Average Salaries of Native Language Speaker Teaching ESL

I tried to warn you. I spent an entire day researching the standard rate in Jordan, but you weren't interested. You are being severely taken advantage of. The sad thing is, when unaware native English teachers accept these low rates, it lowers the bar for the rest of us who know what we are worth.

You should be making at least $1000 a month. Many contracts provide up to $500 a month for housing or housing with internet, washer/dryer, hot water included, as well as health insurance including dental, and a $1000 bonus for contract completion. In addition hours are 25-30 hours a week, 5 days a week, with vacation, some paid, some not, as well as others that provide lunch during the work week. This particular rate I am talking about is for teaching children ages 8-14, which in my years of experience is MUCH easier than teaching TOEFL to University students. In my opinion, that should demand a higher salary as the job performance requirements are much higher.

BTW, this salary is LOWER than those offered in IRAQ!! And are also lower than I received in 1996, 16 years ago, in South Korea, so really, it completely acceptable in Jordan. I would expect more from English teaching jobs in Amman, for sure. I hope my information helps, and as I mentioned before, I have much more research to back up my findings.

Do you have any additional qualifications, e.g. a certificate, experience, teaching degrees?

Hi there Noura,

well, you should investigate more about the institute that sent you the offer.

there are great institutes in Amman and i believe they hire extremely professional staff and i think they pay them much more than that.

also, if you checked international schools in amman such as the american school and other very well known schools their staff salaries are so high and most of them hold british, french or american nationality.

finally, my advice... dont give up there are places that will offer you better salary as well as better contract you need to target very well known institutes and schools.
dont be disappointed, based on the salary you have mentioned my guess its just a small local institute.

best of luck

Athena, they also require you to have experience and some form of teaching certificate; i have none of that. furthermore, they require a year contract; we are leaving by January inshallah and in jordan many companies fine you for breaking a contract early. I've been working there a week and am satisfied with my salary (students need to show up more) and my commission status enables me to leave at any time, making that easier too. I will be getting my TESOL cert in Missouri this winter and looking for even better than Amman paying jobs once this has been completed. Thanks everyone for the awesome advice!

The minimum wage for Jordanian is JD190 a month, so JD200 a month seems quite low for an expat with specialist skills, i.e. fluent English, but is still just above the minimum local wage.

Having said that, the minimum wage doesn't apply to foreign workers. For some non Jordanians the old rate (110JD  month) still applies.

NouraAlkhazaleh wrote:

I was recently offered a job at the Nobel Institute in Irbid, Jordan. I was then informed that for 3 months I would only be making 200JD, yet working 6 days a week at 8 hours per day. This adds up to $1.08JD, which is less than $2US per hour. I made 6 times that amount just slinging burgers at a cheap joint in the states. I know that the living expenses here are different, but I feel cheapened working as much and as hard as I will be for only 200. Is this a fare wage here for a native speaker? How much do Americans with only native proficiency and no certificates NORMALLY make?

peacelovelight wrote:

I tried to warn you. I spent an entire day researching the standard rate in Jordan, but you weren't interested. You are being severely taken advantage of. The sad thing is, when unaware native English teachers accept these low rates, it lowers the bar for the rest of us who know what we are worth.

Salary variations are based upon qualifications, experience, and need i believe. Nowadays almost everyone speaks english and  depending on the difficulty level, missing experience or language degrees justifies the low salary. Consider it as a great opportunity to gain traction in this field when others had to study for years. In this case one should be happy to get the opportunity at all. Is the glass half empty or half full? It's half full! The next offer will probably be paid better due to experience and so on...

Hello all,
I am Indian British and have been in the UK for the past 16 Years...can speak English like a native.I do not possess any degree,but a certificate in higher education to support learning in primary schools. I have been recently selected through pre-interview stage for CELTA training(120+ Hours) in London, Hammersmith College; my aim to work in Jordan or Saudi Arabia in the near future.

Could anyone suggest whether I should consider this course and that it would provide some English teaching jobs in the middle east.? Which are best companies to register my CV with.

Can any one suggeste any good companies or agencies to register with for jobs in jordan and KSA.
Sincere thanks
Flowerinjannah

Flowerinjannah, be careful where you get your CELTA certification; I've been told by many CELTA/DELTA holders that Oxford is mostly a sham.

