Paid teaching jobs in Rome, Milan, Florence and beyond, with full training and no programme fee
Now hiring for 2026 arrivals
Your guide to teaching English in Italy
Pasta, piazzas and passeggiata, with paid teaching work in Rome, Milan, Florence, Bologna and beyond. Here's what the job pays, who can apply and how to make life in Italy add up.
We recruit English teachers for an established language school group with centres across Italy. Our service is free for teachers. Not ready yet? Get job alerts.
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Manarola, in the Cinque Terre
Language schools · Adult learners
English Teacher, small-group classes
Rome, Milan, Florence, Bologna, Naples, Palermo, Cagliari and more · Starts any time
Up to €1,250A month after tax, plus overtime
Small groupsMainly adults, in class and online
Paid leavePlus sick pay
Full trainingOrientation, workshops and support
Teach around 25 contact hours a week on a 6 or 12-month contract, with full training and orientation, regular workshops and teacher support sessions, and real career development within a school group that also runs centres in Spain and France.
You'll need: fluent English, a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA, and EU citizenship or a permit to work in the EU. Teachers already living in Italy are welcome to apply.
This role is open to EU citizens (including Irish passport holders) and anyone with a permit to work in the EU. Canadians may qualify for a fast-track work permit through the Canada–Italy youth mobility agreement. Since Brexit, UK citizens without an EU passport can't apply for this role.
UK or US passport only? Spain's language assistant programmes help with the visa, so they're one of the best ways to teach in Europe without EU work rights.
Your salary is the same wherever you teach, but rents aren't. On €1,250 a month, the south and the islands leave you far more breathing room than Milan.
Feature
Milan
Rome, Florence, Bologna
Naples, Palermo, Cagliari
Room in a shared flat
€650–850 a month
€500–700 a month
€300–450 a month
Monthly transport pass
About €39
About €35–40
About €30–35
Money left over
Tight
Comfortable
Most comfortable
Best for
Fashion, design, business and fast trains everywhere
Art, history, food and university-city life
Sea, sunshine and the most authentic everyday Italy
Rents and transport prices are typical illustrative ranges and change over time.
Why teach English in Italy?
Italians need English for work, study and travel, and adults make up much of the demand. Professionals, university students and job-seekers sign up for evening and lunchtime classes at language schools in every major city, which is why most of your students here will be grown-ups who chose to be in the room.
For teachers, Italy is about the life around the job: aperitivo after work, Saturday markets, cheap regional trains to a new town every weekend, and some of the world's best food at everyday prices. It's not the place to save a fortune, but it's one of the best places in Europe to live well on a teacher's salary.
What teaching adults is really like
Classes are small and students are motivated, so lessons feel more like conversations than crowd control. Expect a mix of general English, business English and exam preparation, with some lessons online.
Timetables follow your students' free time, so evenings are usually busy and mornings are often your own. Ask your school how your 25 hours are spread across the week.
A realistic month in Naples or Bologna
Here's an illustrative budget for a teacher on the full €1,250 net, renting a room in a shared flat. Add €200–300 to the rent line for Milan.
Take-home pay
up to €1,250
Room in a shared flat
€450
Bills and internet share
€70
Phone and data
€10
Groceries and markets
€230
Pizza, aperitivo and eating out
€150
Monthly transport pass
€35
Going out, gym and Italian classes
€100
Weekend train trips
€100
Left over
about €105
Overtime and private lessons are the usual ways teachers add to this.
Our honest take
Italy rewards teachers who come for the life, not the savings. With a set lunch for €10–12, an espresso at the bar for about €1.20 and cheap regional trains, your money goes further than you might expect, especially in the south.
Pay is quoted as "up to" €1,250, so ask for your exact salary and hours before you accept.
Arrive with around £1,500–£2,000 to cover a rental deposit (often two or three months' rent), your first month's rent and setting-up costs until your first pay day.
Who can teach in Italy?
For our current Italy role you'll need:
Fluent English
A TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate
EU citizenship or a permit to work in the EU (Canadians may qualify through the youth mobility agreement)
Strong communication, listening and group-management skills
One of our specialist advisors calls you to check your eligibility and answer your questions.
Interview and offer
You interview with the school, then receive your offer and confirm your city and contract length.
Paperwork
We support you through the application and any visa or permit process before you travel.
