How To Become A Tutor and Earn Extra Income

26 comments

Updated: June 28, 2020

I used to be a Math tutor to elementary students when I was in college. I would spend Saturday afternoons with tutees so that I could earn extra money to spend for that night when me and my friends go out.

Looking back, I realize that tutoring was not only a profitable endeavor, but also a gratifying experience.

Being able to impart knowledge to these children and seeing how they were able to improve their academic performance was indeed emotionally rewarding.

If you are looking for a way to get some extra income and you believe that you have the skills to teach, then offering tutoring services might be for you.

earn-as-tutor

Private tutors are always in demand specially among high-income families and the pay is generally good. But before we go on to learn how to become a tutor, let us first enumerate some of the characteristics that make a good tutor:

  • Patient, understanding and optimistic
  • Good social and communication skills
  • Reliable, punctual and dedicated
  • Enthusiastic about teaching and learning
  • Excellent organizational skills

Having the right traits to become a tutor is one thing, but having ample knowledge of what you will teach is another. Although it is usually preferred that you did well in school, being an average student should not stop you from becoming a tutor.

In fact, I believe that the latter is better because you can personally identify the difficulties in the subject and relate to your tutee how you were able to overcome them during your time.

Traditionally, Math and Language tutors tend to be the most in demand. However, there is also a good market for tutoring services in other subjects and skills.

Music lessons, typing tutorials and baking classes are just some of the things you can teach. I used to make extra cash from giving basic poi spinning lessons.

How To Find Students to Tutor

Well, the simplest thing you can do is to distribute flyers near schools and put signs in community boards about your services. You can also advertise online through forums and service portals.

In the Philippines, you can try posting your tutoring services at Craiglist Philippines and many other websites. Ideally, tutoring clients steadily grow through word of mouth. So if you do well with one student, then expect that you’ll be referred and recommended to their friends.

Furthermore, you can also try applying in established tutorial centers and instantly get students. These learning centers are often looking for full-time and part-time tutors.

However, the downside of doing this is that you will not be able to dictate your own rates and you will be subject to a strict time schedule. Nevertheless, this is still a viable way to earn extra income from tutoring.

How much can you earn as a freelance private tutor?

The rates vary depending on the subject you teach, the financial status of your tutee and the number of students you have in a class.

Currently, a friend charges P500 per hour home tutoring Algebra to a high school student in a private school. On the other hand, his rate is only P300 per hour to someone studying in another less expensive school.

Another friend, who occasionally holds baking classes at home, charges P350 per student for a four-hour lesson on making home-made cookies. Do some research work and find out the standard rate in your area.

That’s it! How about you? Have you ever tried tutoring? If so, then please share your tutoring tips below.

Furthermore, if you would like to receive updates on this article and learn more income opportunities, then kindly subscribe to Ready To Be Rich.

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Photo credit: ManooGupta

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26 comments

  1. […] Villafuerte presents How To Become A Tutor and Earn Extra Income posted at Ready To Be […]

  2. I did not know you’re that good in math. I am quite interested in making some math tutorials. I am an engineer and I love Algebra although my grades were not really high.

    Are you teaching at home, or on-line?

    Thanks.

  3. I have a friend who became a private tutor of the brother of one of our high school batchmates. He would attend to his nursing classes in the morning till afternoon, rehearse for our dance troupe from 5pm-9pm and tutor the kid from 9-11! He did an excellent job because the kid did well in school 🙂

  4. @guardian angel
    I’m actually a Civil Engineer that’s why I love Math. 🙂 Anyhow, I stopped doing tutorials for academic subjects after graduating in college, what I do currently teach on an occasional basis is poi lessons, which is a skill-based toy.

    Anyway, back then, I go to the homes of my tutees and teach them there. They were referred to me by my friends who were Math teachers. I suggest that you do the same, if you know anyone who teaches in elementary or high school, tell them to refer you to parents at school.

    Furthermore, there are actually websites which offer opportunities for those who would like to do online tutoring. I don’t know anyone who do this so I can’t really tell you more information about it.

    Thanks and good luck.

