The demand for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in Costa Rica is consistently strong due to the growing tourism and international business sectors. Applicant would mostly find job in the capital city of San José, as well as nearby cities like Heredia and Alajuela, where many language academies and businesses are located. Explore the available Teaching job vacancies in Costa Rica that matches your qualifications or experiences.
Costa Rica is known for its relaxed environment, culture and natural beauty, offering opportunities for exploring rainforests, beaches, and national parks. The cost of living in the country is relatively low, making the local salary sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle, though saving large amounts of money can be challenging. Most schools prefer to hire teachers already in the country, because one on one interview is usually authentic. Obtaining a legal work permit usually requires employer sponsorship and can be a very lengthy process, which leads some teachers to work informally on a tourist visa.
Current Teaching Jobs available for you
1. Teaching Position in Costa Rica At New Learning Academy
- Location: Costa Rica, San Jose
- Fields of Expertise: ESL/EFL,
- Salary: $1,500 USD
- School: New Learning Academy
2. Teach EFL in Costa Rica with Idioma Internacional
- Location: Costa Rica, San Jose
- Required Degrees: Bachelor Degree
- Fields of Expertise: ESL/EFL,
- Salary: Negotiable
3. Homeschool Teacher for pod of 3rd-7th graders
- Location: Costa Rica, Nosara
- Required Degrees: Teaching Credential
- Fields of Expertise: Elementary, Curriculum Developer, Reading and Writing Workshops
- Salary: $3,200 USD
- School: HomeSchool Beach Nosara
4. Teach at a Small School by the Beach
- Location: Costa Rica, Nosara
- Fields of Expertise: ESL/EFL, Nursery, Elementary, ESL to Children, Kindergarten, High School, Summer Camps,
- Salary: Negotiable
- School: Elimar High School Nosara
Job Benefits
- Work visa
- House allowance
- Holidays off (National holidays ) and Christmas holidays.
- Welcome Party
5. Lower Elementary English Teacher
- Location: Costa Rica, Santa Cruz, Guanacaste
- Required Degrees: Teaching University Degree
- Fields of Expertise: Elementary,
- Salary: $2,500 USD
- School: La Paz Community School
Job Details
- Native English Speakers
- University Degree in Education
- Minimum 2 years of experience
- Spanish is a plus
Top Schools/Organization Recruiting Teachers in Costa Rica
1. Costa Rica International Academy (CRIA): Costa Rica international academy is situated at Guanacaste, CRIA is an accredited institution that hires certified international educators for a rigorous academic environment.
2. La Paz Community School: This international school is also located at Guanacaste, the school is a bilingual (Spanish-English) International Baccalaureate (IB) World School serving PreK-12.
3. Del Mar Academy: This school is located at Nosara, and it’s another bilingual IB World School for PreK-12 students, known for its focus on sustainability and community.
4. The British School of Costa Rica: Located in San José, this school offers an “all-round”, bilingual education using British and international methods and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
5. Centro Educativo Costa Ballena: This institution on the Southern Pacific coast seeks qualified teachers for small class sizes, offering a US-based curriculum integrated with the Costa Rican Ministry of Education standards.
6. Lakeside International School: This school is Located near the Liberia International Airport in Guanacaste, and it focuses on student-centered learning and a positive learning environment.
7. The Forest School (Cloud Forest School): This is a bilingual, progressive PreK-11th grade private school in rural Monteverde with a philosophy founded on sustainability and economic justice.
8. Idioma Internacional: This school is based in San José, this institute offers hybrid in-country and remote EFL teaching opportunities, including corporate classes. They provide professional development and assistance with finding housing and the visa process.
9. New Learning Academy: With over 25 years of experience, this language institution in San José hires full-time English teachers for a mix of online and face-to-face classes and also offers assistance with the visa process.
10. Maximo Nivel: A leading ESL institute in Latin America that hires for teaching and academic director roles.
Required Qualifications
1. Education: Candidate must posses a bachelor’s degree preferably in a relevant field like education. For those teaching English, a TEFL certification is often the primary credential, though some positions may prefer or require a full teaching license.
