Teach English in Saudi Arabia: Salaries, Requirements and What It's Really Like

Teaching English in Saudi Arabia is one of the best paid moves in the entire TEFL world. Salaries are high, they are tax free, and packages usually throw in housing and flights, so you can save serious money in a year or two. You will need a bachelor's degree, a TEFL certificate, and an employer to sponsor your visa. Here is the honest picture.

Key takeaways

• Saudi Arabia offers some of the highest tax free salaries in TEFL, often with housing, flights and medical included.
• You need a bachelor's degree and an accredited TEFL certificate. Universities and corporate roles pay the most.
• Your employer sponsors a work visa that becomes an iqama, or residence permit, once you arrive.
• Women teach right across the country, and daily life for expats is calmer and safer than a lot of people expect.
• It suits savers and career teachers more than party seekers, since the lifestyle is quieter than somewhere like Bangkok.

How much can you earn teaching English in Saudi Arabia?

Short version: more than almost anywhere else, and you keep all of it. There is no income tax on your salary, so the number you sign for is the number that lands in your account. Most teachers earn between 8,000 and 15,000 Saudi riyals a month, which is roughly 2,100 to 4,000 US dollars, and the top university and corporate roles go higher again. Add subsidised or free housing, annual flights and medical cover, and the savings potential is genuinely hard to beat.

Here is a rough guide to what different employers tend to pay. Treat these as typical ranges rather than promises, because packages swing a lot with your qualifications and experience.

If you want to see how that stacks up against the region's other big earner, our guide to teaching English in the UAE is worth reading side by side.

What do you need to teach English in Saudi Arabia?

The requirements are stricter than in a lot of TEFL destinations, and that is exactly why the pay is so good. At a minimum you will need a bachelor's degree in any subject, an accredited TEFL certificate of 120 hours or more, and native or near native English. Your degree almost always has to be attested or apostilled so the authorities accept it for the visa, so start that paperwork early because it takes time.

The better paid university and corporate roles usually ask for more: a master's degree, a CELTA or DELTA, or a few years of classroom experience. If you are still getting qualified, a higher level course makes a real difference here. Our Level 5 TEFL guide explains why, and you can check the full list of TEFL certification requirements before you apply.

Who actually hires English teachers in Saudi Arabia?

There are four main employers, and they each feel quite different day to day. Universities and their preparatory year programs are the classic route, with the best holidays and often the best pay. Private language academies hire year round and are the easiest way in for newer teachers. International schools want licensed or experienced teachers and look after families well. And corporate training, including the big energy and Aramco linked programs, sits at the top for salary and benefits. If you are weighing Saudi against other markets, our roundup of TEFL jobs for Americans puts it in context.

The visa and iqama, in plain English

You cannot teach in Saudi Arabia on a tourist visa. Your employer sponsors a work visa, and once you land it is converted into an iqama, which is your residence permit and the thing that lets you open a bank account, rent a place, and travel in and out. Expect to provide an attested degree, a medical check and a police clearance as part of the process, and expect it to take a few weeks, so do not book anything until your paperwork is moving. The exact requirements come through the Saudi Embassy, and it is always worth checking your own government's current guidance first, such as the UK's foreign travel advice for Saudi Arabia or the US State Department country page.

What is life really like?

Honestly, more relaxed than the headlines suggest, and changing fast. Under the Vision 2030 reforms the country has opened up a lot, with concerts, cinemas, restaurants, tourism and a real social scene in the bigger cities. It is still a conservative, alcohol free country where local customs matter, so you go in respecting that, but expat life in Riyadh, Jeddah or the Eastern Province is comfortable and friendly. Women teach everywhere, foreign women are no longer legally required to wear an abaya, and modest dress is simply the norm rather than a hardship. The trade off is that nightlife is quiet compared with Southeast Asia, which is exactly why it suits people who are there to work, save and travel on their long holidays.

So, is it worth it?

If your goal is to save hard and build a serious teaching career, very few places on earth beat Saudi Arabia. The money is excellent, the benefits are generous, and demand for good teachers is strong and growing. If you are chasing beaches and backpacker nightlife, it is not the one for you. Get your degree attested, get properly qualified, and pick a reputable employer, and it can be one of the smartest moves a teacher ever makes.