Teach English in Honduras

With plenty of opportunities in state schools, a low cost of living and vibrant nightlife, Honduras is a fun place to live and work.

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Right in the middle of Central America, Honduras is a nation of Spanish speakers, with decent levels of English proficiency. An adventurer's dream, Honduras has a range of national parks, Mayan ruins, scuba diving resorts, and welcoming residents – plus a wealth of opportunities for English teachers.

Whether you find yourself teaching ESL in the capital, Tegucigalpa, or in one of the various beautiful coastal towns, there’s plenty of scope to teach English learners from different walks of life, from school pupils to adults seeking career advancement or educational opportunities from English-speaking institutions.

Let’s check out what it's like to teach English abroad in Honduras, the average teaching salary, the qualifications you need, the cost of living, and much more.

Quick facts about Honduras

Country Name: República de Honduras
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Official Language: Spanish
Population: 10.97 million (Worldometer)
Currency: Honduran Lempira (HNL)

Why teach English in Honduras?

While not a global superpower, Honduras holds its own in terms of international trade, exporting t-shirts, coffee, and palm oil. As an island nation with easy access to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, these exports are key to Honduras’ economic success.

Why does that matter for people teaching English abroad in Honduras? It’s a key reason why Honduras’s English language proficiency is so high. The EF English Proficiency Index ranks Honduras 33rd out of 116 countries, higher than France, South Korea, or India.

Honduras’s English proficiency is far stronger than that of its Central American neighbours, including Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s an educational utopia, and there are issues.

Attempts have been made to overhaul Honduras’ education system, and English has become a mandatory pre-elementary subject. Overall literacy rates are slowly improving. State education in Honduras lacks funding, especially compared to near neighbours like Cuba. Most people use language schools to learn English or learn with tutors. Bilingual schools exist, but these tend to be fee-paying and independent. Tegucigalpa, Honduras’ capital, is the biggest city, with nearly 1.3 million residents. It’s where most English teaching jobs are, though cities like San Pedro Sula and Choloma are also good choices for teachers.

Requirements to teach English in Honduras

So, what do you need to teach English in Honduras? It’s important to note here that the English teaching requirements are varied. Getting a Honduran working visa depends on a job offer.

While native English teachers are usually preferred, there are still opportunities for those who want to teach English abroad as non-native speakers. Language schools have jobs for those with IELTS or TOEFL qualifications. Alternatively, a degree from an English-speaking institution is a great way to prove fluency.

TEFL certification

TEFL certification is crucial for finding jobs in Honduras. 120 hours of training is ideal preparation for teaching English abroad..

In Honduras, advanced TEFL certification might help. English is taught widely early, so a certificate in Teaching Young Learners is super useful. Given Honduras’ busy port cities and the importance of exports, Business English lessons are popular. English for Academic Purposes will also help you teach young adults who want to learn at English-speaking universities.

Education requirements

You can teach English abroad without a degree in Honduras. However, you’ll earn a higher salary with a bachelor's degree. While private language schools will be less concerned about degrees, state schools, private schools, and universities will ask for one.

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Teaching with no experience

There are entry-level teaching opportunities in Honduras for teachers without prior teaching experience. Latin American countries are very friendly to new teachers. Experience is always valued, but it’s not always necessary for entry-level teaching positions.

Language proficiency

A working knowledge of Honduran Spanish is very useful in a Spanish-speaking country. Spanish proficiency will also help you find a job teaching English through local press or advertisements that you might've missed otherwise. Spanish classes are sometimes included in teaching contracts as an additional benefit.

You don't have to be a native English speaker to find teaching jobs in Honduras. You'll need some English teaching experience, an IELTS or TOEFL certificate, a TEFL certificate and ideally, a degree from an English-speaking institution.

Visa

You need a job offer from a Honduran educational institution to get a work visa. The usual work permit given to TEFL teachers is the Special Residence Permit, valid for 1-5 years. If you find yourself between Special Residence Permits while teaching English in Honduras, you can switch to a Temporary Residence Permit once your original visa is close to expiration.