JO/EU I've been working at the center now 3 months on commission. Some weeks are better earning than others. I have considered a salary with them, but at 250JD per month and a commission percentage after 150hours, I still feel like I am selling myself short. This institute is basing its entire advanced english department off of me, the only advanced teacher, as well as all its marketing. I've had to teach myself IELTS prep and am now learning to teach TOEFL on my own. I'm happy here but still I wish I had some certification; I need to be earning more! LOL Still, regarding what PeaceLoveLight said, she must remember its still Irbid, not Amman, still a poor country on the whole as well and we will not ever be paid what we really deserve. Guys, teach in the Gulf!!

Fair enough for that, Sherri. After today's disastrous class I will for sure be seeking extra work outside of the center. However if I advertise the way the center does, it will not be happy that I am doing so. I do private tuition with one family (50JD a month) and am thinking to offer guitar classes. Should I?

I agree SherriO...oust the middle man..one reason I say that is that they are taking advantage of you and THEY know it!!

So say..sorry Charlie...
go private...had he compensated you for what you are worth you wouldn't be leaving right? AND he is getting grant money to run the school and then he's making a profit!! Not that that is bad...but it's not like he's taken his life savings and invested it all in this school.

Every country has this lesson to learn when the English thing begins..it usually takes 10 years before they get it!! Why do you think everyone wants to be in UAE or Japan...cuz they know how to treat their employees!! It is worth it for them to be cool.

I just read the earlier replies..so I am responding now to those...

I am only speaking from experience-that if you ask for more you will get more. You are worth more than a Jordanian (only in the regards that you are a native speaker..not that you are "better")..but you have the upper hand here. I have been in your shoes before and was just trying to give you advice and spare the problems that arise from being taken advantage of...for some reason (psychological) in many countries the teachers that are the most in demand are those that charge more...

In response to your lack of experience..true..however, again..you are a native, you are SMART you are THOROUGH, YOU ARE INTERESTING...you are a great teacher...that is the point! YOU ARE WORTH IT! And this is Jordan...and it is Irbid..it's not like you're trying to get a job in Dubai..that would be a different story...

Hope it is going good...we should try to get a group together (who's up)...after Ramadan...outdoors somewhere..I wanna hear about your trip to Oman and hear of your English teaching adventures. If you want to...we'll start a new topic/post
Ramadan Kareem!!

TO all,
Why not start a language centre in Jordan in a suitable place?
Regards
Rehana

Yes...Actually, I have been working on the business plan to do so... not a language center, something more like an after school center for women and children...languages will be taught along with a myriad of other fun things...however due to the instability in my marriage I haven't submitted anything (my intention is to apply for grants for women)...I want to be here with all my heart, but living with an unkind husband is unbearable...I cannot fool myself any longer thinking he will snap out of it...or get a job and support us like other men...three years is a lot of my life and it's taking it's toll..........I'm not saying I won't....because I don't give up easily...but it's been difficult to keep a positive vision and be productive in my current environment. I hope for some magic to happen...Inshallah.

Salam DoveOmeri,

Nice to hear about your attachment with your husband and that he is trying his utmost.and as his wife you swing between wanting to be with him and be positive about his business and the time it consumes..I pray Allah give your husband lots of barakah in his business for striving so hard....Insha Allah you will get ajar for being so patient and understanding wife..Ur hubby's lucky,..nt every1 has an understanding and appreciting wife like you..
Regards
Rehana

Salam, sister, As Muslim sisters we just keep doing Shukr for all Allah has gifted us..for e.g. even when my kids sit to pray or my husband says habibti and moon..in my mind I say Alhamdulillah..As I firmly believe in the Verse 7 of CHAPTER 14: IBRAHIM (ABRAHAM) in the holy QUR'AN. It is clearly explained here:

http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/014/014-007.htm
14:7 wa idh ta-adh-dhana rab-bukum lain shakartum la aziydan-nakum wa lain kafartum in-na 'Adhaabiy la shadiyd

The interpretation is
Ahmed Raza Khan: Mohammed Aqib Qadri:
And remember when your Lord proclaimed, "If you give thanks, I will give you more, and if you are ungrateful then (know that) My punishment is severe."
Yusuf Ali:
And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you; But if ye show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed."
Pickthal:
And when your Lord proclaimed: If ye give thanks, I will give you more; but if ye are thankless, lo! My punishment is dire.


