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TEFL Jobs in
Sweden

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Curious about the demand for TEFL teachers in a country with famously high levels of English? Here’s our guide to English Teaching Jobs in Sweden in 2025.

Sweden presents a unique challenge for TEFL teachers. With some of the world’s highest English proficiency levels, English is taught early in schools and widely spoken. In fact, Sweden consistently ranks among the top five globally for English skills, blurring the line between second and foreign language status.

As a result, the TEFL market is highly competitive, with foreign teachers often competing against fluent Swedish educators. However, opportunities exist for well-qualified, experienced teachers. Despite the challenges, Sweden’s high living standards, progressive values, and strong work-life balance make it an appealing place to live and work.

This guide will help you navigate the English teaching job market in Sweden, understand employer expectations, and gain insights into one of Europe’s most forward-thinking countries.

Quick facts about Sweden

Capital: Stockholm
Official Language: Swedish
Population: 10.7m (March 2025, Worldometer)
Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK)

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English teaching jobs in Sweden: an overview

In Sweden, English teaching jobs are extremely competitive. The level of English proficiency in Sweden is extremely high, with the country ranking in the top 5 on EF’s English Proficiency Index on a consistent basis.

There are a few reasons for this. Early-age education in Sweden is excellent, and studying English as a second language is encouraged from a young age. English-language media is rarely dubbed over in Swedish, a language that has remarkable similarities to English due to a shared Germanic history.

Overall, Sweden's education system is recognised for being progressive and inclusive, reflecting the broader Swedish culture. Traditional formal classroom setups are becoming less common, especially for younger children. Rather than focusing solely on academics, there is an emphasis on student mental health, well-being, and developing well-rounded individuals.

Requirements to get English teaching jobs in Sweden

If English teaching jobs in Sweden are so competitive, what do you need to be eligible? What will make you stand out?

Before we get into the specifics of teaching abroad in Sweden, there are some elements to consider. To teach in a public school in Sweden, you need to have a teaching license from the National Agency for Education, which certifies that you have a working ability in Swedish. International schools in Sweden will have their own regulations, with the general rule being that Swedish is useful but not always mandatory in bilingual schools.

Qualifications and certifications

To teach English in Sweden, you’ll need:

At least a bachelor’s degree (English and Education are preferred)
A TEFL certificate (120 hours is the industry standard)
Previous teaching experience
An English proficiency certificate for non-native English speakers (IELTS or TOEFL)
A notarised and completed criminal background check

Visa requirements

You do not need a visa to work in Sweden if you're from an EU country. However, if you’re from outside the European Union, you will require a Sweden Work Visa to work as an English teacher.

To apply for a work visa, you’ll need the following documents:

Employment documents (proof of contract, job offer letter, etc.)
A completed visa application form
A valid passport
One passport-sized photograph
A cover letter (no longer than two pages)
Schengen Travel Insurance
A travel Itinerary
Proof of accommodation
Proof of financial means (bank statements)
Civil status documents (marriage certificate, etc.)

Background checks and health requirements

Newcomers to Sweden, applying through the usual visa process, will require a health check. This involves chest X-rays, blood tests and a general physical check-up.

Tip: Although it’s not necessarily part of the visa process, employers in Sweden are far more likely to run background checks on new employees than in the past. This involves verifying an individual’s employment history, criminal record, education and credit.

Salary & benefits

Salaries for English teachers in Sweden can vary depending on experience, qualifications and institution. From private language schools up to top university positions, wages can land anywhere between 21,000 - 70,000 SEK (£1,600 - £5,377 / $2,082 - $6,941) before tax. However, the average salary for a TEFL teacher is closer to about 25,000 - 35,000 SEK (£1,920 - £2,688 / $2,479 - $3,470) per month.

The table below shows the differences in salaries and benefits between institutions.

Type of School	Monthly Salary (before tax)	Typical Benefits
Public Schools	25,000 - 40,000 SEK (£1,920 - £3,072 / $2,479 - $3,966)	Paid holidays, excellent social benefits, professional development
Private Language Schools	21,000-26,500 SEK (£1,600 - £2,035 / $2,082 / $2,627)	Accommodation assistance
International Schools	Up to 54,000 SEK (£4,148 / $5,354)	Performance bonuses, paid holidays, fewer hours
Universities	Up to 70,000 SEK (£5,377 / $6,941)	Research grants, fewer hours
Private Tutoring	130 - 390 SEK	Flexibility

Additional benefits

In Sweden, there’s less emphasis on benefits packages to lure ESL teachers. Instead, Swedish schools offer good wages while giving TEFL educators the social benefits of working in the country.

