No. 31 Latin America
Teaching English in Brazil
Samba, beaches and the joy of a Sunday feijoada
Brazil at a glance
Typical pay
BRL 3,000–6,000 / month
≈ US$550–1,100
Teaching load
20–30 teaching hrs
per week
Contract
Feb–Dec or freelance
Hiring season
Jan–Feb & Jul
You'll need
TEFL; degree for schools
Housing
Rarely
included or helped with
- Where the work is
- São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador
- Language
- Portuguese
- Money
- Real (BRL)
Part 1
The place
Big, joyful and endlessly musical, Brazil is all about people, and your students will become your friends.
Brazil's a country that loves to have fun. There's music in the streets, football on every patch of sand and a carnival that takes over entire cities. Brazilians are warm, open and affectionate, and they'll greet you with a hug and a kiss on the cheek after about five minutes of knowing you. It's a wonderful place to make friends, and your classes will probably end up being the social highlight of your week.
São Paulo is enormous, cosmopolitan and the business hub, with the best salaries and a world-class food scene. Rio de Janeiro is the postcard city, with Sugarloaf, Copacabana and Christ the Redeemer. Salvador, in the northeast, is the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture, with its colourful Pelourinho, capoeira and drumming. Florianópolis is all beaches and surf, and Belo Horizonte is famous for its bars and food.
Order this
Pão de queijo, a Saturday feijoada and acarajé fried in palm oil on the streets of Salvador.
Don't miss
Salvador's Pelourinho
Colourful colonial streets and Tuesday-night drumming.
Rio from Sugarloaf
Ride the cable car at sunset.
Ilha Grande
Car-free island beaches and jungle trails.
Carnival
Join a neighbourhood bloco and dance through the streets.
Part 2
The job
Who's hiring
Language schools are everywhere, teaching teens and adults. Business English is huge in São Paulo, and bilingual and international schools hire qualified teachers for the school year, which runs from February to December.
Your week
Language schools teach weekday evenings and Saturday mornings, and business English happens before and after office hours. School roles keep daytime weekday hours.
Visas & paperwork
Paid work requires a temporary visa for work, usually sponsored by bilingual or international schools, which tend to hire experienced or qualified teachers. Talk to employers about your route early and bring apostilled documents.
“Definitely learn Portuguese.”
Teaching in Brazil: quick answers
How much do English teachers earn in Brazil?
Typical pay is BRL 3,000–6,000 / month (≈ US$550–1,100) for entry-level and early-career roles in 2026, usually before tax, for about 20–30 teaching hrs per week. Experienced and licensed teachers can earn more.
What do I need to teach English in Brazil?
TEFL; degree for schools. A degree is usually for the usual visa route. Paid work requires a temporary visa for work, usually sponsored by bilingual or international schools, which tend to hire experienced or qualified teachers. Talk to employers about your route early and bring apostilled documents.
When do schools in Brazil hire?
Jan–Feb & Jul. Contracts usually run feb–dec or freelance.
Is housing included for teachers in Brazil?
Rarely. In Brazil you'll normally find and pay for your own place, so budget for rent (see living costs).
How much does it cost to live in Brazil?
Approximate costs in US dollars in the main hub: rent (studio or room) $400–650; local lunch $6–10; coffee $2–3; transport / month $50–60.
Pay, visa and calendar details were checked in October 2026 against official and employer sources. Rules change, so confirm with your employer and the official sources before you apply. Sources & credits