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Teach English in Italy Salary

Teach English in Italy Salary

Italy is a top destination for TEFL teachers. Find out how much you can earn teaching English there in our quick salary guide.

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Italy is one of the most popular places to teach English in Europe, with its incredible history, world-famous food, and fantastic places to live and work. Whether you’re in Rome, the Amalfi Coast, fashion-forward Milan, or an industrial city like Turin, the demand for English teaching is great, and the opportunities to explore are limitless.

Although wages for English teachers in Italy aren’t the highest in Europe, the country has plenty of opportunities across state, private, and international schools, and through private tutoring gigs. In your downtime, you can also enjoy Italy’s relaxed pace of life and some of the best landscapes in the world.

Let’s explore how much you can earn teaching English in Italy, where the best pay is, and what you need to earn top dollar.

Average salary for English teachers in Italy 

On average, a TEFL teacher in Italy will earn about €1,793 per month working full-time (£1,513 / $1,947). Private lessons can earn teachers an extra €25 (£21/ $27) an hour.

Of course, the nature of work for English teachers in Italy can vary. If, for example, you teach English at a summer camp, you can expect to earn about €250 (£290 /  $270) weekly. 

Averages can also vary depending on the region you teach in. In Italy’s stunning capital, Rome, the average teaching salary is nearer to €2,280 per month (£1,905 / $2,462). Italian cities with higher living costs, like Rome, Milan, and Varese, will usually pay higher wages, but this is to match increased daily expenses.

Country Avg. monthly salary Degree required Start of term Teaching experience Housing & flights included Suitable for non-native English speakers Age restrictions
Teach in Italy
€1,793
£1,513 GBP
$1,947 USD 		Preferred September None

Download our teaching English in Europe guide

Salary by type of English teaching job in Italy

Let’s look at the different opportunities available for English teachers across Italy, from public schools to language centres and universities.

Public schools

In Italy’s public school system, wages are controlled by a collective agreement across the education sector. While there are slight differences based on location, seniority and qualifications, you can expect a salary of around €1,500 to €2,200 per month before tax (£1,253 - £1,839 / $1,620 - $2,375).

To land these kinds of jobs, you’ll need a degree, a TEFL certificate, experience, and some fluency in Italian.

Requirements for teaching English in Italy 

What do English teachers need to earn a living in Italy? Well, different jobs have different requirements, but in general, you’ll need:

  • A TEFL certificate: A TEFL course of 120 hours is the industry standard. An advanced TEFL certification in Business English or English for Academic Purposes will help you find adult students as a private tutor. This is particularly true in business centres and university cities like Turin and Bologna.
  • A bachelor’s degree: Higher-salaried jobs will usually require candidates with a bachelor’s degree. A master’s or PhD may be required for jobs in universities and international schools.
  • At least two years of teaching experience.
  • A teaching qualification: Sometimes, you’ll require a teaching license from your country of origin.

Read more about requirements for teaching English abroad.

Factors that influence English teaching salary in Italy

When you teach English in Italy, three main factors influence your income: teaching experience, qualifications, and your employer. Let’s take a closer look.

Teaching experience

As a rule, the more experienced you are as a TEFL teacher, the more you’ll earn.

None of this is to say that newer teachers aren’t valued in Italy. Still, you need two years of experience, especially if you’re applying for work in elite institutions like international schools and universities.

Want to learn more about teaching abroad without experience? Find out what's required and where you can go.

Qualifications

The more relevant qualifications you have on your CV, the higher your English teaching salary will be. 

A bachelor’s degree is a necessary requirement for the majority of teaching jobs in Italy. With a master’s or PhD, you’ll find more opportunities to earn a higher wage, while professional teaching certifications and a teaching license are also hugely beneficial. 

TEFL certifications are crucial, with 120 hours of TEFL coaching being the industry standard. Advanced TEFL certificates can also help out massively, specifically the following:

  • Business English: Being able to teach Business English will create more demand for your classes, as this skill is valuable for those working in business, tourism and corporate jobs. An Advanced TEFL certificate in this area will be particularly helpful for teaching positions in cities like Turin and Milan.
  • English for Academic Purposes: Many young Italians want to study worldwide, especially in English-speaking countries. A TEFL certificate in teaching university-level English will help you find teaching jobs.
  • Exam preparation: Similar to EAP, exam preparation (for courses like IELTS and TOEFL) can open countless doors for Italian students. Specific TEFL certification in exam preparation is a ticket to quickly finding work teaching in Italy.

Employer type

ESL teachers across Italy will earn differing salaries depending on where they work.

Language schools, which are common in major Italian cities like Rome, Milan, and Florence, offer decent pay. Top earners make around €1,200 – €2,000 per month (£1,000 - £1,670 / $1,295 - $2,159). 

Teaching in private or international schools can offer higher salaries, sometimes reaching €2,500 – €3,500 per month (£2,090 - £2,925 / $2,700 - $3,779), especially for experienced teachers with strong qualifications.

University salaries vary widely. If you’re a professor, you can expect earnings similar to those at top international schools, while faculty heads and department chairs earn even more. The average salary for a professor in Italy is about €3,583 (£2,995 / $3,868) per month. You’ll usually need at least a master’s degree to earn this salary at an Italian university.

Tip: Remember that full-time contracts are less common in Italy. As a TEFL teacher, you’re likely to work multiple jobs at any given time, or move from contract to contract, sometimes at short notice. This can make calculating an “average” salary quite tricky!