    @Micamyx
    I admire your friend’s discipline and time management. I’m sure he would have much success in life. Thanks for sharing that story. 😀

  5. Actually, nag tutor ako during my board exam review season.. di naman gaano kataas ang bigay but I enjoyed it.. Nagtutor ako ng physics at math.. ang challenging dun, magaling yung tinuotor ko na isa.. pala tanong ba.. and there were times na i had to pause for a while para lang masagot ang tanong.. overall it was a very nice experience..

    Anyway fitz, do you have time on friday? I’m inviting you for a dinner in makati.. just leave a comment on my blog if you can attend.. Thanks..

  7. tutoring was my ever dreamt job when i was in college but chance never came.. good thing you had the opportunity and earned bucks with it. hopping by! nice blog going on here!

  10. I’ve been tutoring elem/highschool kids for almost 3 years already. Sometimes it gets tiring especially when you have tons of schoolwork to do, but it’s really a gratifying experience. Especially when the kids tell you that they passed or aced in their exams. It also saves me in times when I’m out of money. It’s also fun to talk to the kids and hear about their experiences. Tutoring is really one of my most memorable experiences in college.. =)

  11. That’s right onie. Tutoring is actually a very self-fulfilling activity. In addition, you feel young when you’re surrounded with your students. 😀

  12. ei fitz
    we’re schoolmates at sfacs.
    im one year behind you.
    yup i know u’r very good in math.
    magkasama tayo sa mtap dati.
    anyway, im also an engineer (agricultural engr from uplb) and im currently working as a highschool math teacher. i want to do online tutoring. just dunno how to start.

  13. Hi Ron. Thanks for taking the time to comment here. If you want to do online tutoring, then maybe you could try to advertise your services and hopefully, you can get students through it.

  15. I know when tutoring students I try to relate to them and make sure I speak to them in terms they will understand. Seeing the ‘light bulb’ moment in a student’s academic success is always rewarding.

  16. It’s a great opportunity to do it on your extra hours and earn additional income..thanks i found this post. I will include this one as an income opportunity.:-)

  17. Hi Fitz,
    I have been retired for about 7 years now and I feel that boredom is getting into me more and more as the days go by.
    I pretty well know that I am very good in Math because of the 1’s that I got in Algebra, introductory calculus and statistics at UP college of Eng’g.
    I’d appreciate it very much if you could help me in making the first step towards Math tutoring, preferably Algebra.
    Thanks a lot and have a nice day.

  19. Nice one, Fitz. I’ve known your blog since 2011 but this is the first time I commented because I’m a freelance private tutor. True, private tutors really earn well given the right connections. I know tutors who earn higher than P500 per hour. But the higher the fee, the more they expect from you. And it’s a great thing you mentioned the qualities a tutor should have because I’m afraid it’s not for everyone. There are students who would push your patience to its limits. It can be challenging but it’s fulfilling. Bonus na lang na you get paid well. 🙂

  20. I would like to add on finding students to tutor. Just to save some of your time, try referrals and recommendations from your friends or teachers. I always try this first then I will try other options afterwards. Thanks for sharing!

  21. Hello, thanks for this, I was searching online for information about tutoring as I plan to apply in a tutorial center. However, being new to all of this I don’t much about the area of teaching. So I’m wondering if you know more about tutorial centers, like the work hours (does full-time mean regular hours, the usual 8-5 from monday to friday?), work set-up and other essential info. Hope you could help me, thanks 🙂

  24. Hello! I am wondering if there are any studies done as to the number of students getting the services of a private tutor or applying in school or at tutorial centers?

  25. It is almost July 2020 and hopefully the lock-down due to the COVID-19 outbreak will completely end soon? We still have a lot of restrictions in place here in Bulacan. My thought is, on-line tutoring will be on the increase now. Better tools are and will be available as time passes. While there will always be face to face needs for a tutor, I am thinking an increasing number of people will want the social distancing factor of on-learning. Let us all hope that we can avoid COVID wave 2 but if it does come knocking on our door, on-line tutoring will be the best and possibly the only option.

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