Italy is awesome. Incredible food, great culture, fantastic natural scenery and a lifestyle to rival any other country. For many, it’s a dream to live there. But before we get lost in fanciful thoughts of basking on the Tuscan coast and dancing through fields of olive trees, let’s look at the cold reality of money. How much can a TEFL teacher earn there?
TEFL teachers in Italy typically earn from €800 to €1,700 ($900-1,800) per month. New/inexperienced teachers in language academies can expect €800-1,200 ($900-1,400), increasing with experience, while private schools pay upwards of €1,700 ($1,900). Private classes earn €15-30 ($17-34) per hour.
Geography plays a big part in earnings, with the north of the country offering higher salaries, while those in the south can expect a cheaper cost of living. Each job has its own required qualifications and work permits.
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Options and earnings for TEFL teachers in Italy
For many, language academies will be the best option for a decent income in Italy since they don’t require beefy qualifications and will help to get a work permit.
With a teaching degree, some might prefer private schools. While the pay isn’t fantastic compared to some other countries, it’s better than language academies and offers more stability.
Private classes can be lucrative, and the SITE program, which offers positions as language assistants in schools in Lombardy, has a good hourly wage as long as you study Italian in the USA
| Earnings Source | Per Hour (€) | Hours Per Week | Per Month (€) | Annual Estimate (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SITE Program | 15 | 12 | 700 | 5,600 |
| Private Schools | 12-18 | 30-40 | 1,700-2,500 | 20,000-30,000 |
| Language Academies | 8-12 | 20-30 | 800-1,200 | 10,800-14,400 |
| Private Classes | 15-30 | 20 | 1,200-2,400 | 14,400-28,800 |
The cost of living in Italy varies depending where you live. Cities in the north, like Milan and Venice, are far more expensive than locations in the south, and the further away from a city you are, the cheaper it becomes.
On average, expect to spend around €1,000 ($1,100) a month – a figure which will be lower in southern villages, closer to €750 ($850), and higher in northern cities where you can expect to pay €1,200 ($1,350) for a comfortable lifestyle.
It’s worth considering income tax regulations if you’re planning a long stay. For lower incomes, the rate isn’t too bad, at 23%, but it’s something to consider when doing your finances.
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Another hurdle to overcome is obtaining a work permit. If you’re an EU citizen, this shouldn’t be a problem, as long as you go through the correct procedures, but if you’re from elsewhere, you’ll need employment to get the right documentation.
How much do TEFL teachers make in language academies in Italy?
New and inexperienced TEFL teachers working in language academies in Italy typically earn €800-1,200 ($900-1,400) per month. Working 25 hours a week, this gives an hourly rate of €8-12 ($9-14). Pay increases with experience, reaching monthly salaries of around €1,500 ($1,700).
These aren’t fantastic figures. In fact, when compared to the cost of living, it’s barely enough to get by. And consider the fact jobs dry up in the summer months, you might find yourself struggling for work all year round.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, many language academies don’t demand you work too many hours per week and still offer competitive salaries. They’re also vital in getting work permits.
While they may not be extremely lucrative, they allow you to stay in the country and get some regular income with plenty of extra time to earn more with private classes.
How much do TEFL teachers make from private classes in Italy?
Private classes earn €15-30 ($17-34) per hour. This is the best hourly rate of any TEFL job in the country, with even the lower end earning as much as private and public school teachers. The upper end is only realistic in bigger cities.
The downside of private classes is the limit on how many lessons you can fit in per week, and the instability of having classes cancelled at short notice. Realistically, 20-25 hours a week is the maximum a full-time private tutor could achieve.
As a result, annual income is good, but not spectacular.
Another issue is getting a work permit. For EU citizens, you can arrive and set yourself up as a freelancer, but anyone else will struggle to get the right papers if you’re self-employed.
However, as mentioned in the section on language academies, you can use private classes to supplement your income from other employment.
Imagine you give 3 private classes a week, at €20 an hour. You would earn an extra €240 a month – that kind of money could pay for all the exciting trips around the country you’ve been dreaming about.
And if your language academy is only part-time, you can pack in many more private classes and earn a very tidy income.
How much do TEFL teachers make in private schools in Italy?
The requirements to work in a private school in Italy will be prohibitive for most prospective TEFL teachers. A TEFL certificate likely won’t cut it. You’ll need either a degree/masters level teaching qualification, or at the very least, a CELTA.
The pay is good, though, and it’s stable all year round. Expect to earn at least €1,700 ($1,900) per month, with the potential to go higher, in the region of €2,500 ($2,800) or more, with extra experience and qualifications.
How much can you earn on the SITE program in Italy?
This is NOT for everyone! If you aren’t at, or haven’t recently been at a university in the USA with Italian as part of your studies, you’re not eligible to apply.
The Study, Intercultural Training and Experience (SITE) program is a similar idea to the Auxiliares de Conversación program in Spain and the TAPIF in France.
It’s a paid internship to work as a language assistant in high schools in Lombardy. The difference between SITE and the other programs I’ve mentioned is scale – it’s limited to one region of Italy and isn’t nearly as well established.
The monthly wage is €700 ($800). You work 12 hours a week, so this works out at a generous €15 ($17) per hour. The contract is for 8 months (October to May) and allows you to explore and enjoy the country. You can also earn more money doing private classes on the side.
If you fit the requirements, I’d definitely recommend this option, as you have job security, a support structure, and competitive hourly rates of pay.
Conclusion
Italy isn’t the place to go if you’re looking to make significant money for the future. The pay just isn’t good enough.
But for most people, that’s not an issue. It’s more than achievable to live comfortably and enjoy the quality of life, the culture, and the exquisite food.
If I were starting out as a TEFL teacher in Italy, I’d make it a priority to get a job in a language academy to ensure I have the necessary work permits, then I’d look for those lucrative private classes to boost my income.
However, if Italy doesn’t seem right for you, check out How Much Money Do TEFL Teachers Make in Spain? for an alternative Mediterranean country.
Why not head over to my resource: How Much Do TEFL & TESL Teachers Make? Countries compared to see what countries around the world can offer?