Benefits and total compensation packages in Italy 

What benefits and compensation packages can you expect while teaching abroad in Italy?

As is pretty common across Europe, teachers don’t receive the large benefits packages you might find while working in the Middle East or parts of Asia. However, there are somealluring bonuses for TEFL teachers, depending on your employer and specific working situation. 

Accommodation assistance

Sometimes, educators looking to start teaching abroad in Italy will be offered support with accommodation, either in the form of on-campus accommodation or a stipend. TEFL teachers volunteering through programmes in Italy are often provided with a host family.

Italian language lessons

Knowing the local language is extremely helpful while living and working in Italy. Different schools, usually international, private, and language schools, offer this benefit. When you teach abroad, knowing the local language is incredibly valuable.

Healthcare & paid holidays

Teachers on full-time, permanent contracts can receive healthcare coverage and paid holidays. Again, these kinds of teaching contracts aren’t the norm in Italy, so they’re rarely available to part-time and freelance teachers.

Cost of living in Italy

If you’re picturing luxurious holidays in Rome, Venice or Florence and thinking it costs a lot to live in Italy, you might be surprised by its affordability. Compared to neighbouring countries like Germany, France and Switzerland, English teachers' living costs are pretty reasonable. 

The cost of living in Italy varies significantly depending on your location. While many TEFL teachers dream of Rome, Venice or Como, budget-conscious teachers can explore smaller cities like Lecce, Perugia or Bologna. Numbeo data shows that a meal at an average restaurant in Lecce is much cheaper than a similar one in Florence, for example. 

Additionally, communities of ESL teachers tend to be closer-knit in smaller areas, so you can more easily find people to share accommodation with while you teach abroad. 

Restaurants
EUR
USD
GBP
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets
EUR
USD
GBP
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation
EUR
USD
GBP
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities
EUR
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
EUR
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

How to maximise your salary as an English teacher in Italy

With the lack of long-term, full-time contracts in Italy and salaries that can vary a lot, it’s useful to know how to maximise your earnings. 

Advanced qualifications

Investing in higher-level certifications, such as Advanced TEFL qualifications or a DELTA, can open doors to more lucrative positions, including teacher training roles. 

Private tutoring

Not only is private English tutoring popular in Italy, it’s also a great earner for teachers. You can usually charge around €25 (£21/ $27) per hour.

Corporate clients

Resourceful ESL teachers can target business centres in Italy to find groups of corporate clients. Fees vary depending on the company's size, the intensity of lessons and where you teach, but rates are usually considerable. An advanced TEFL qualification in Business English is worth doing for this reason.

Work across different institutions

Permanent contracts in Italy, across various industries, aren’t the most common. This is especially true in teaching, where permanent, full-time work is rare. This is largely because full-time teachers get a range of working rights in Italy, and jobs don’t open up that often

While it can be tough it means you can diversify your teaching experience by working across different institutions. If you can work part-time at different places, you’ll be a more adaptable teacher with more money in your pocket.

Network, network, network

Networking is vital for a TEFL teacher. Attend TEFL networking events and connect with professionals who can refer you to potential clients or job openings. Online resources like LinkedIn and Facebook are super useful, too!

Get started teaching English in Italy: Key takeaways

Italy is a gorgeous, exciting place to live, with lots of opportunities for English teachers. What have we learned about the salaries on offer for TEFL teachers in Italy? Here are the most important things you need to know to make an impact in Italy:

  • Average salary: On average, English teachers in Italy earn about €1,793 per month (£1,513 / $1,947). This can be topped up with private tutoring, which generally earns about €25 (£21 / $27) per hour. 
  • Salaries vary: main factors are the type of institution you work in, how long for, and where in Italy you’re based.
  • Basic requirements: 120-hour TEFL certificate, a bachelor's degree, at least two years of teaching experience, and, in some cases, a teaching license.
  • Contracts vary: Full-time roles are scarce, andmany teachers work multiple jobs or freelance. Stable, higher-paying jobs exist in private/international schools.
  • Cost of Living: High salaries in Rome, Milan, and Varese are offset by high living costs. Lecce and Perugia offer lower living expenses.
  • You can boost your income: Advanced TEFL certifications, private tutoring, corporate training, working more than one job, and active networking will help you find more opportunities.

More on teaching English in Italy

Frequently Asked Questions

    Here are some of the top questions about teaching English in Italy and the salary that comes with it.

  • Q. What qualifications do I need to teach English in Italy?

    To teach English in Italy, you’ll need a 120-hour TEFL certificate, a bachelor's degree (for most jobs), at least two years of teaching experience, and, in some cases, a teaching license.

  • Q. Is it necessary to speak Italian to teach English in Italy?

    Learning Italian will help you find more jobs locally and is particularly useful in state schools. As a TEFL teacher, you should try to learn the local language wherever you go. It’ll help you network and understand the people around you.

  • Q. How do I find teaching jobs in Italy?

    The best way to search for teaching jobs in Italy is through online job portals, like The TEFL Org Jobs Centre. Most English teaching jobs in Italy are found this way, though being in Italy to apply for jobs in person is something many ESL teachers do, too.

  • Q. Is there a demand for English teachers in Italy?

    Is there a demand for English teachers in Italy?

    There is significant demand for English teachers in Italy, especially in smaller cities where they are more sought-after. Although the levels of English in Italy are relatively high, they could be higher! To start teaching in Italy, you need TEFL/TESOL certification, usually a degree, and some experience.