Start teaching
Full training and orientation, then your first classes, with ongoing workshops and support.
The right TEFL for Italy
A TEFL is a requirement for this role, and because most of your students will be adults, it pays to train for exactly that. Book through ESLstarter for our discounted prices with partner TEFL UK.
Our pick for Italy
170-hour TEFL with teaching practice
£133£279
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
20 hours of assessed teaching practice with real students, so you walk in confident
Teaching adults and small groups, the heart of this role
Covers online teaching too, which is part of the job
100+ ready-to-use lesson plans for your first weeks
Planning to build a career in Europe? Language schools here often favour CELTA-level qualifications for senior roles. The Ofqual-regulated 168-hour Level 5 TEFL (£239) is at the same level as CELTA, for a fraction of the price.
Where you could live
Our partner school has centres in cities right across Italy. You'll confirm your city when you accept your offer.
Rome
Ancient ruins on your commute, trattorias on every corner and the biggest choice of teaching work.
Milan
Italy's business and fashion capital, with lots of business English students and fast trains to the lakes and Alps.
Florence
Renaissance art, Tuscan hills and a big international crowd, all in a compact, walkable city.
Bologna
Europe's oldest university city, famous for its porticoes, its food and a lively student scene.
Naples
Loud, warm and full of character, with the best pizza in the world and the Amalfi Coast nearby.
Palermo and Cagliari
Island life in Sicily and Sardinia: beaches, street food, sunshine and the lowest rents.
Weekends you'll never forget
Climb the Cinque Terre trails, ride a gondola in Venice, explore the Colosseum and hop on a regional train to a new town every Saturday. In Italy, the weekends are half the job.
Before you sign any job offer in Italy
Wherever you apply in Italy, these are the questions we'd ask before saying yes.
Can you legally work?
Check you have EU work rights or a valid permit. Never teach on a tourist entry, and don't accept cash-in-hand "contracts".
Exact pay, net or gross?
Ask for your monthly salary in writing, after tax, and how overtime is paid.
Contact or working hours?
Find out whether 25 hours means teaching time only, and how much evening and Saturday work is involved.
Holidays and sick pay
Check your paid leave, especially over Christmas and the quiet month of August.
Help with paperwork?
You'll need a codice fiscale (tax code), and non-EU teachers will need a residence permit. Ask what help is offered.
Housing support
Ask whether the school can recommend areas or landlords, and budget for a deposit of two to three months' rent.
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Teaching in Italy, your questions answered
How much do English teachers earn in Italy?
On our current Italy role, teachers earn up to €1,250 a month after tax for around 25 contact hours a week, with paid leave, sick pay and overtime available. That covers a comfortable life in most Italian cities, though big savings are unlikely, especially in Milan.
Can UK citizens teach English in Italy after Brexit?
Only if you already have the right to work in the EU. Since Brexit, UK citizens need a work permit to teach in Italy, and our current role is open to EU citizens and people with a permit to work in the EU. If you hold an Irish or other EU passport, you can apply. If not, Spain's language assistant programmes are a good alternative route into Europe.
Can Canadians teach English in Italy?
Yes, potentially. Canadian nationals may qualify for a fast-track work permit through the youth mobility (working holiday) agreement between Canada and Italy, and we support you through the application and visa process.
Do I need a TEFL to teach English in Italy?
Yes. Our Italy role asks for a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate. Most of your students will be adults in small groups, so a course that covers teaching adults and includes real teaching practice will help you most. See TEFL courses.
Do I need to speak Italian to teach English in Italy?
No. Lessons are taught in English. Everyday life, from renting a flat to sorting out your codice fiscale (tax code), is much easier with some Italian, and most teachers pick up a good amount during their contract.
Who will I teach in Italy?
Mainly adults in small groups, such as professionals, university students and people learning English for work or travel. Teaching is a mix of classroom and online lessons.
Is accommodation included for English teachers in Italy?
No. You choose and pay for your own place. A room in a shared flat typically costs from around €350 a month in the south to €700 or more in Milan, so your choice of city makes a big difference to your budget.
When can I start teaching in Italy?
Any time. Our partner school is hiring now for 2026 arrivals, on 6 or 12-month contracts, in cities including Rome, Milan, Florence, Bologna, Naples, Palermo and Cagliari.
Ready to teach in Italy?
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