Tips for Negotiating your TEFL Salary

In the TEFL world, it’s crucial to know your worth. Like anyone in any industry, you’ve got to make a living. Teaching English as a foreign language is one of the most exciting, stimulating and endlessly rewarding ways to pay the bills, of course. For any teacher, though, actually being able to pay those bills is something they have to think about before taking a new teaching job.

Whether you’re reviewing a new contract or feel you’re due a salary raise, negotiating can be difficult. If it’s your first time, you might feel worried that talking about money will mean you’ll lose an opportunity entirely. Or that your boss will look at you differently when asking for a raise, even when it’s entirely warranted.

We’re here to help you advocate for yourself and deal with one of the thorniest issues of all - negotiating your TEFL salary. For sure, it’s not the easiest thing in the world to do, but with a bit of guidance, you can start earning what you deserve.

Do your homework

Firstly, it’s important not to go into a negotiation - or even a discussion - based on a vibe. It’s fine to feel like you should get paid more. You probably should get paid more. Still, without any sort of evidence to back up your claim, an employer is likely to give you a sideways glance.

If you’re negotiating salary with a new employer, be clear about your experience, your qualifications, and the salaries being offered at equivalent roles. Your salary expectations need to be real; humility can cost you, and it doesn’t need to. Doing your homework is really important. As Bright Future Education put it: “It means knowing your worth”.

If you’re already employed but feel as though you’re being paid less than the industry standard, do the homework. Look at resources like The TEFL Org Jobs Centre , where you can find equivalent roles. Salary comparison websites, like Glassdoor , are also good resources. We speak about networking and TEFL - this is the time to use your connections and ask questions. Yes, we know that talking about money can be awkward or embarrassing, but in this scenario, it can also uplift and empower both yourself and your contemporaries. 

If you’re teaching English abroad , you need to know the local labour laws. You don’t need to train for the courtroom or wade into massive legal textbooks, but you should know plenty. Resources like the Labour Rights Index are super helpful here. Another note: you need to know if there’s a gender pay gap where you work (there likely is) and how you can combat that.

Negotiation preparation

Right then, you’ve done your homework. You know what you ought to be paid, you know your local labour laws, and you’ve maybe even spoken to someone from a trade union for guidance. What now?

Having a realistic top figure and a hard minimum is very important. These numbers need to be based on the average salary you’ve gleaned from your research, what you specifically bring to the table in terms of value, the cost of living where you’re based, any dependents you have, and any other factors you deem to be important. 

It’s worth practising and sharpening your negotiation skills before you go into a discussion with your employer or prospective employer. They might have hard questions to answer, so prepare for that. They may ask you to demonstrate times when you’ve gone above and beyond or how you’ve continually excelled beyond your pay grade. You need to have examples. Practice with a friend, a colleague or a family member first, ideally someone who’s been in this situation (and won!).

At the negotiation table

If you’ve had a job interview before, you’ll have no real issues here. While it sounds intimidating to meet with an employer specifically about salary, remember a couple of important things. One, an employer wants to hold on to you, and they’re willing to talk. Two, knowing your worth is an attractive quality in an employee.

Like in a job interview, it’s important to highlight your qualities. What do you bring to the job? Where have you excelled? Use specific examples, outline your accomplishments, and explain how you’ve grown since you started in your current position. Be clear about your salary expectations throughout, and highlight areas where your role can expand or where you see your future development. 

It pays to be confident and to assert yourself. While you don’t want to come into a negotiation with an aggressive mindset, you also don’t want to be a wallflower. There’s a reason you’ve called for this meeting - you feel you’re owed more, and it’s up to you to advocate for that.

Anything else?

Here are some pointers to help you along:

- don’t agree to the first offer without a conversation!

- speak clearly and confidently

- there’s no need to get flustered - everybody wants a positive outcome!

- keep a record of what was discussed

Fair pay for hard work

Being a TEFL teacher is demanding work, and it’s important to earn a living that reflects your effort, your qualifications and your experience. Yes, we know arguing for yourself can be challenging. It can feel overwhelming and even embarrassing to talk about money, especially if you have a positive relationship with your employer. Or, maybe you’re worried about letting a good-looking opportunity slip by demanding “too much”?

However, it’s important. It’s not just about you. If everyone accepted rock-bottom wages, the TEFL industry would be full of teachers struggling to make ends meet. It all has a knock-on effect.

So, the next time you’re thinking about speaking to your employer about your wage or negotiating a new salary, remember that it’s important for teachers to know their immense value. Do your research, show evidence of your worth, and be confident in your message.

Are you looking for amazing teaching opportunities? Don’t delay - head over to The TEFL Org Jobs Centre today!