months of your own net earnings with living costs before depending on it.
Can I teach without a degree?
Some routes allow it. Check nationality, residence, language proficiency, training and experience requirements for the specific application.
Which platform pays the most?
There is no universal winner. Compare achievable paid bookings and total working time after fees rather than the highest price another tutor advertises.
How much does Cambly pay?
The advertised rates are US$0.17 per paid minute for adult tutoring and US$0.20 for Cambly Kids. Waiting time, approval and paid activity affect the total you earn.
Will a TEFL certificate increase my rate?
Training can strengthen teaching skills and meet application criteria, but any financial benefit depends on demand, platform rules and performance.
What records should I keep?
Keep platform statements, lesson income, fees, exchange transactions and relevant expense evidence. Use them to assess both profitability and your tax obligations.
Explore the Teach English Online training option, or compare the 120-hour course if you are starting out. Choose training alongside a realistic plan for students, costs and paid hours.
