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English Teaching Jobs in
Mexico
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It’s one of the most exciting, popular countries to visit in the world, but how can English teachers find lasting, rewarding work in Mexico?
If you’re looking for a total change of scenery, and an exciting place to teach English abroad, imagine palm-fringed beaches, beautiful coral reefs, ancient jungle ruins, lively festivals, and mouthwatering authentic Mexican cuisine. Si , we’re talking about teaching English in Mexico - an incredibly popular tourist destination, and a country with ample teaching opportunities for adventurous ESL teachers.
While Mexico might not offer TEFL teachers the highest average salary, it does offer an incredible lifestyle. What’s more, the cost of living is low, and the country’s location within Latin America - neighbouring the USA, close to South America, and the Caribbean - means you can explore so many different places in your downtime from teaching English.
As for English teaching jobs? There are plenty of them. English is the most widely taught foreign language in Mexico, with about 24 million learners. However, English fluency rates are only at about 5%. This means there’s significant demand for qualified teachers who want to start teaching English in Mexico, whether it’s at elementary schools, English language schools or one of the many other teaching positions available.
So, how do you start teaching English in Mexico? What requirements do you need to meet? How important is TEFL certification in finding a teaching job in Mexico, and what kind of institutions can TEFL teachers work in? Let's take a deep dive.
English teaching jobs in Mexico: an overview
With over 127 million residents, from Juarez in the north to Tapuchula on the southern border with Guatemala, Mexico is truly sprawling and brimming with opportunities for TEFL teachers. Surprisingly, Mexico ranks 19th out of 20 Latin American countries for English proficiency, despite neighbouring the United States. This is despite Mexico being the 18th largest English teaching market worldwide in 2016, with nearly 24 million Mexican citizens learning English. A country of contradictions for sure, but for an ESL teacher, Mexico is an interesting challenge, with plenty of teaching positions on offer.
As you might expect, more affluent and densely populated areas have a higher English proficiency. Large, multicultural cities like Monterrey and Guadalajara have much higher English proficiency than Saltillo or Valladolid. Some underrated English teaching destinations include Nezahualcóyotl, Tijuana and Queretaro. Cancún is a mega-popular tourist destination, but it’s also a place where English teachers are in demand. We very much doubt that’ll always be the case…
Quick facts about Mexico
- Capital: Mexico City
- Official Language: Spanish
- Population: 127.5 million
- Currency: Peso
Key facts
Requirements
What requirements do you need to meet to land English teaching jobs in Mexico? While a bachelor's degree is not always required to teach English in Mexico, it is preferred by many employers. Teaching jobs in elite institutions such as universities, private schools and international schools will usually require a bachelor’s degree.
A TEFL certificate is imperative for landing teaching jobs in Mexico. 120 hours of study is the industry standard. It’s worth exploring advanced TEFL certification courses such as Business English, Teaching Young Learners and English for Academic Purposes as these will help with specific age groups and audiences in Mexico. Adult professionals who are looking for career progression, school pupils and students will make up significant sections of your potential student base.
Previous teaching experience is not always a strict requirement for teaching jobs in Mexico, but it will give you access to more opportunities, particularly if you’ve taught business English before.
There is no age limit for teaching English in Mexico. Also, you don’t have to be a native English speaker to teach English in Mexico. If you’re TEFL certified, can demonstrate English fluency through IELTS or TOEFL qualification, or have a bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking institution, you’ll be able to teach English in Mexico.
Salary and benefits
Teaching salaries in Mexico vary by geography and employer, however, an average salary for an English teacher in a full-time position is around 8,000 – 20,000 pesos (£300 – £730/ $400 – $1,000) per month. For freelance or hourly work, the usual pay is 45 - 120 pesos (£1.60 – £4 / $2 – $6) per hour up to 250 pesos (£9 / $12) for a private lesson.
Teaching jobs in Mexico are generally less likely to come with extra benefits. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some schools willing to sweeten teaching jobs with some extra perks! International school teachers should expect a range of added incentives when they sign a contract. These include visa costs, medical coverage and flights!
For most English teachers in Mexico, however, there won’t be a range of benefits on offer.
Living and working in Mexico
While wages aren’t extremely high, they do match relatively well with the cost of living. In Mexico City, for example, accommodation is cheap compared to the US or the UK. While a 1 bedroom apartment will cost roughly £677/$839 per month, if you’re willing to live just outside the city centre, that cost drops to £387/$480. Your monthly utilities will typically cost about £41/$51 per month.
Mexican food is famously outstanding, and one of the biggest perks of teaching English in Mexico. How much does it cost to eat out? A three-course meal between two in a medium-price restaurant will set you back around £35 ($44), and a pint of cerveza is around £2.20 ($2.76).
Types of English teaching jobs in Mexico
Public schools
There are plenty of exciting, stable teaching positions in public schools across Mexico, though these teaching jobs can vary wildly in terms of pay, resources and proficiency. If you don’t have much experience as an English teacher, salaries can be on the low side, and if you’re outside of the major cities, this can affect your teaching salary, too.
However, with school days finishing at about 2 pm, there’s ample time to take on some private tutoring work in the evenings.
Jobs boards
As always, The TEFL Org Jobs Centre is a fantastic place for English teachers to find opportunities in Mexico and across the world.Serious Teachers often have a variety of jobs listed across Mexico.
Cultural Relations hires English teachers to teach kids, teens and adults. Contracts usually start in August and last for 11 months. Look out for opportunities on their Instagram page.
Teaching programs in Mexico
Volunteer with the Careyes Foundation on their Children’s English Program. The foundation supports classes for around 900 children.
Help! Heslington Language Program has paid ESL positions as well as providing teaching opportunities for volunteers. If you’re TEFL qualified, you don’t need experience to apply for the paid positions. Contracts are for 4 months, working 25 hours per week, with a monthly stipend of 4,000 pesos (about $200) as well as free accommodation.
Related articles for teaching English in Mexico
Teach English in Mexico - Salary
Mexico; a land of sun, shoreline and seemingly endless, exuberant nightlife. Can an English teacher’s salary cover all you’d want to explore in the jewel of Latin America?
Teach English in Mexico
With one of the largest TEFL markets in the world, a coastline dotted with dazzling beaches and local culture packed with festivals, spicy cuisine and unique traditions to enjoy, it’s little wonder that Mexico draws so many English teachers to its sunny shores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much money do you make teaching English in Mexico?
When you start teaching English in Mexico, you can expect to earn around 8,000 – 20,000 pesos (£300 – £730/ $400 – $1,000) per month. For freelance or hourly work, the usual rate of payment is 45 - 120 pesos (£1.60 – £4 / $2 – $6) per hour up to 250 pesos (£9 / $12) for a private lesson. Salaries can rise significantly in elite institutions - for example, if you’re teaching at an international academy, you should expect a significantly higher salary.
Q. Are English teachers in demand in Mexico?
Yes, English teachers are in significant demand in Mexico! If you have TEFL certification, and whether you’re a native English speaker or not, there are loads of great teaching jobs available across Mexico just waiting for enthusiastic, enterprising ESL teachers.
Q. How to get a job teaching English in Mexico?
The main requirement to teach English in Mexico is a TEFL certificate. Once ESL teachers have at least 120 hours of training on their CV, they’ll find opportunities. Some employers will ask for a degree and some teaching experience, but if you’re new to teaching, you’ll find you can easily start your career in Mexico.
Q. Can American teachers teach in Mexico?
Yes, American teachers can work in Mexico.