Teach English in the USA: Jobs, Visas and Summer Camps (2027 Guide)

Palm-lined road in Elysian Park with the downtown Los Angeles skyline behind

Now recruiting: Summer camp USA 2027

Work and teach in the USA

America doesn't hire overseas English teachers like Asia does, but there are still great ways to live, work and travel there. Here's what's open to you, and the role we're recruiting for right now.

See current jobs Compare your options

Hiring nowUS summer camps

Camp payFrom $2,400 + board

VisaJ-1 exchange visitor

DegreeNot needed for camp

Next startMay – June 2027

Can you teach English in the USA?

It's one of the questions we're asked most. The honest answer: not in the way you can in Japan, Korea or China. The USA has no big network of language schools hiring teachers from overseas, and US work visas are hard to get.

What America does have is a set of J-1 exchange programmes built for young people from abroad. They come with the visa paperwork, a place to live and a US employer already lined up, and many of them involve teaching or working with children.

The most popular is a summer at an American camp, where you teach your sport, art or outdoor skill to campers for nine weeks and then travel. That's the programme we're recruiting for right now.

Aerial view of Manhattan at dusk, looking south to the Freedom Tower

Jobs in the USA right now

Group of young international friends taking a selfie in front of the American flag

Hiring now

Summer 2027 · With our partner Skilled Summers

Summer camp jobs in the USA

Spend nine weeks living and working at a top residential summer camp, teaching sports, arts, outdoor activities and more to campers from across America. Then travel the USA for up to 30 days.

$2,400+Minimum salary

Room & mealsProvided at camp

J-1 visaSupport included

30 daysTravel after camp

You'll need: to be aged 18 to 30, a skill to share, experience with children (a plus), and to be free for nine weeks from May or June.

See the job and apply Browse all jobs

Recruiting teachers since 2007 · J-1 visa support through official programme sponsors · Help from application to arrival

Summer camp or teacher exchange?

Both routes use the J-1 exchange visitor visa. Which one suits you depends on your age, your qualifications and how long you want to stay.

	Summer camp	J-1 teacher exchange
Best for	Ages 18–30 with a sport, art or outdoor skill	Qualified, experienced school teachers
Length	9 weeks + up to 30 days' travel	Usually up to 3 years
Pay	From $2,400, plus room, meals and insurance	A US teacher's salary
Degree needed?	No	Yes, plus a teaching qualification
Through ESLstarter	Hiring now	Not currently

A note on TEFL and US schools. A TEFL certificate won't get you a job in an American public school. US schools hire state-certified teachers. Where a TEFL really pays off is teaching English online, or teaching abroad in countries like Japan, Korea, Spain and Vietnam, and it's a great next step after a summer at camp.

Red sandstone buttes of Monument Valley under a clear blue sky

Then you've got 30 days to see America

Your J-1 visa gives you up to 30 days after camp to travel. Most counsellors finish camp with money in their pocket and a group of friends to explore with.

A week in New York City
A road trip through the national parks of the Southwest
Beaches and palm trees in California
Boston, Washington DC and the East Coast

Where you could spend your summer

Most of the camps we work with are in the northeastern USA, among the lakes and forests of New York State, Pennsylvania and New England, and within easy reach of New York City.

New York State

Lakes, mountains and the Catskills, a few hours from Manhattan.

Pennsylvania

Wooded hills and lakeside camps in the Poconos.

New England

Lakeside camps in Maine and Massachusetts.

Canada

Some placements are also available north of the border.

Times Square in New York City, lined with bright digital billboards

Before you sign up for any US programme

Whichever company you go with, check these first. A good provider will answer every one in writing.

The J-1 sponsor is designated by the US State Department (you can check on j1visa.state.gov)
You have the full cost in writing: programme fee, visa fee, police check and flights
You know your minimum salary or stipend and when it's paid
Medical insurance is included, and you know what it covers
You know the refund terms if you aren't placed
You know your start and end dates, and your travel period afterwards

Planning to teach after camp? Get TEFL certified online and you can teach English from home, or move on to a paid teaching job in Asia, Europe or Latin America. The 120-hour TEFL starts from £63.

Get TEFL certified

Working in the USA: your questions answered

Can foreigners teach English in the USA?

Not in the way they can in Asia. The USA has no large market of language schools hiring overseas teachers, and getting a US work visa is difficult. The realistic routes for non-Americans are J-1 exchange programmes, such as summer camp jobs, and teacher exchange programmes for qualified, experienced school teachers.

What is the easiest way to work in the USA?

For most people aged 18 to 30, a summer camp job is the most accessible route. You don't need a degree, the J-1 visa is arranged through the programme, and you're paid a salary of at least $2,400 with accommodation, meals and insurance provided, plus up to 30 days to travel afterwards.

Do I need a degree to work at a US summer camp?

No. Camps look for a skill you can teach, such as a sport, outdoor activity, art, music or performance, and ideally experience working with children.

Can I teach in a US school with a TEFL certificate?

No. Public schools in the USA hire certified school teachers. Overseas teachers usually need a teaching qualification and several years of classroom experience to join a J-1 teacher exchange. A TEFL is useful for teaching English online, or teaching abroad in countries such as Japan, Korea and Spain.

What visa do I need?

Summer camp and teacher exchange programmes both use the J-1 exchange visitor visa. Your programme sponsor issues the paperwork you need, and you attend a short interview at a US embassy or consulate.

Does ESLstarter still offer au pair placements in the USA?

Not at the moment. Our au pair in America programme has closed. If you want to spend time living and working in the USA, our summer camp programme is open for 2027: nine weeks at a US camp with a salary of at least $2,400, accommodation and meals, J-1 visa support and up to 30 days to travel afterwards.