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Teach English in Samoa

Teach English in Samoa

Teaching English in Samoa offers more than just island views – find out what it’s really like to live, work, and teach in this unique Pacific nation.

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A volcanic chain of islands in the South Pacific, Samoa offers English teachers unbeatable natural beauty, Polynesian culture, and a growing economy. Occupied by New Zealand for 48 years, Samoan is the official language, followed closely by English. 

Not to be confused with American Samoa, Samoa has a relatively small population, with most of its residents already fluent in English. Still, teachers can find opportunities in state and international schools, as well as through volunteering in rural communities where Samoan is still widely spoken. 

So, how hard is it to find English teaching jobs in this island country? Read on to discover what it’s like teaching English in Samoa, from job requirements to cultural differences and the average salary.

Why teach English in Samoa?

Samoa is a postcard-worthy destination for adventurous TEFL teachers, thanks to its warm-hearted people, remote location, and beautiful scenery. The archipelago draws in lovers of tropical climates, while its social initiatives call to those who want to help build Samoan students’ English skills. 

But Samoa isn’t necessarily a conventional ‘TEFL destination’ like other countries. With a population of just 200,000, there isn’t a huge demand for foreign English teachers. English has been taught in Samoan schools for generations, and local teachers often fill job vacancies. 

Still, because English is part of the mainstream education system, it’s possible to find high-level teaching jobs in state schools and volunteering opportunities in more remote areas.

Requirements to teach English in Samoa

From a teaching license to a TEFL certification, these are the basic requirements you’ll need to teach English abroad in this South Pacific country:

TEFL certification

A 120-hour TEFL certificate from an accredited provider is required for teaching English in Samoa. Advanced TEFL certificates in specific areas, like Business English, can be valuable add-ons to a resume in the difficult Samoan job market.

Teaching license

Along with standard TEFL requirements, teachers in Samoa must be registered and licensed under the Samoan Teachers Act. You’ll either need a teaching license from your native country (like a QTS or State license) or a Samoan teaching license.

Teaching without a degree

If you plan on teaching in a Samoan school, you’ll need to have a Bachelor’s degree in education according to the Samoan Teachers Act. If you want to teach in Samoa without a degree, your best option is a private language school, though positions are hard to come by.

International and private schools may even require a master’s degree, usually in education, English, or a related field.

Teaching with no experience

You need at least 2 years of experience teaching to gain a Samoan teaching license. Again, private language schools might take on less experienced TEFL teachers, though there is competition for limited roles.

Visas for teaching jobs

A work visa is required for any long-term teaching opportunities in Samoa. You’ll need a formal job offer before you can begin your application.

TEFL teachers will apply for a Temporary Resident Permit for Employment. This visa lasts 1-2 years, and can be renewed if your employer extends your contract. It can also be renewed if you’re offered a similar job in Samoa once the initial visa has expired.

The documents you need include:

  • A signed employment contract from a Samoan institution
  • A passport (valid for at least 6 months)
  • Academic/occupational certificates (including TEFL certificate and teaching license (if applicable)
  • Medical clearance certificate
  • Police background check

Likewise, your employer will also need to provide:

  • An application on your behalf
  • Visa fees
  • Employment contract
  • Justification for hiring a foreign worker

Keep in mind that you cannot legally start work until your visa has been processed. Getting a visa can take several weeks, and it’s best to send your application as soon as possible.

For those doing short-term, unpaid volunteering in Samoa, you likely won’t need a visa for a stay of 60 to 90 days or less. 

Samoa is rare in that every country in the world, except American Samoa, is granted a free 90-day visitor’s permit as long as they meet requirements, including:

  • Having an onward ticket
  • Valid visa for entry to the country of their onward travels
  • 6 months of passport validity from the date of departure from Samoa
  • Evidence of accommodation
  • Documented evidence of sufficient funds
  • No health problems that put Samoa at risk
  • No record of deportation
  • No history of criminal charges that garnered one year or more of imprisonment
  • No appearance on warning lists

Download our teaching English in Asia guide

Salary and cost of living in Samoa

Teacher pay is an ongoing problem in the Samoan state education system. Politicians in Samoa are concerned about the number of teachers leaving the country for higher salaries abroad. Primary schools, in particular, struggle to cope.