Common benefits of working in Sweden include:

Paid holidays: Sweden is known for generous paid vacation time, particularly in public schools.
Parental leave: Sweden has a very generous parental leave policy.
Pension contributions
Wellness allowances
Occupational health

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Sweden	£1,100 - £2,400 GBP ($1,400 - $3,000 USD)	Preferred	September	Preferred			None

Read our Sweden Country Guide for info about salaries, living costs & requirements

Sweden Country Guide

Types of English teaching jobs in Sweden

So you’ve started looking for English teacher jobs in Sweden. Where should you begin with your job search, what kinds of teaching opportunities exist, and what are teaching institutions like in Sweden? Let’s take a closer look.

Public schools
Private schools
International schools
Language schools
Universities
Private tutoring

Public schools

Though opportunities in Swedish state schools can be limited, public schools offer a fantastic opportunity to meet a diverse, engaged student body while teaching the Swedish national curriculum.

TEFL candidates will require a bachelor’s degree and a Swedish teaching certification, known as Svensk Lärarlegitimation, from the National Agency for Education (Skolverket). To gain this teaching certification, you’ll need C1 level Swedish. Teaching experience and a TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours are essential.

What’s it like teaching in Swedish public schools? They are places where English teachers can thrive and develop, with excellent paid holidays and social benefits.

Private schools

Swedish private schools require teachers with high-quality TEFL certification and at least a bachelor's degree and TEFL/TESOL certification. Though native English speakers are usually preferred outright, there is some wiggle-room for highly experienced non-native speakers of English. Surprisingly, Swedish private schools are less strict about Swedish language proficiency.

Given Sweden’s emphasis on social benefits and high-quality public services, there’s considerable debate about private schools, as they have differing levels of quality. Still, the independent schooling sector is growing, with around 1 in 10 schoolchildren being taught privately.

International schools

There isn’t a particularly wide range of international schools in Sweden, though some operate in the country’s more populated metropolitan areas. To attain a teaching job in an international school, you’ll usually need a teaching degree, a teaching license, a TEFL certificate and experience teaching an international curriculum.

Like most of the world, international schools in Sweden can pay very well. However, competition for jobs is fierce since these are highly compensated jobs with benefits like fewer working hours and signing bonuses. As you can imagine, you’ll have stern competition from plenty of experienced TEFL teachers!

Language schools

Private language schools in Sweden are relatively rare, with limited classes that are mainly business-oriented. In Sweden, teaching jobs at language schools primarily concern teaching adults who need advanced English skills for international travel or jobs involving global business.

Universities

Teaching at universities in Sweden requires advanced qualifications, such as a master's degree or PhD in subjects like English or linguistics. Candidates often need teaching experience at the university level and may be required to have research experience for certain teaching positions.

Swedish universities emphasise research and teaching, so for the academically inclined, there are excellent opportunities for professional development and the development of teaching methodologies.

Private tutoring

If you thrive in a less formal environment, private tutoring in Sweden offers a flexible schedule and the chance to teach different kinds of English. It helps significantly if you can speak Swedish to a high standard, but in terms of your overall skill set, you need a TEFL certification and, ideally, some advanced TEFL certificates in areas like Business English or English for Academic Purposes.

Tip: You might find more opportunities to teach privately during the summer months. Teachers can find jobs tutoring school pupils looking to improve their English for the coming year, as well as prospective university students who are taking courses in English.

How to find English teaching jobs in Sweden

So, how do you find job openings in Sweden? Which are the best resources for finding teaching opportunities in this exciting country?

Let's look at where you can find the best job listings for teaching positions in Sweden and get you on the path to your dream classroom or tutoring job!

Best job search websites to teach English in Sweden

The TEFL Org Jobs Centre has teaching opportunities for Sweden, teaching English online, or across the world!
Berlitz: Berlitz is a worldwide TEFL employer with a few Scandinavian centres. Positions are freelance and part-time, with morning and evening classes. Some jobs will require a degree and, ideally, a business background, depending on the teaching role.
Cambridge Institute: To work with the Cambridge Institute, you'll need a TEFL certificate, degree, and one year of experience. Seven-month contracts (October-May), teaching adults (minimum 20 hours/week). Offers a decent hourly rate and furnished accommodation.
Folkuniversitet: Offers part-time language course teaching. Students include the unemployed, IELTS/exam preparation candidates, and those needing English for work.
Internationella Engelska Skolan (International School Network): Subject teachers can apply. Requires a strong subject background, and Swedish language skills are an advantage. Up to 18 hours/week teaching.

Additional Resources:

Swedish Public Employment Service: A resource for job searches, information on working in Sweden, support, and benefits.
Swedish for Immigrants: Immigrants and refugees with residency can take Swedish language courses. They, of course, need teachers, so inquire within!
Volunteering: To gain some experience in teaching English, you might want to consider teaching abroad as a volunteer in Sweden. Some of the best opportunities for teaching in Sweden as a volunteer can be found on Workaway and the European Voluntary Service.

