What can I earn teaching English in Spain?

An increasing number of people are looking to teach English in Spain. Not only for the rewarding career of teaching a valuable life skill to others, but for the amazing lifestyle that the country offers.

Still, the TEFL Spain salary is an issue for many budding English teachers. The question of how much TEFL teachers earn in Spain is one that frequently comes up. As a renowned TEFL academy in the centre of Barcelona, we’ve got plenty of experience when it comes to the reality of teaching English in Spain, as well as advice on how to maximise your earning potential.

So, without further ado, here’s a  look at what you can earn teaching English in Spain.

How much do English teachers make in Spain?

The typical salary for English teachers in Barcelona depends on many different factors. Things such as your age, experience, and qualifications come into play, but also the age group and the size of the group you’re teaching, as well as the city, the area within the city and the specific people you’re teaching. 

English teacher salaries are larger in big cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Seville. In Barcelona, for example, the average rate of pay for an English teacher is currently around €15–€17 per hour. However, this is dependent on the type of establishment you’re teaching in.

Salary in Spanish language academies

A great option for recent TEFL teachers, Spanish language academies generally pay between €15 to €17 per hour, which will obviously increase with the more experience you have.

So, if you're teaching in a TEFL academy, working a 16–22 hour week, expect to be making around €1,300 per month after tax. Of course, you can supplement this with private classes.

In larger cosmopolitan Spanish cities, you’ll have a variety of English language academies to choose from, with a high demand for TEFL teachers. A big bonus of training to be an English teacher at a TEFL academy is that you’ll have a clear pathway to employment after graduation.

Salary teaching TEFL at a school

By law, every school in Spain has to provide English lessons for children from the age of 5. Which is good news for English teachers!

However, most jobs teaching English in schools, particularly in public schools, involves a relatively low salary – around €700 to €1,000 monthly per month after tax. 

However, for those starting out in their TEFL career, teaching English in a school can provide valuable experience, particularly when it comes to teaching English to younger learners in Spain.

Salary for private company classes

As a burgeoning tech hub with a large business culture and thriving tech and startup community, Barcelona is brimming with dynamic international companies looking for TEFL teachers to help improve the English language skills of their team. You can earn between €18 and €25 per hour teaching in-company English classes for organisations within Barcelona, potentially more if you have a business English speciality. 

Salary for private classes

Yes, it can be difficult to be a freelancer (autonomo) in Spain, but going solo and setting up your own private classes can bring a range of benefits. The hourly pay is better than many other avenues – private TEFL teachers charge around €20 to €25 an hour – and you can be a lot more flexible with your working hours. However, monthly autonomo and account fees can be expensive.

Online 

Online salaries vary depending on the route you take, but can be anything between €6 to €12 per hour with online teaching platforms, and €10 to €15 per hour when working online for language academies in Spain. Teaching English online can be a great way to supplement your TEFL salary in Spain.

TEFL salaries in Spain: Contract vs freelance

For most people, the best way to make a good salary teaching English in Barcelona is to secure a contract working for a school, academy or company. You’ll have a regular monthly salary, along with all the social security benefits such as sick pay, health insurance and holiday pay. Plus, you’ll have an employer to take care of the admin side of things. 

Going freelance is definitely an option, although a rather tricky one. It definitely offers great flexibility – you get to be your own boss and decide how, where and when you work. But there are plenty of downsides, such as the monthly freelancer fee and the complex tax system.

For those starting out as TEFL teachers, we recommend looking for a contract with an employer. You can also look into going freelance, or autonomo, at a later date.