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Online Tutoring Jobs

Teach the Reading Skills That Change Kids' Lives

Become an online reading tutor

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Tutor For Us

You Bring the Passion
We Provide Everything Else

There are few things more gratifying than teaching a student to read. As an Ignite Reading tutor educator, we’ll equip you with the right tools, curriculum, and training to help K—8th graders master foundational reading skills and become confident, independent readers. Whether you’re a college student, working professional, or retiree, our online tutoring jobs are a path to becoming an expert reading tutor who empowers students for life.

two 2nd grade boys sit in a classroom wearing headphones and working on computers with their online tutors

This Isn't Your Average Online Tutoring Job

  • Get Unparalleled Training

    You’ll be paid to complete our Science of Reading Certification Program, where you’ll learn lifelong skills from attending instructor-led sessions, practicing with peers, and tutoring real students. Graduates are ready to tutor with confidence, and receive ongoing support from our team of experts.

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  • See Results

    Experience the incredible joy of helping your students learn to read! Because we use a proven structured literacy approach, your tutoring will help your students close their decoding gaps. Giving them the skills to sound out and read any word, sentence, or passage with automaticity and fluency.

    a 3rd grader holds up a whiteboard with the word hop written on it so her online tutor can see it through the computer screen
  • Work Consistently

    Tutor from as little as 8 to 30 hours per week during the academic year. You'll work with the same students at the same time every day and establish meaningful relationships. Students look forward to Ignite Reading tutoring because of the strong bond they develop with you.

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I would 100% recommend this job. You are given a once in a lifetime opportunity to help struggling readers fulfill their highest potential, and you are able to be a mentor, tutor, and friend to some very special kids. You get to help them build their reading skills in a way that uplifts them, empowers them, and helps them gradually build mastery. This job will transform the way you see the world.

Denise Varnedore

Ignite Reading Tutor

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We Believe Anyone Can Become a Masterful Reading Tutor

These are the values and mindset we look for:

  • You believe every child can learn to read and are fired up to teach them how.
  • You have worked with children and can build strong relationships with them.
  • You bring positivity to every interaction, even on challenging days.
  • You value people of all races, cultures, socioeconomic levels, and lived experiences.
  • You’re a time-management pro and have a track record of punctuality.
  • You show professionalism and welcome feedback as an opportunity to grow.
3 photos are arranged to show tutors of different ages, genders and ethnicities working online

Online Tutoring Jobs Nuts and Bolts

  • Your Schedule

    Tutors work with students one-to-one over video in daily, 15-minute sessions at the same time every Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET. You can work from 8 to 30 hours per week from fall through spring and choose your own hours.

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  • What We Pay

    This online tutoring job is a part-time, non-exempt role. Pay is $17.50/hour during certification and $20/hour once you’re fully certified.

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  • How You'll Start

    Once hired, you’ll start by joining a cohort of peers in a daily, synchronous and asynchronous paid training course through our online learning platform IgniteU. You’ll learn our structured literacy curriculum and practice teaching it to real Ignite Reading students. Our training course will take you approximately 63 hours to complete.

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Ready to Get Kids Reading?

Here's how to apply:

  • Apply Online

    We hire tutors throughout the year for different start dates. Once you apply, we’ll get back to you within 7–10 business days. Get Started Here.

  • Do a One-Way Interview

    Answer questions and demo your skills in a short video. We’ll give you a hiring decision within 7-10 business days. Learn more about one-way interviews in our FAQs.

  • Complete Onboarding

    Once hired, you’ll just need to sign an offer letter, complete a background check, and fill out your employment paperwork. Find full onboarding details in our FAQs.

Tutor FAQs

Answers to your questions about Ignite Reading’s tutor jobs

  • Does it matter where I live?

    To apply for our reading tutor jobs, you must be a U.S. citizen, have a U.S. mailing address of residence and bank account, and be available to schedule your tutoring sessions between 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET. We have successful tutors who live all over. However, we unfortunately cannot hire tutors who reside in these locations: California, Illinois, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington DC.

    Are there specific time commitments I should be aware of before I apply?

    Before you apply, please review Ignite Reading’s certification requirements and schedule. All tutors must complete our 5-week training course and practicum requiring 3 hours a day occurring at the same time, 5 days a week. To become fully certified, a tutor must commit to tutoring a minimum of 4 students for 15 minutes a day during their 100-hour qualifying period and throughout the rest of the school year.

    In order to set up your tutoring schedule, we’ll ask you to provide at least 3 hours of availability (over and above your certification class time) at the same time every day, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET, so we can schedule you for a minimum of 1.5 tutoring hours per day. Your availability must be consistent from week to week throughout the school year.

  • Is Ignite Reading currently hiring tutors?