Best cities for teaching English in Sweden

For the majority of Sweden’s TEFL jobs, you’re best placed looking at the biggest cities. We’re talking about the likes of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö - vibrant, busy cities with so much cultural diversity and attractions to keep you enthralled.

If you’re focused on teaching English in Sweden but aren’t quite sure where to look, here are our suggestions:

Stockholm

How many capital cities can say they’re an archipelago of 14 islands? By anyone’s standards, Stockholm is deeply interesting, but for English teachers in particular, there’s so much to explore.

Sweden’s capital is also its business and cultural centre, with many universities, high quality schools, most of the country’s international schools, and eager students hoping for private lessons.

There’s a lot to see and do in Stockholm, from the Vasa Museum to the Historika Museet and – perhaps most excitingly – the ABBA Museum. However, there’s lots to find beyond the main tourist sites, like the tunnelbana art of the subway stations, the cafes and galleries of the Gamla Stan. If you’re feeling brave, you can take the plunge into Stockholm’s ice swimming and sauna culture, which is hugely popular.

Gothenburg

The second-biggest city in Sweden, Gothenburg, is all about comfort. A friendly, seaside city, you can find delight in Gothenburg’s slightly old-timey aesthetic and culture, with its stunning parks, the Haga district’s wooden houses and “fika” culture, the fish markets, and its smorgasbord of ferry rides along the coast.

There’s a significantly growing demand for English teaching within language schools, certainly more so than in other Swedish cities. Gothenburg is a rising city of business and tourism, and although there are high levels of English proficiency, the city is home to a flux of curious newcomers who don’t have English skills.

Uppsala

Every country has its own academic heartland; for Sweden, the answer is Uppsala. A historic university city, Uppsala is home to one of Scandinavia’s oldest and most esteemed universities. Astoundingly, Uppsala Universiteit was founded in 1477 and is as lively as ever.

So, university teaching positions and tutoring English for academic purposes are the obvious ports of call for English teachers. Don't rule out public schools or private schools, however, as high-quality institutions exist across Uppsala. Beyond the job opportunities, there are attractions like Uppsala Cathedral, the gorgeous Fyris River, and the Gustavianum Museum.

Malmö

A modern, multicultural, and diverse city, Malmö is Sweden’s third-largest city, and due to its economic opportunities and proximity to other European countries, it has become a very popular place to move to. Among the more typical TEFL teaching opportunities that exist in different types of schools, specific language schools are more common in Malmö than in other Swedish cities, which means one thing: demand for English teachers.

Connected to Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, via the iconic Öresund Bridge, this city is an excellent hub for adventurous English teachers who want to explore mainland Europe. When you’re not travelling, though, the culinary scene in Möllevången is worth your time and tastebuds, while there’s also a litany of music venues and cool bars.

Key Takeaways

Sweden offers a distinct opportunity for those trained to teach English. Teaching positions exist, but they’re extremely competitive, and only highly qualified TEFL teachers will be able to find work in a country with such high English proficiency.

The demand for English teaching in Sweden is low due to the country's high standards of English.
Average salaries range from 25,000 - 35,000 SEK (£1,920 - £2,688 / $2,479 - $3,470) per month, before tax. Benefits include opportunities for professional development and plenty of paid holidays.
Limited job opportunities exist in universities, language schools, public schools, private academies, and tutoring.

TEFL certification is essential. Additionally, advanced TEFL certificates in niche areas like Business English and English for Academic Purposes are extremely useful for finding jobs in Sweden.

English Teaching Jobs Available in Sweden

Unfortunately we don't currently have any jobs available in sweden. We update our job centre daily so check back soon!

Frequently Asked Questions

The internet has plenty of questions about English teaching jobs in Sweden, so we’re going to answer the most-searched queries.

Q. Does Sweden need English teachers?

Sweden needs English teachers to some extent. Certain employers would prefer to have a native English speaker on staff for particular aspects of language teaching. In general, though, Sweden is very well-served by English teaching talent.

Q. How much do English teachers get paid in Sweden?

On average, English teachers in Sweden are paid around 25,000 - 35,000 SEK (£1,920 - £2,688 / $2,479 - $3,470) per month, before tax. Salaries can increase rapidly depending on the institution and experience.

Q. Can I get a job in Sweden if I only speak English?

Many English teaching jobs require the completion of a Swedish teaching certification, known as Svensk Lärarlegitimation, from the National Agency for Education (Skolverket). You’ll need C1-level Swedish language skills to complete this course.

Q. Is it hard to get a job in Sweden as a foreigner?

For non-EU citizens in Sweden, teaching jobs can be hard to attain. That said, it’s far from impossible, and some employers are looking for non-Swedish English teachers with a TEFL certificate, a work visa and experience in teaching English.