Teaching English in Slovakia (part 2)
In my first blog about teaching English in Slovakia, I talked about:
- TEFL certification
- looking for a job in Slovakia
In this blog I’d like to talk about the following:
- what is a “typical” teaching salary in Bratislava and other parts of the county, and how does this compare with the cost of living
- what is the difference in salaries between public and private schools
I’m a bit reluctant to estimate teaching salaries because these numbers are always so fluid. Additionally, everything depends on a person’s level of experience. Still, these estimates are meant to give an idea. (Note: all numbers are before taxes.)
I did a quick search on Profesia, a Slovak job search site, for English teachers and found two ads that listed salaries. One job was for teaching at a private high school
in Bratislava. They offer 20,000sk to 30,000sk. Another ad for a private language school in Bratislava offers 270-450 Sk for a 60-minute class. For a “native speaker” of English with some experience, I wouldn’t accept less than 350sk for a 60-minute lesson.
For someone who is moving to Slovakia for the first time, I would recommend considering teaching jobs outside of Bratislava. Why? Most private language schools outside of Bratislava are more willing to work with new applicants who need help with obtaining work visas, and also, they often provide living arrangements as part of the salary. I know of a private school in the town of Kežmarok – a pretty and quaint mountain town – that provides housing, and also offers 200sk per 60-minute lesson. If average work week for a teacher is 20 lessons, this adds up to about 16,000sk a month, and if housing is already included that could be quite a comfortable life.
Housing may be a major factor when considering where to work. Though the costs of living are typically cheaper in Slovakia than in many western European countries, rent in Bratislava is high. Of course rent in Bratislava will depend on the location and the size of the property, but expect to pay anywhere from 11,000 to 14,000sk a month for a single bedroom apartment in an average location (i.e. outside of the city center). The cost of rent could easily be half your monthly salary or more. That’s not a situation anyone would like to see for themselves.
I would like to mention the difference in salaries between private and public schools. As mentioned above, a private language school typically offers between 20,000 and 30,000sk a month for a full time teacher. A public school such as a university for instance, which is funded by the state, typically can offer a teacher from 12,000 to 15,000sk a month. That’s just about half of what a private school offers and is the reason why people who want to spend only a year or two in Slovakia would not consider teaching at a public school.
In the third blog of teaching in Slovakia, I’ll talk about the legal issues of obtaining visas.
5 Comments on “Teaching English in Slovakia (part 2)”
Hi Margarete, I have really enjoyed your site as I am looking at making a move to Slovakia most likely in January 2009. I am looking at booking through http://www.i-to-i.com/teach-english-in-slovakia.html as they offer assistance in getting a job etc. What do you think? Good idea? Or best to go at it alone? I have never taught english before but I am looking forward to the challenge. Anyway...a great site and just can't wait to get over :)
June 10th, 2008 at 08:30 AM
Hi Dave. I can't say that I've heard of i-to-i but taking a quick look on the internet I see that they've been training people in TEFL for over 10 years. I also took a quick look for complaints or negative comments from people but didn't find any. I'm not quite sure about the length and quality of the training, but overall they look ok. I suggest you check out the forum on ESL Cafe. (http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewforum.php?f=32)Do a search for i-to-i and a lot of comments are posted. See what others have to say about it. It's tough to organize everything on you own, such as getting your visa, looking for work, looking for a place to live, etc. If there is an organization that can help you out, definitely look into it. Just make sure that the benefits to you end up being greater than the benefits to them. Good luck!
June 10th, 2008 at 07:30 PM
Hi, my name is Helen and I have been offered a job teaching third grade at an international school in the capital of Slovakia. I think it would be a great opportunity, but I am slightly concerned about the salary. I was offered the position at 16000 Euros and was told that the cost of living is not nearly as much as DC (where I currently live). They will help me find housing, but I want to have enough money to travel,explore, and to live. Is this a possibility? I would really appreciate any advice that you may give, as I do not know if I am being given a line.... thanks so much!
June 5th, 2009 at 08:33 PM
Helen, regarding your question, about the teaching position you were offered with the salary of 16,000 EUR, my first thoughts are that yes, this is a decent offer for a teacher and you could definitely live off of this and travel. Ask some specific questions about the offer. What kind of accommodations are they talking about specifically? A one room flat? Will you be expected to live with another teacher? Where will it be in relation to the school? How much will the rent be approximately? I think you probably realize that you won't be amassing a huge amount of savings, but if you are looking for an experience abroad, Bratislava can be a great place to make the most of it. Good luck!
June 7th, 2009 at 07:25 AM
Hello there, I have been to Slovakia 3 times now and have fallen in love with the country, so much so that i am looking to take a TEFL course and get a job teaching over there...hopefully in the Banska Bytrica region as i have friends close by in Lucenec. My concern is that i have a 2 year old son and was wondering if this dream would still be possible? I would love for my son to begin school in Slovakia but im worried is the wage of teaching over there would support my living costs and accommodation....and can anyone see any other problem i could foresee by living over there with my son. I really would like to make a permanent move over there so any help or advice would be much appreciated. Kelly (UK)
September 19th, 2009 at 08:52 AM