Austria Overview
| Main Cities/Areas | Salary range (USD/month) |
| Vienna | $1500 â $3000 |
Austria is one of the most delightful countries in Europe with stunning landscapes and a pleasant, orderly urban environment. TEFL salaries are high but so are living costs. However, an excellent standard of living is possible for native English speakers.
As per usual, it is difficult for non-EU nationals to find work here due to legal regulations (unless they happen to be married to an Austrian!) There is a huge demand for Business English classes with native speakers.
Typical Requirements and Tips
| Degree? | TEFL Certification? | EU National? | Experience? |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
The peak hiring seasons are September and January.
Consider becoming a self-employed tutor so that you can work when you like and potentially earn a higher salary.
Learn some German before you arrive. This will make day-to-day life much, much easier.
As with most countries in Europe, it is a lot easier for EU nationals to find work as the paperwork required is significantly less than when applying to employ non-EU nationals. Work permits are not required if you are self-employed however you will need a license (Gewerbeschein) if you wish to teach to classes of more than 5 students.
The cost of living – particularly accommodation, food and transport – is high.
Employers generally pay your income tax for you and as usual, you should expect to be paid on a monthly basis. Many EU nationals (particularly British and Irish) decide to become self-employed tutors as the profit margins and flexibility can be attractive when compared to working for a typical language center.
Pros and Cons of Teaching in Austria
Pros:
- Decent salaries
- One of the most beautiful countries in Europe
- An efficient and pleasant working environment in which daily tasks can be accomplished easily
Cons:
- Lots of red tape for non-EU nationals
- High living costs
- It can be difficult without German language skills