The best reward for your love towards your hubby will be that you will be made the Queen of your husband's alllllllll wives (Hoors)  in Jannah;), because you are patient, loving and understanding and you give your kids the right Islamic training along with obeying  the five commandments of Allah...Life is short and remember each micro second you do Sabr and be good when he returns to you..Allah the most High will give you ajar..read this when you are free :

www.barkati.net/quran/Translation/holyquran039.htm

[Zumar 39:70] And every soul will be repaid for its deeds in full, and He ...

My Jordanian husband was with me for a year in UK..now he is gone bk to Jordan. I am free to choose where I want to stay UK, Jo or KSa..He says that he will definitely support my decision. Alhamdulillah..But times do come when I haven't seen heard anything from him for a few days...And I start feeling neglected... Its natural to feel that lack of attention as we love each other..But think that when couples love each other..they allow some space for their partner to flourish i.e. do his job/ hobby/career in the present time and during that time the other lives with the memories of time spent 2gether and pray for more time 2gether in the future...

Alhamdulillah you are near your husband and see him for 5 minutes..Think about those pious sisters from India/Pakistan whose husbands leave to work abroad for 2/3/4/..upto 14 years(who are refugees in UK for they can't return..yet the wives in India look after his parents, kids and be faithful to Allah...

Allah Ma'ak
Rehana

I am so happy to hear that you have a nice and caring husband DOVE!! Yes yes..you are right on!! ..appreciate him. It is a good sign of intelligence and character that you recognize your own complaining and fix it...no one is perfect here on Earth. We are all just learning our lessons and striving to live in unconditional love. I would say you are very fortunate!! I was beginning to wonder if there were any nice men in Jordan (to their wives)...everyone is nice  and polite on the surface..it's behind the closed doors that I keep hearing about that is disturbing! (and experiencing)..

Besides my husband being depressed (which is HUGE)...he expects me to be someone I am not. When he met me he knew I was educated and ambitious.Besides my USA university I studied at two foreign universities and when i met him had already traveled to 30 countries...I was independent, adventurous and free...I am always, myself..what you see is what you get..no pretending to be someone else.....I am a visionary, and artist and a humanitarian. I have lineage filled with leaders..this is who I am. I wished he would see that and support me. If he did, I guarantee you, the village we live in would be a bit different!! I just want to give back and make things a bit more fun for the kids and women here. This is one of the reasons I agreed to move here...I just wanted to spread love..but it is not so easy when I am forbidden to smile.

He now complains that I am not the same as Jordanian women. I never pretended to be a housewife. There are many women in Jordan who have had housewife training since they were kids...it comes natural to them. They don't have many other interests besides cooking yummy food and doing the chores. I admire these women very much. I wished I was more like that...but I am not. My mind races with thoughts, philosophies and ideas for change.

I have recognized how strong Jordanian women are as well. There are so many experiences I have had that most women can't even dream of having here. At first I thought I could share the experiences...like by taking some sisters to the Dead Sea for a women's camping trip, etc..but it is forbidden I have found out, and have given up. I now am grateful for having those experiences. And though I wish to share my stories of adventure..I do not..what I once thought would be inspiring for them, I realize would be like bragging...so I say nothing. No one in my family knows who I really am. My husband doesn't want me to learn Arabic because of what I will say. It really sucks.

Sometimes I feel guilty when I complain about living in what I feel is in poverty. I have done this before in other countries..but it was usually temporary..as a tourist. Here it is more difficult as I am still living out of my suitcase because I have no closet. My clothes are always wrinkled and I have no iron. I have looked everywhere for a squirt bottle to spray them at least..why are there no squirt bottles here?? It sucks though because Jordanian women always look so nice when they go out..their clothes are ALWAYS ironed...I feel like a mess!! I've lost weight and all my clothes are too big!! I keep wondering why..why...why is this my reality? I guess it is to really appreciate who I am on the inside and not the outside..it is hard though because I am one who always has taken pride in myself and really like fashion and style... it's as if I am being forced to be someone I am not..or maybe I am..???

I also have no washing machine which is another hurdle to deal with. My husband broke my washing machine when he plucked me from my business in Aqaba and made me live here in the village in January. I ask every day for him to fix it. He won't. I finally after 6 months of hand washing (during the winter, not so comfortable because we also have a broken water heater that he won't fix)...anyway I asked my landlord if he'd help me fix it. He got a repair man to come out who took it to a shop. My husband was furious that I had a man in the house..even if it was the landlord who is a married man (and very kind).. I told I understood..but was only trying to fix it..it's just too hard and unnecessary labor to wash by hand. He took the memory board that needed repair and said he'd handle it.  That was 3 months ago..I know there are probably many women out there who wash by hand...and it's just no problem for them..it is normal (although I wish I could gift them a washing machine!!)..but for me it is really hard.