That being said, foreign TEFL teachers shouldn’t expect a high salary for teaching English in Samoa. Luckily, these wages are still typically enough to cover your cost of living. While this is an evolving issue, here is Samoa's most up-to-date information on teaching salaries.

Salary

A full-time English teaching job in Samoa pays an average monthly salary of 1,588 - 2,160 WST (£437 - £594 / $590 - $802). 

Samoa’s few international or private schools may pay qualified teachers a higher salary. Private tutoring can boost a teacher’s income, with the usual rate for tutors ranging between 13 and 50 WST (£3 - £13 / $4 - $18) per hour.

Curious about TEFL teaching salaries in other countries? Check out our Salary Guide to discover how much you can earn as an English teacher abroad.

Other benefits

Benefits for English teaching jobs in Samoa are fairly limited. Teachers employed in the public sector can expect annual leave, maternity leave, sick leave, public holidays, and pension contributions. 

International and private schools might provide performance bonuses and, in exceptional circumstances, help you find accommodation.

Given Samoa’s English proficiency levels, schools are less incentivised to offer a range of benefits. Employers in Samoa usually find it easier to hire locally and don’t need to offer incentives to foreign teachers.

Cost of living

Though salaries are low, so are Samoa's living expenses. TEFL teachers will be able to cover their basic living costs, trading off savings for the experience of living on this far-flung Pacific archipelago.

For example, renting a one-bedroom apartment in Apia, Samoa’s largest city, usually costs around £259 / $349 per month, while a suburban apartment can cost as little as £110 / $148 per month. 

Basic utilities can cost as little as £13 / $18 per month, depending on your providers, while internet access can be a little pricier, at £27 / $36.

Like rent and utilities, the cost of food and drink in Samoa is also cheap, especially when it comes to groceries. Buying imported items can be expensive, so it’s best to stick to local items where you can.  

To put it in perspective, a local draft beer costs around £2.58 / $3.48. A meal in an inexpensive restaurant is a bit more on the expensive side at £35 / $47.24 

Consult the table below for a complete guide to the cost of living in Samoa.

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

Culture and customs in Samoa: key facts

Samoan culture is centered around its unique Polynesian identity. Here are a few things to know about Samoa's customs.

  • Community is everything: Samoans are famously sociable. Community is truly at the center of their culture. Rather than living individualistic lifestyles, they rely on their neighbors for support, advice, resources, and socializing.
  • Island Time: Like many islands around the world, Samoa is on its own time. Don’t be surprised if locals show up hours after a designated meeting time for informal events.
  • Tattoos: Tattooing is a sacred art in Samoa, and you’ll see many locals sporting large works of art. The most common designs you’ll see are the Malu tattoo for women and the Pe’a for men. 
  • Eating: If you’re lucky enough to be offered the chance to participate in traditional feasts, observe the people around you. Elders eat first, and you’ll know when it’s your turn to dig in.
  • Religion is important: Weekly church service is a time of gathering in Samoa. Families typically get together for a Sunday meal, traditionally cooked in an umu or underground oven.

Types of English Teaching Roles in Samoa

There are a few different kinds of teaching roles in Samoa. This island nation is unique in that English teachers with a degree and teaching license can find roles in traditional schools. If you’re quick to apply, the state education system periodically advertises jobs at primary and secondary schools.

There are a handful of international schools in Samoa, mainly in the capital of Apia. If you have at least a master’s degree and a teaching licence, and are ideally from a native English-speaking country, you might find a position. 

Volunteering is another way to teach in Samoa, especially at the primary school level. This is especially valuable in rural areas, where schooling infrastructure is weaker, and there are less teachers.