For a Special Residence Permit, you’ll need:

A valid passport
Copies of your qualifications (TEFL certificate, degree (if applicable))
Copy of contract offer
Proof of income
Criminal background checks (from every country you’ve lived in)
Birth certificate
Marriage information (if applicable)

After 3 years teaching English and living in Honduras, you can apply for citizenship.

Download our teaching English in Latin America guide

Salary & cost of living in Honduras

Teaching salaries in Honduras are about average for Latin America. Although they can look low when converted into GBP and USD, it’s essential to factor in the country’s comparatively low cost of living.

On average, full-time teaching jobs pay between 10,382 HNL and 24,764 HNL (£301 - £717 / $401 - $956) monthly. At elite institutions like international schools, especially in larger cities, you can find teaching jobs that pay around 44,330 HNL - 55197 HNL (£1,285 - £1,600 / $1,600-$2,000) monthly.

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Honduras	24,764 HNL £395 - £790 GBP $500 - $1,000 USD		February				None

Cost of living

What’s the cost of living like when teaching English in Honduras? Looking specifically at the capital city, Tegucigalpa, gives a decent overview of living costs around the country.

For example, renting a one-bedroom city centre apartment costs about £212 / $282 per month, while the same apartment size is about £178 / $237 per month if you commute to central Tegucigalpa. You can get good value for money renting in Tegucigalpa, with luxury apartments and modest one-bedroom dwellings available in the city centre and beyond.

Utilities cost about £54 / $72, depending on your service providers and area. Internet access costs about £32 / $43 per month, and plenty of Honduran students learn English online if you’re keen to supplement your income.

While you’re teaching English in Honduras, make sure to experience the local cuisine! Dishes like baleadas and carne asada are absolute musts, and you can eat solo, at an inexpensive cafe, for about £4 / $5.

For more information about the cost of living in Honduras, consult the table below:

Restaurants	HNL	USD	GBP
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets	HNL	USD	GBP
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation	HNL	USD	GBP
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities	HNL	USD	GBP
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage (for a regular apartment)
Regular prepaid monthly mobile tariff with 10GB+ data
Internet (60 Mbps, unlimited data, cable/ADSL)
Clothing and shoes	HNL	USD	GBP
Pair of jeans (Levis 501 or something similar)
Summer dress in a chain store
Nike running shoes (mid-range)
Men's leather business shoes

Other benefits

In Honduras, teaching jobs sometimes come with additional benefits. Honduran teachers working at state schools are entitled to excellent benefits, including 13th and 14th-month bonuses, health care contributions, pension, sickness pay, and holidays.

Job offers from private Honduran institutions often include benefits such as an accommodation stipend, performance bonuses, visa support, airfare, and even Spanish lessons!

Types of English teaching jobs in Honduras

Students can receive high-quality education across different institutions in Honduras, while English teachers have plenty of options for finding opportunities to teach there. English teaching in Honduras usually means accepting a six-month contract at first, even during the academic year. The school year starts in February and ends in November, so the best time to find English teaching jobs is in November and December.

Where are all the teaching jobs in Honduras for qualified English teachers? Here’s where to find them:

Public schools
Private Language schools
International schools
Private tutoring

Public schools

English is the primary foreign language taught in Honduran schools. Schooling in Honduras is mandatory only for ages 7-13; attendance is dictated by a student’s proximity to a school. Ultimately, Honduras needs more schools, especially in rural areas.

Still, English is taught in public schools, and these schools typically hire teachers with a TEFL certificate and a degree.

English clubs, where after-hours lessons are given at schools, are relatively common. These sit outside the curriculum, and you must provide homemade lesson plans. Still, they benefit children who want to boost their vocabulary and conversational English skills.

Private language schools

Private language schools are a good option if you’re looking to teach adults. The issue, however, is that they are in short supply, and you're likely to have more luck finding adult Honduran students if you teach English online.

International schools

Some international and bilingual schools are available in Honduras, but aren’t widespread. The majority are in Tegucigalpa, though Sandy Bay and San Pedro Sula also have some options.

These institutions are more particular about qualifications and experience, so you’ll usually need a TEFL certificate, a teaching license, a bachelor’s degree, and experience to land a job at an international school in Honduras.

Private tutoring

Private tutoring is popular in Latin America, and it's a helpful option for TEFL teachers in Honduras, although it’s only worth doing once you’ve established yourself as a teacher. You'll need a permanent job offer to teach English in Honduras to land a visa.