I do what Rehana talked about and always give thanks. I thank God I have a house and that I have delicious affordable vegetables and access to fresh milk and yogurt. I give thanks for my 2 beautiful and loving boys that are with me on this crazy adventure...it's not easy for them either..I thank God for my health..I bless my husband all the time...it has been quite a lesson. They say it is easy to love someone who is nice..but can you love someone who is not? This is what I feel my husband is giving me the opportunity to master...I'm getting better...but I slip a lot.

I had thought that according to Islamic marriage laws one of the things required from our husband is to provide. Well...I feel that should include the basics at least..I was raised my whole life with a washing machine, dryer and heat and working toilet..it's hard to cope without them..I just think it is unfair..I know it is something I must endure until I can make extra money to fix these things...the only problem is I am the only woman in my home and must do it all...I stay up every night working on graphic design projects for clients in America just to pay the rent and to buy food...while my husband stays awake all night playing chess or watching women on the internet only to sleep most of the day and then wake up mad and yelling...it never changes...DOVE GIVE YOUR HUSBAND A HUGE!!! HUG!!! He is truly a rock star!! I just learned about the word habiti..my husband usually calls me b**tch...or whore...I am a very kind person...I don't even have one friend who is like him...I have never met anyone so terrible in my life and it is embarrassing to say he is my husband. I am only opening up on this site because I need support and I want other women to be very cautious when marrying a man from another culture. It could also be that the socioeconomic classes we come from are different and that is the reason for us not seeing eye to eye...

In any event...I truly appreciate the forum to be able to talk with other women. I like to hear of the good things and also I don't feel so alone when I hear some bad ones. This is life...

I hope that no one will be shy to be my friend because of who I am married to...in America I lost a lot of my friends because they were afraid of him. He threatened to kill my best friend..she took it very seriously and stopped being in my life..right when I became pregnant..my husband left me also...he wasn't ready to be a Dad I guess, seems more common in America than here..I would have never expected that from a "Muslim man"..so I was all alone..not the reality I had imagined..it was heartbreaking for me when I read the pregnancy books and they had all these exercises to practice with the father..but ....I did it!!It made me stronger...all of these experiences make me stronger...I have no fear...I hope that I can find ways to channel my strengths to other women who are experiencing similar issues.

BTW..my husband claims he is Muslim..mostly to enforce the rules on me..but he doesn't EVER pray!! I keep telling him that he might feel better if he went to the mosque..do you think this is a big reason why he is so tormented???

Anyway...I better go hang the laundry!! (Of which I love to do!! Forget dryers!!! This way I am saving energy and exposing our clothes to the beautiful sunshine!!)

Love to all of you out there!!!

Dear peacelovelight,
Assalamu alaikum,
I pray Allah make it easy for you ..From far off in UK, reading how your life is passing through such a miserable condition..has certainly made me think..Why? is a 'Muslim' husband behaving in this un-islamic way?..

Umme-Salamah Radiyallahu 'anha, the wife of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam, narrates: I heard Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam saying: Never a slave of Allah, afflicted with a calamity, who says (the following words), except that Allah will grant him for his calamity better than that:

اللهم أجرني في مصيبتي, وخلف لي خيراً منها
Allahumma ajirni fi musibati, wa akhlif li khayran minha
Transliteration from (www.islamicboard.com › Languages Forum › Arabic)


She said: When Abu Salamah Radiyallahu 'anhu died, I supplicated as Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam had ordered me; so Allah then granted me Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam (as a husband), better than him. (Muslim)

The way your husband is treating you is nowhere acceptable in Islam. In Islam, the wife is the queen of the house; he must provide food, shelter and clothing.
Apart from that he must flatter her with words. Take her out on trips..Its not that he must take you far and away...the most important thing is being together even to the nearest park…

Yes, this is a nice forum and there are people who can provide a listening ear…and be comforting, sympathising with your situation.
You are always welcome. May Allah show your husband the right path. Ameen
Wassalam,
Rehana