Best cities for English teaching jobs in Samoa

Despite the Samoan archipelago having a total of nine islands, only two are inhabited. Savai’i is the largest of the two and home to the city of Asau, while Upolu is where you’ll find the capital of Apia. In general, Savai’i is more wild and rural, while Upolu has more infrastructure without sacrificing tropical beauty.

The largest city in the country, Apia, has a population of just 40,000. Asau is the second-largest with about 6,000 residents. As the largest population center, Apia also has the largest number of English speakers. The capital is also where you’ll find a higher majority of schools, including international schools. 

Volunteer positions are scattered throughout remote communities on both islands.

Teaching programs in Samoa

Teaching programs, even volunteer opportunities, are few and far between in Samoa. That said, the Peace Corps offers a program for American college graduates. 

Program name

Peace Corps Samoa Education Program

While the specialties of Peace Corps volunteers have varied since 1967, most have been English teachers. Today, the Peace Corps runs two programs in Samoa, one focused on the environment and another on education. 

Started in 2012, the Primary School English Literacy Project helps to cultivate new teaching skills and methods, build libraries, and instill a love of learning in Samoan communities.

While Samoa has a 99% literacy rate, Peace Corps volunteers also help with digital literacy in the classroom.

Requirements 

You'll need a bachelor's degree in any field to join the Peace Corps in Samoa. Alongside this, you’ll need a strong desire to empower and teach young people.

You must also:

  • Be a US citizen
  • Be over 18 years of age
  • Have no history working with the CIA/clashing military duties
  • Be capable of living in rural conditions, and in good health
  • As a citizen of the USA, you'll be expected to be a native English speaker

Benefits

  • Small monthly salary
  • Student loan assistance
  • Medical care
  • Samoan language lessons
  • Bike, SIM card, water filter, and other conveniences
  • Cultural immersion and contact with people from across Samoa
  • $10,000 reward after 2 years of service.

Teaching conditions and school culture

In Samoa, primary and secondary education are free. However, there is a quality gap between urban and rural schools, especially at the secondary level. Dropout rates are much higher in rural areas, and children can legally leave school at age 14.

It’s common for non-academic organisations, like NGOs and local churches, to be involved in school activities. This can include social programs and extracurricular activities. You’ll also see some schools teaching unique topics like agricultural skills and traditional dance.

Children are typically taught in Samoan at a young age, with a switch to English in higher grades. Secondary schools are taught almost entirely in English.

Key takeaways: teaching English in Samoa

Here’s how teaching English in Samoa shapes up overall:

  • Jobs: Opportunities are limited due to Samoa’s small population and high English proficiency, but roles do exist in state schools, international schools, and rural volunteer programmes.
  • Salary: If you’re employed full-time in Samoa, English teachers usually earn 1,588 - 2,160 WST (£437 - £594 / $590 - $802) per month.
  • Requirements: You’ll need at least a 120 hour TEFL certificate, and most roles also require a degree, a recognised teaching licence, and at least 2 years of experience.
  • Languages: English is widely spoken and used in schools, though learning some basic Samoan can help you settle in.
  • Programs: Volunteer opportunities are more common than paid roles, including structured programmes like the Peace Corps.

Ready to get started teaching in Samoa? Take the first step with our 120-hour online TEFL course now!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q. Do I need to speak Samoan to teach English in Samoa?

    No, you don’t need to speak Samoan to teach English in Samoa, although the local population will prefer it if you know at least basic phrases. Samoan and English are the primary languages of this small nation.

  • Q. Is a TEFL certification required?

    Yes, a 120-hour TEFL certificate is generally required to teach English in Samoa.

  • Q. Do I need a degree to teach in Samoa?

    Yes, you’ll usually need a degree to teach English in Samoa. Most teaching job opportunities require a teaching license, alongside a bachelor’s degree.

  • Q. Can I get paid to teach English in Samoa?

    Teachers can expect to earn an average salary of around 1,588 - 2,160WST (£436 - £594 / $590 - $799) teaching English in Samoa.