€1,800 per month for just 20 hours of teaching per week — that’s what Maria from Manchester is earning in Madrid right now, with afternoons free for siestas and Spanish classes. Twelve months ago, she was commuting two hours daily to a corporate job that barely covered her London rent. Today, she’s saving €500 a month whilst living in a sunny flat near Retiro Park.
But here’s what most salary guides won’t tell you about teaching English in Spain: your base salary is just the beginning of your earning potential.
How Much Do English Teachers Earn in Spain? A Geographic Ground Truth
The honest answer varies widely depending on where you plant your teaching roots and which qualifications you hold. Madrid and Barcelona command the highest base salaries, with academies offering €1,400–€1,800 per month for 20–25 contact hours — but EBC Trinity CertTESOL holders consistently land at the upper end.
Valencia and Seville sit comfortably at €1,200–€1,500, whilst smaller cities like Granada or Salamanca typically offer €1,000–€1,300.
Here’s the kicker — teachers with specialised certifications earn 30–40% more. Business English specialists with EBC’s CertPT qualification can command €30–€50 per hour versus the standard €20–€25. That’s why smart teachers view certification as an investment, not an expense.
And remember: location isn’t everything. Your cost of living drops dramatically outside the major cities. That €1,200 in Valencia stretches much further than €1,600 in Barcelona. A decent one-bedroom flat in Valencia costs around €600, whilst the same in Barcelona pushes €900+.
Would you rather earn more in Madrid’s bustling business district or enjoy a lower cost of living in coastal Valencia? What’s your ideal Spanish teaching lifestyle?
Tom’s First Year: From CertTESOL to €3,000 Monthly
Let’s take Tom Harrison — an EBC graduate who arrived through the Road2Spain programme in September 2024. His financial progression shows exactly how strategic certification unlocks earning potential:
- September–October: Started with his Trinity CertTESOL at a premium academy earning €1,400 per month (higher than the €1,200 average for basic TEFL holders). Living expenses: €750 (shared flat in Malasaña), food €200, transport €54. Monthly savings: €246.
- November–December: Added two private students through EBC’s job placement network (4 hours weekly at €25/hour). The student visa he got thanks to the Road2Spain programme allowed him to work legally whilst improving his Spanish. Extra income: €400 monthly. Total: €1,800.
- January–March: Completed EBC’s CertPT Business English course online. Immediately landed corporate contracts at €35/hour (versus €20 for standard teachers). The academy increased his hours in recognition of his new qualification. Monthly income: €2,200.
- April–June: Added EBC’s Teaching Online CertPT, unlocking morning slots with international students at premium rates. Exam preparation season brought Cambridge prep work at €45/hour. Monthly income peaked at €2,800.
- July–August: His dual certifications qualified him for a summer camp coordinator position: €1,200 plus accommodation. Maintained online students using skills from his CertPT. Saved his entire summer salary.
- September (Year 2): Negotiated an academy raise to €1,600 (presenting his CertPT certificates). Established a client base of eight private students. Consistent monthly income: €3,000+. Annual savings: €8,000.
In Tom’s case, the Trinity CertTESOL opened the door to his first teaching job, but it was the CertPT specialisations that doubled his income within a year. Through EBC’s lifetime job placement support, he quickly advanced to higher-paying roles—receiving multiple job offers in a single week.
TEFL Teacher Salary in Madrid: Why the Capital Pays a Premium
Madrid’s English teaching market rewards specialisation handsomely. The concentration of multinationals creates massive demand for Business English — where CertPT holders earn €30–€50 per hour versus €20–€25 for general English. CLIL-certified teachers (Content and Language Integrated Learning) access international schools paying €2,000–€2,500 monthly.
The Auxiliares programme pays around €1,000 for just 16 hours weekly, but here’s the clever bit: combine it with online teaching (using EBC’s CertPT Online certification) during mornings, and you’re looking at €2,200+ monthly whilst keeping your afternoons free.
EBC’s exclusive partnerships with Madrid’s premium schools mean graduates skip the low-paying academy grind entirely.
7 Income Streams EBC Courses Unlock
Smart teachers never rely on a single income source. Here’s how EBC qualifications unlock each stream:
- Base academy salary (€1,200–€1,800): Trinity CertTESOL opens doors to reputable schools.
- Private tutoring (€20–€40/hour): Higher rates with specialised CertPT credentials.
- Business English contracts (€30–€50/hour): CertPT Business English is essential for corporate clients.
- Online teaching (€15–€25/hour): CertPT Teaching Online maximises digital opportunities.
- Summer camps (€800–€1,200/month): Coordinators with dual certifications could earn more.
- Exam preparation (€35–€45/hour): Advanced certification commands premium rates.
- Translation work (€0.08–€0.12/word): CertPT CLT enhances language awareness for translation.
The maths is simple: invest in a CertPT specialisation, earn an extra €10–€20 per hour. Many teachers recoup their costs within six weeks.
Teaching English in Spain 2025: The Qualification Advantage
Post-pandemic, many schools in Spain have become more competitive with salaries, especially for teachers holding internationally recognised certifications. But the real shift? Schools now actively seek teachers with hybrid capabilities. Those holding both the CertTESOL and CertPT Online certifications could very well command higher salaries than single-qualification teachers.
EBC’s innovative programmes create multiple income streams. The Road2Spain, for example, combines the Trinity CertTESOL with a Spanish language component—either a one-year course or a six-month course followed by a one-year postgraduate programme in Spain. This structure allows EBC graduates to live, study, and work legally while gaining real teaching experience and improving their Spanish. All CertTESOL graduates also benefit from EBC’s lifetime worldwide job placement programme, ensuring ongoing career and support long after graduation — also perfect for building multiple income streams.
International schools increasingly require CLIL certification for subject teachers. EBC’s CertPT CLIL course opens doors to positions paying €2,500+ monthly, significantly above standard language academy rates.
Your Financial Questions Answered
Do I need to speak Spanish to teach English in Spain?
Not at all. Most schools prefer English-only classrooms. Basic Spanish helps with housing and social life, but many teachers arrive with zero Spanish and thrive.
How much can I save monthly on a teacher’s salary?
Realistically, €300–€800 monthly depending on lifestyle and location. Teachers who add private classes save €500–€700 consistently.
Which Spanish cities pay the highest teaching salaries?
Madrid and Barcelona lead at €1,400–€1,800 base. But factor in living costs: Bilbao, Valencia, and Zaragoza often leave teachers with more disposable income despite lower base salaries.
Are taxes already deducted from advertised salaries?
Usually yes — advertised salaries typically reflect net (after-tax) amounts. Expect some deductions from the gross salary.
Actualise Your Teaching Dream in Spain
Start earning €1,200–€1,800 per month teaching in Spain’s most vibrant cities — often with accommodation assistance included.
EBC Trinity College London has successfully placed many teachers across Spain, with some receiving job offers within a few days of graduation.Our established relationships with premium schools mean EBC graduates are often considered for English teaching positions at the higher end of the salary scale.
Ready to join the teachers earning €2,500+ a month in Spain?
Start with EBC’s online Trinity CertTESOL — your first step to an accredited English teaching career abroad, with lifetime job placement support included.
Your English teaching journey in Spain starts here!
