Job Discussion Forums

[JacobTM]

Hey,

I was wondering if people with experience working for International House in Mexico could break down the exact conditions that hourly hires have.

Stuff I'm interested in:

Starting pay for CELTA certified teacher with more than 1 years post-CELTA experience

Travel time for classes

Amount of hours you can expect per week

[donato]

Full-time teachers get 10,000 per month which is 20-25 hours per week. Part time is dependant on how much you want to work (more or less), and get paid around 140 pesos per hour with most classes between an hour and a half and two hours. Travel time can vary greatly. The one benefit I really see with the part-timers is the ability to turn down classes. So if it�s too far for you or you don�t want a 7 a.m. class all you have to do is say no. Full-timers don�t always have this option, but the admin does at least to an extent try not to send you too far from where you live. Mexico City and surrounding areas (the dreaded Santa Fe commute) is obviously pretty large so you can expect long travel times. Before I was hired, I was told by the administrator, �The money wasn�t that good, the travel time was terrible, and sometimes you have to wake up really early and don�t go to bed until pretty late. But besides that, it is a great place to work.� And I have to agree. A pretty honest statement.

[JacobTM]

So how does that kinda pay work out compared to your expenses? For instance, what % of your pay goes to rent?

[doublethinker]

I was under the impression that teachers at IH make 11,000. (I have a friend that works there.) I could be wrong.

I used to make about the same as IH teachers, and it was ok.

For rent I initially paid 4000 a month for a room in a shared apartment in a pretty nice place/neighborhood, then I moved into a cheaper room 2500 / month but it wasn't as nice and the neighborhood literally smelled like poop.

I ate sometimes, bought clothes sometimes, and saved enough in four months to take a week long trip to Guatemala. I'm not a big drinker though so that saves some money.

All in all it's ok but you wouldn't want to do it for more than a couple of years I'd think.

[Isla Guapa]

Another thing to consider is taxes. When applying for work at IH (or anywhere else) , ask if the salary quoted is gross or net.

[Dragonlady]

[Isla Guapa]

[doublethinker]

Ha ha oops... yes I meant "I ate out sometimes"

[amaranto]

[donato]

Good info Amaranto. I think it should be pointed out though that paying that much in rent for someone making even 12,000 pesos a month is pretty steep if you plan on only living on your salary and having a resemblance of a social life. It can definitely be done, it just depends on if you plan on eating out and where, if you drink, plan on dating, etc. etc. It's very individual of course and depends on what sort of lifestyle that individual plans on living. Just thought it should be pointed out that depending upon many factors, 6,000 or even 5,000 is not something a newbie should consider jumping into for rent without an above-average teaching salary and solid ideas about what their costs of living are.

[amaranto]

[Isla Guapa]

I would never pay $5000 or $6000 a month in rent in the D.F., and I have an income of around $17,000 a month. You can find places to live for less than that if you don't insist on living in trendy neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma.

[amaranto]

[Isla Guapa]

I live in Colonia Cuauhtemoc, across Reforma from the Zona Rosa. I am lucky to be paying $3850 a month for a very small one-bedroom apartment. In my immediate neighborhood, it would be hard to find something this inexpensive because most of the places available are much bigger and have at least a couple of bedrooms. But in other areas, like San Rafael, I'd imagine you could find something affordable.

[donato]

Well, then again, if I made $17,000 a month I would be happy to pay $5,000 (utilities included) for an apartment in Condesa (if I could find a place for that amount) hahaha.