LOL ladies! Love how salaries for teaching digressed into "my awesome/my terrible husband" Don't we have a forum for that? Anywho, I'm super sorry for peacelovelight in her difficult situation regarding her husband; sadly, this story is all too common with western women who marry outside their culture, especially into Arab countries. I know way too many women with this situation, and they get there either due to their naivete or being misled. I have a friend here who married her jordanian while in America, and he was a wonderful fun man who impressed her family and promised not to move her to Jordan. 6 months after they married and she was 3 months pregnant, he announced he wanted to return to Jordan with her. She went, and ever since they arrived he's completely changed, a 180 for sure. Mean, domineering, violent, a cheater and a terrible example of a Muslim for a devout woman like her. I pray to Allah every day that we can get her out of this. On the other hand I have a friend who's been married quite happily, also from the States, to her husband over 15 years and just recently started having trouble; the culture of this area is a major factor in her unhappiness I'm sure, but luckily she is not experiencing anything like my other friend.

I myself have a wonderful husband! He's a successful lawyer and very well-respected in his career field and his community. He bypasses alot of the common arab husband disasters such as not helping around the house, ignoring his wife, laziness,  being overly demanding and sometimes abusive. Shadi is none of these, and not having met him in the West, I can say confidently that this is his true nature and not a Western-affected face. I love him dearly, as does my family who've only met him via Skype so far; I can't wait to take him to America and show him off! We met online, on a Muslim matrimonial website. I can say our marriage success has 50% to do with this; we contacted each other expressly looking for a spouse, not to date and see how it went, with specific criteria and desires, then we spoke and got to know one another further online for a year before I ventured to Jordan to marry him. best decision of my life!

It makes me even more proud and possessive of my man when I get emails from women here who tell me how terrible their husbands and situations are! There was a woman called Umm Halil I think that was her name; has she contacted any of you before? She would tell me how her husband was abusive, wouldn't sleep with her anymore, how miserable she was, how she let him marry again just to make him happy... I never knew how to respond! I mean, I think that type of thing touches on self respect, really. My mom was an abused wife with her first husband, my father, and muslim or not she didn't go 5 years before ridding herself of this torture; same thing happened to my sister. I really don't know how a woman raised in the West could take any of this for very long, especially the 2nd wife thing. I mean I know in Islam it says a man can, but his reasons kind of have to be better than he doesn't want to have sex with you anymore, right? Are you ladies part of a multiple marriage situation? I don't know any Americans or Brits like that; I don't know how they'd take it. I made it conditional in my contract that my husband only marry me! LOL He had no problem with it

Dear NouraAlkhazaleh
Can you elaborate this, "the culture of this area is a major factor in her unhappiness I'm sure, but luckily she is not experiencing anything like my other friend."

Are you ladies part of a multiple marriage situation?
As from what my husband said, he was forced to marry the first as the family thought that he was 34 at that time and must be married by then. I met him online, in September 2009. Indeed, I am his second wife.

Although he loves me more...he definitely does his duty to her..sleeps with her, provides for both families and takes her out. Impressed by how he treats her, I am proud to be in this marriage...as he is just following Islam. When time comes.. I wouldn't mind meeting her and his family...

Don't many western men have maids outside marriage? ..Far better than that..Alhamdulillah..if the husband can provide for two..its important to remain in halal boundaries....be warned of hell-fire.

If I come as an obstacle in his way when he can marry more...I will have to answer Allah..Its his deen/religion..he must follow it.
Regards
Rehana

Hello,

You could start a new topic on the Jordan forum as the title of this thread is "Average Salaries of Native Language Speaker Teaching ESL".

Thank you.

[Moderated: Off topic]

Hi Noura

2$ per hour is def too little.

Im not sure about Americans, how much they  make , but if you have no qualification and experience , its a bit tough.

The average hourly rate for esl teachers in Cambodia is 10$, thats with a Tefl.If you have a degree its more.

You need to look around for the best option.But do not settle for 2$, thats just exploitation.

regards
Kashifa

Try international schools (IB,IG sys), their salaries range... but the average can be JD1000.
and this salary is for Jordanians. Expats get much more than that.

You can add your offer in the one and only appropriate place and that is in the job section in the green banner above the page.

Thanks for your understanding.

@ RondaJD > In the case that you do not get an answer here, i will advise you to create your own topic on the Jordan forum please, it might help you to receive some more accurate information.

Thanks

Priscilla