Lessons in Business English and English for Academic Purposes are particularly popular. Your students will likely be either adults looking for career momentum or young adults hoping to gain entry to English language universities or colleges. Advanced TEFL certification in these areas is valuable.

Best cities to teach English in Honduras

Where are the most exciting locations to teach English in Honduras? Here are the two main cities ideal for those heading to this vibrant part of Central America.

Tegucigalpa

Home to about one-tenth of the entire Honduran population, there are plenty of teaching opportunities, eager students, and things to see and do in Tegucigalpa. It’s hard not to be won over by Parque Central, home to a stunning cathedral and the Presidential Palace.

You can explore the local culture by visiting the colourful markets, trying the local cuisine and listening to music in the city centre’s numerous bars and clubs. Or, for more history, check out the Museo Para La Identidad Nacional.

Tegucigalpa is where you’ll find most English teaching jobs, with opportunities in universities, international schools, private language schools, and the best-resourced state schools in the country.

San Pedro Sula

As Honduras’ second-largest city, San Pedro Sula is a busy environment for English teachers. While it’s a busy metropolis, it’s also close to Cusuco National Park, a perfect venue for birdwatching, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

San Pedro Sula city centre has many attractions, including the Museo de Antropología e Historia and the Catedral San Pedro Apóstol. However, it’s in the nightlife where San Pedro Sula truly excels. Bar hopping in Zona Viva or Zona Rio is highly recommended, while restaurants, karaoke joints, and casinos keep the party going.

How to find teaching opportunities in Honduras

If you’re TEFL-certified and ready to teach abroad, Honduras has plenty of opportunities.

You can start your job search on the TEFL Org Jobs Centre. Once you’ve completed a TEFL course through The TEFL Org, you’ll gain lifetime access to our Jobs Centre where you’ll find tons of opportunities to teach English online, across Latin America and worldwide.

Other job portals can help: try Serious Teachers, One Thousand Schools, LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor, for example.

There are also volunteering opportunities for TEFL teachers in Honduras. We recommend browsing Workaway and Bilingual Education for Central America (BECA).

Getting started teaching English in Honduras

Honduras is an underrated destination for teaching English with friendly locals, plenty of opportunities, a low cost of living, buzzing nightlife, and plenty of natural beauty. Here are some of our key takeaways:

Average salary: Full-time teachers can earn around 10,382 HNL and 24,764 HNL (£301 - £717 / $401 - $956) monthly. Salaries are typically higher in private and international schools and are weighted for city living.
Top teaching destinations: San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa are where most opportunities to teach English exist in Honduras. However, don't rule out Choloma, La Ceiba and Roatán.
Requirements: A 120-hour TEFL certificate is essential. A bachelor’s degree and prior teaching experience can boost your chances, but newer teachers and those without degrees can find work.
Visas: The usual work permit given to TEFL teachers is the Special Residence Permit, valid for 1-5 years
Insider tip: In Honduras, teaching English privately is big business. You'll find plenty of opportunities in private tutoring and even teaching English online. Advanced TEFL courses in Business English, English for Academic Purposes or Exam Preparation will pay for themselves, as these are popular areas of study in Honduras.

Honduras delivers on multiple fronts if you're looking for adventure, a tropical climate, and plenty of fantastic TEFL jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are our answers to the most commonly asked questions about teaching English in Honduras:

Q. Can I teach English in Honduras without a college degree?

Yes, you can teach English in Honduras without a degree. A visa is contingent on a job offer, and not all schools and employers will require a degree. However, it's more common to be asked for a degree than not.

Q. What is the average salary for English teachers in Honduras?

Full-time teachers can earn between 10,382 HNL and 24,764 HNL (£301 - £717 / $401 - $956) monthly. Salaries in privately run institutions are usually higher, especially in larger cities.

Q. When is the best time to apply for English teaching jobs in Honduras?

The best time to find English teaching jobs is in November and December.

Q. Will I need a work visa to teach English in Honduras?

Yes, you need a work visa to teach English in Honduras. The usual work permit given to TEFL teachers is the Special Residence Permit, valid for 1-5 years.