2. Skills: For English teacher, proficiency in English is necessary, and may not be mandatory for all jobs, although knowing Spanish will greatly help your integration. Having experience is also important.
3. Work permit: Having a work permit is necessary for long-term employment, which requires sponsorship from a school.
4. Background check: This is a mandatory thorough check that is usually conducted by the police to proof that you have no criminal record.
5. Others: You will need other documents like a health certificate, your birth certificate and passport copies.
Things to know when finding a job
The best time to look for traditional school positions is between October and January, because this is the end of the school year and when contracts may be ending. Also know that San Jose offers the largest job market for teachers. Pay can be lower in public schools due to resource shortages, so many prefer to work in private schools, which can vary in quality.
Salary Earnings for Teachers in Costa Rica
Monthly, an international schools pay teachers around $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 CRC ($1,800 to $3,600 USD), in a Universities the pay can be up to $600,000 to $1,200,000 CRC ($1,100 to $2,200 USD) monthly.
Private school teacher can earn about $500,000 to $900,000 CRC ($900 to $1,600 USD), public or government schools usually pay their staffs around $350,000 to$600,000 CRC ($650 to $1,100 USD) while private language schools teacher earns $350,000 to $700,000 CRC ($650 to $1,200 USD) at the end of the month.
Also know that private English Lessons teacher can be offered a high hourly rate, ranging from 8,000 CRC to 15,000 CRC ($15 to $28 USD) per hour.
Benefits for Teachers
1. They get to have Quality life and Environment: Costa Rica offers a stunning and beautiful natural environment, that help people have a relaxed life, and friendly people (Ticos), that contribute positively to a teacher’s personal well-being.
2. Living in Costa Rica is very affordable: While salaries may seem low by international standards, the cost of living can be reasonable, allowing a frugal teacher to live comfortably and travel domestically.
3. Statutory Benefits: Legally employed teachers are entitled to mandated benefits, including a 13th-month Christmas bonus (aguinaldo), paid public holidays, health insurance coverage via the public system (CCSS), and paid sick and vacation leave.
4. Motivated Students: Teachers, particularly in language institutes or private schools, often find their adult students to be highly motivated and engaged, which can make the teaching experience rewarding.
5. Professional and Personal Growth: Teachers have the opportunities for professional development and the chance to learn new skills in a diverse environment.
Challenges of Working as a Teacher in Costa Rica
1. Low Salaries and Financial Strain: A major challenge is the low salary, especially in public schools, which can make saving money very difficult or impossible.
2. There’s Limited Resources: Many public schools suffer from limited access to modern technology, teaching materials, and general resources, requiring teachers to be creative and often use their own funds for supplies.
3. Overcrowded Classrooms: Some classes are mostly over populated. Large class sizes are common in public schools, making personalized instruction and classroom management difficult.
4. Student Absenteeism and Lack of Motivation: Teachers sometimes struggle with high student absenteeism and a lack of motivation to learn among some students, which can be a result of various socioeconomic factors and an existing educational gap.
5. Unequal Access: There is a significant gap in attainment and resources between wealthy and poor areas, and between public and private education systems.
6. Teacher Turnover: Due to issues like low pay and difficult working conditions, public schools can experience high teacher turnover, leading to a less experienced workforce.
Conclusion
The country is opened for English teachers who is ready to impact life positively. Costa Rica offers high and constant demand, a variety of employment options, and a personally enriching cultural experience, though it comes with lower salaries compared to other Western countries and challenges in securing a legal work visa.
For those seeking adventure and a rewarding cultural immersion in a beautiful and relatively safe country, teaching in Costa Rica is an excellent choice and Costa Rica is ready to embrace you. However, it is important to have stable financial expectations and be prepared to go through the complexities of the work visa system, because working legally can be kind of stressful to attain.
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