Latvia Overview
| Main Cities/Areas | Salary range (USD/month) |
| Riga | $700 â $1000 |
The level of demand for native speakers in Latvia is reasonably high and growing all the time. Salaries are low but, as is the case in most countries, the more experience you have the better salary you will be able to negotiate.
Riga itself is a fascinating city and is where the vast majority of the opportunities are. Despite the harsh winters, Lativa is a great place to live and looks set for further growth as a popular tourist destination over the coming years. Working conditions vary from one language center to another so it is vital to do as much research as you can before signing a contract.
Typical Requirements and Tips
| Degree? | TEFL Certification? | EU National? | Experience? |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Non-EU nationals should try to arrange a job and a work permit several months before arriving.
Given the low salaries, you may need to supplement your income with extra, private one-to-one tuition.
You may wish to take a look at the Latvian Association of Teachers of English (LATE) website.
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. Employers usually take care of work permit arrangements.
Living costs are low, but accommodation costs are rising considerably in Riga.
Employers generally pay your income tax for you and as usual, you should expect to be paid on a monthly basis
Pros and Cons of Teaching in Latvia
Pros:
- Strong demand for English tuition
- Keen and pleasant students
- Reasonably low living costs
Cons:
- Lots of red tape for non-EU nationals
- Job offers are not usually made prior to your arrival in Latvia
- Low salaries