    Please see our Start Dates page for job application deadlines.

    How long does the tutor application and hiring process take?

    After you submit an online application, we’ll respond within 7—10 business days. If you advance to the next round, you’ll submit a one-way video interview, and we’ll give you a hiring decision within another 7—10 business days of receiving it.

    What's a one-way video interview?

    Our one-way video interview lets you record responses to a short list of questions over video using a platform called SparkHire. You’ll also follow our instructors to record a short teaching demo. Please use your laptop or personal computer to record the video, and take all the time you need to practice and record responses that truly represent your strengths.

  • What time commitment does the Ignite Reading certification require?

    We require all tutors to complete a 5-week certification program, which includes:

    • 3 weeks of class
      • 3 hour asynchronous and live online classes every Monday–Friday at the same time daily
    • 2 weeks of class + practicum
      • Class: 1 hour of asynchronous or live online class every Monday–Friday at the same time daily
      • Practicum: a minimum of 1 hour of tutoring every Monday–Friday at the same time daily

    Get more details on the dates and requirements of the program on our Certification page.

    Do I really get paid to become certified?

    Yes; we pay you to become an expert reading instructor! Certification class and tutoring practicum time are both compensated at $17.50 per hour. Once you’re certified, you’ll be eligible to tutor up to 30 hours per week at $20 per hour.

    Will I get to tutor while I complete the certification course?

    All tutors are required to tutor 6–10 students during the practicum portion of our tutor certification. Read more about tutoring practicum on our Certification page.

    Can I start the certification course, stop, and start again at a later date?

    Typically no, but we may consider it in rare circumstances.

    Can I use my Ignite Reading Science of Reading Certification for other opportunities?

    After 60 hours of Science of Reading-based training and many more teaching foundational reading skills to students, our tutors have incredible knowledge, skill, and experience that are highly valuable in many places beyond Ignite Reading.

    There is also exceptional room for advancement within Ignite Reading. Our reading tutor jobs pathway includes opportunities for highly skilled and experienced tutors to become session monitors, learning & development coaches, and literacy specialists, to name just a few.

  • What steps do I need to complete once I'm hired as an Ignite Reading tutor?

    Before beginning your tutor certification, you’ll need to complete the following steps:

    • Accept our offer and sign your offer letter
    • Complete a 45 minute asynchronous pre-certification course
    • Complete employment paperwork including a W-2 form and I9 verification
    • Submit direct deposit information
    • Consent to and pass a thorough background check

    Why do tutors need to complete a background check?

    Ignite Reading works with public school districts around the country and with children whose safety is of great concern to us. To earn the privilege of working with these amazing kids, every adult must pass a rigorous criminal background check to ensure our tutors will be an extraordinary force for good in the lives of the students we serve.

  • How long do tutoring sessions last?

    All Ignite Reading tutoring sessions:

    • Are 15 minutes long
    • Have a 1:1 tutor to student ratio
    • Take place every day school is in session
    • Typically last one full school year or semester*

    *Partner schools start tutoring programs with Ignite Reading at different points throughout the year and continue until the end of the academic year.

    Can I choose the hours I work?

    Yes! However, you must be available to tutor at the same time every day, Monday–Friday, between 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET. The tutoring times you choose do not need to be back to back.

    How does scheduling work?

    We’ll ask you to provide us with times you can be available every weekday between 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET and will pair you with students accordingly. We may ask you to give us a larger window of time than the hours you want to tutor in order to provide an optimal schedule based on session availability.

    As we work with schools across different states and time zones — each with their own schedule and days off — you’ll manage tracking these varying calendars and converting time zones as needed.

    How many hours can I tutor per week and per year?

    We require our tutors to work a minimum of 1.5 hours per school day. You can tutor up to 30 hours per week and no more than 1440 hours a year.

    What grades can I tutor?

    Ignite Reading serves students in grades K–8. We don’t currently accept grade-specific requests, and ask tutors to work with kids across all grades we serve.

  • How much do I get paid, and how does payment work?

    Ignite Reading tutor educators are part-time, non-exempt employees. We pay $17.50 per hour for certification class time and tutoring practicum hours and $20 per hour for regular tutoring and student assessment hours, even when students are absent. Tutors are paid every other week.

  • What technology do I need to tutor?

    To tutor for Ignite Reading, you’ll need a:

    • Reliable internet connection
    • Laptop or desktop computer
    • Chrome or Safari browser
    • Computer camera
    • Headset or earbuds with microphone and noise-canceling options

    How do I learn to use Ignite Reading tutoring tools?

    Tutors who apply to our reading tutor jobs should already have a degree of comfort and experience using video conferencing tools and learning new technology. We’ll also give you ample training in how to use our teaching tools and platforms.