Learn how much money you can make and what salary you can earn teaching English in the Middle East.
Stretching from the western shores of North Africa across the Sahara to the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula and into the heart of Central Asia, the Middle East is a vast and diverse region not only from the standpoint of its cultures and geography but in terms of the opportunities it offers certified English teachers as well.
How Much Do English Teachers Make in the Middle East?
Those who qualify for such positions will enjoy some of the highest salaries in the field of TEFL. Pay can range from $2,500 - $6,000 USD per month, plus free housing and flights to and from the teacher’s home country.
Benefits & Expenses when Teaching English in the Middle East
Here's a brief financial summary broken down by country for living and teaching English in the Middle East:
| COUNTRY | Average Monthly Salary in $ USD & Local Currency | Housing | Reimbursed Airfare | Estimated Start-up Costs | Average Monthly Cost of Living in $ USD & Local Currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | $1,500 - 3,000 USD (550 - 1,100 BHD) Can save $800+ USD/Mo | Free Housing or Housing Subsidy | Yes | $1,100 - 1,500 USD (400 - 550 BHD) | $650 - 1,050 USD (250 - 400 BHD) Plus housing |
| Egypt | $300 - 700 USD (5,200 - 12,300 EGP) | Self-pay, Housing advice provided by employer | Rarely | $1,000 - 1,500 USD (17,600 - 26,400 EGP) | $300 - 700 USD (5,200 - 12,300 EGP) |
| Israel | $700 - 1,500 USD (2,500 - 5,500 ILS) | Self-pay, Housing advice provided by employer | Rarely | $1,500 - 2,000 USD (5,400 - 7,300 ILS) | $1,000 - 1,500 USD (3,500 - 5,500 ILS) |
| Jordan | $650 - 1,200 USD (450 - 850 JOD) | Self-pay, Housing advice provided by employer | Rarely | $1,000 - 1,500 USD (700 - 1,050 JOD) | $650 - 1,000 USD (450 - 700 JOD) |
| Kuwait | $1,500 - 3,300 USD (450 - 1,000 KWD) Can save $850+ USD/Mo | Free Housing or Housing Subsidy | Yes | $1,000 - 1,500 USD (300 - 450 KWD) | $650 - 1,000 USD (200 - 300 KWD) Plus housing |
| Lebanon | $900 - 1,500 USD (1,400,000 - 2,300,000 LBP) | Self-pay, Housing advice provided by employer | No | $1,800 - 3,000 USD (2,700,000 - 4,500,000 LBP) | $900 - 1,500 USD (1,400,000 - 2,300,000 LBP) |
| Morocco | $500 - 1,000 USD (4,600 - 9,500 MAD) | Self-pay, Housing advice provided by employer | No | $1,000 - 1,500 USD (9,500 - 14,300 MAD) | $500 - 1,000 USD (4,600 - 9,500 MAD) |
| Oman | $1,600 - 3,100 USD (600 - 1,200 OMR) Can save $800+ USD/Mo | Free Housing or Housing Subsidy | Yes | $1,000 - 1,500 USD (400 - 600 OMR) | $800 - 1,550 USD (300 - 600 OMR) Plus housing |
| Qatar | $1,600 - 4,000 USD (5,800 - 14,600 QAR) Can save $800+ USD/Mo | Free Housing or Housing Subsidy | Yes | $1,500 - 2,500 USD (5,500 - 9,100 QAR) | $800 - 2,000 USD (2,900 - 7,300 QAR) Plus housing |
| Saudi Arabia | $1,500 - 3,000 USD (5,600 - 11,250 SAR) Can save $800+ USD/Mo | Free Housing or Housing Subsidy | Yes | $1,000 - 1,500 USD (3,750 - 5,600 SAR) | $700 - 1,000 USD (2,600 - 3,750 SAR) Plus housing |
| Turkey | $550 - 1,150 USD (3,000 - 6,200 TRY) | Some free housing or housing subsidy | No | $1,100 - 1,800 USD (5,850 - 9,600 TRY) | $550 - 900 USD (3,000 - 4,800 TRY) |
| UAE (including Dubai & Abu Dhabi) | $1,800 - 5,000 USD (6,700 - 18,500 AED) Can save $800+ USD/Mo | Free Housing or Housing Subsidy | Yes | $1,500 - 2,500 USD (5,500 - 9,200 AED) | $1,000 - 1,500 USD (3,700 - 5,500 AED) Plus housing |
Teaching in the Middle East: Things to Know
In the wealthy Arab nations of the Persian Gulf region, English teachers can command some of the highest salaries and finest benefit packages in the world. They also must compete in a competitive job market. Often schools in this region of the Middle East will require English teachers to have a Master’s Degree (sometimes in education) and previous teaching experience, on top of their TEFL certification.
That's not to say it's impossible for first-time teachers to get a job in this region (especially in Saudi Arabia). However, you will need to be persistent, patient and flexible with your job search.
Meanwhile, countries like Egypt and Morocco offer a good number of opportunities to first-time teachers as well as old hands, not to mention fantastic combinations of history, culture and natural wonders. Positions in the region vary widely in nature and are available in public schools, vocational schools, language institutes and private international schools.
As a matter of fact, jobs are somewhat easier to come by for those with just a four-year degree (or even less) and a TEFL/TESOL Certification in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and Turkey, where the pay is often considerably lower, but the cost of living is low and the opportunities for immersion in one the world’s great regions for culture and history are innumerable.
It is also worth noting that the cost of living tends to be much lower in such countries than in the U.S. or Europe, so you can live comfortably on a lower salary.
Teaching English in the Middle East: Additional Information
- The vast majority of positions in the Gulf Countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman) are obtained through interviews in advance.
- Teachers should expect to adhere to local cultural norms, which can vary dramatically from what you may be used to in the West. Within the region, restrictions on personal freedoms such as style of dress and the right to consume alcohol can vary widely from country to country, or even from region to region within a particular country. Major cities like Dubai, Cairo, and Beirut are cosmopolitan and offer nightlife and so forth.
- The presence of large expatriate communities, where teachers can socialize with other Westerners, makes the transition for newcomers to the region much easier.
- Many countries have high qualification standards for their teachers, including a Master’s Degree in Teaching or a related field and/or a state teaching certificate.
Go further:
- The Middle East is one of the Top Regions to Make the Most Money Teaching English
- What are the Salaries for Teaching English Abroad?
- How Much Money Can I Make Teaching English Online?
Posted In: Teach English in Egypt, Teach English in Turkey, Teach English in Morocco, Teach English in Saudi Arabia, Teach English in Middle East, Teach English in United Arab Emirates, Money & Finances, Teach English in Turkey Must Read
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"The Middle East is a very fascinating and unfortunately an extremely misunderstood area by so many. In a lot of ways, it’s an extremely easy place to adjust to, Western luxuries are quite accessible and almost everything is in English and Arabic."
- Katie Ayers
Teaches English in the UAE
