TEACH ENGLISH IN
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

About Teaching English in the Dominican Republic

From palm-lined beaches to lively merengue beats, the Dominican Republic offers a quintessential Caribbean experience. The Dominican Republic is not a large job market for teaching English in Latin America, but that doesn't mean that there are not opportunities. English teaching jobs in the Dominican Republic typically are available year-round and are dominant from January-March and May-August. In most cases, schools interview and recruit teachers locally on the ground in the Dominican Republic, with some schools interviewing in advance via phone/Skype.

Wages are modest - you certainly won't get rich teaching English in the Dominican Republic - the cost of living is low, so you should expect to break even while living comfortably. The English teaching job market in the Dominican Republic is strongest in major cities like Santiago and Santo Domingo.

Please note, that while a Bachelor's degree is not required to secure a job in this country, it still can be strongly preferred by employers.  If you do not have a degree, you should be prepared for a more competitive job search.

To teach English in the Dominican Republic (DR), you will need a TEFL certificate. A 4-year college degree is preferred but not required. Native English proficiency is also expected to find a TEFL job. The average salary for an English teacher in the DR is about $500 - $800 USD per month.

How to Teach English in the Dominican Republic: Requirements

TEFL Certification

A TEFL certification is typically required to teach English in the Dominican Republic. You do not need professional teaching experience but earning your TEFL certification will provide you with the training and qualification you do need to get hired. 

Teachers typically interview face-to-face in the Dominican Republic and sometimes in advance from home. Because of this, it is most common for students to take one of our TEFL course options listed below.

Native English-Speaking Proficiency

Most schools require you to be a native English speaker to teach English in the Dominican Republic (citizenship from recognized English-speaking nations: USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa), however, there may be some schools that hire non-native English speakers. 

Degree Requirements for Teaching in the Dominican Republic

A Bachelor's degree is preferred but typically not required. Please note, your bachelor's degree does not need to be in education, it can be in any field.

How to Find ESL jobs in the Dominican Republic

Types of English Teaching Jobs in the Dominican Republic

The most common TEFL jobs in the Dominican Republic consist of:

• Teaching children in public schools.
• Teaching adults in private language schools.
• Teaching Business English to adults.
• Tutoring private students one-on-one.
• Teaching English Online.

Teaching Jobs in the Dominican Republic: Hiring & Visa

English teachers in the Dominican Republic can find jobs all year round with an expected downtime from Christmas through February (Carnival).

Finding a job teaching English in the Dominican Republic may require a teacher to be there on the ground interviewing with schools in person. Depending on the school, teachers may be able to find a job in advance but it is best to be prepared to find something in person.

Teachers should also be prepared to teach in the Dominican Republic on a tourist visa unless they find a school that will assist them in the process and provides them with the correct paperwork for a work visa.

TEFL Dominican Republic: Hours

English language schools in the Dominican Republic offer approximately 20 to 25 hours of classroom work per week plus additional hours for prep time. This allows for plenty of time to travel and explore. 

Teaching Dominican Students

It is most common that your students will be children, adults, or business professionals. 

TEFL Dominican Republic Salary & Cost of Living

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs will range from $1,000 - $1,200 USD. These are expenses you will incur from your arrival in the Dominican Republic until you receive your first paycheck and may include things like rent, apartment supplies, transport, groceries, getting your new local cell phone number set up, etc. 

English Teacher Salary in the Dominican Republic

How much does a teacher make in the Dominican Republic?

A modest wage and a low cost of living enable teachers the opportunity to live a comfortable lifestyle while in the Dominican Republic. Teachers can expect to make $500 - $800 USD per month. 

There are no flight or housing benefits/stipends provided so you will need to remember to account for accommodation or temporary housing for your first few weeks in your start-up costs until you find an apartment to rent.

Cost of Living & Savings

The cost of living typically ranges between $500 - $800 USD per month.

English teachers in the Dominican Republic can typically expect to break-even month over month. This means you can cover your rent and bills, support yourself, live comfortably, and enjoy your life abroad to the fullest, but you should not expect to save money at the end of each month. If you are hustling and taking on private tutoring lessons and/or teaching English online in addition to your regular teaching schedule, you may increase your ability to save.