Spanish teachers’ salaries vary across the United States. For example, a Spanish instructor in Colorado can expect to bring in about $40,000 annually and slightly less than $38,000 in Alabama. The median wage for Spanish teachers is just over $37,500 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The starting salary of a Spanish teacher can range from $30,000 to $50,000, depending on the level and location of your position. If you teach in a school that is part of a national collection of institutions and schools, you should be offered better pay than if you work at a private school.
Salary For Spanish Teacher Overview
What’s the average Spanish teacher salary?
Teachers in the field of Spanish can find a wide range of salaries. According to Glassdoor, the national average for teachers at high schools is around $56,000 annually. However, there are many factors that affect how much you’ll make as a Spanish teacher. These include:
-The location of your school: When working in a public school, your salary will be determined by the state laws and regulations regarding teacher compensation. If you’re working at a private school or college, however, there may be more flexibility when it comes to salary negotiations.
-Your experience level: You may see an increase in salary after several years of teaching experience. Additionally, if you have advanced degrees or certifications related to teaching Spanish as a second language (or ESL), you may also receive higher pay than non-certified teachers with similar levels of experience and education background.
-The size of your class: Teaching larger classes typically increases your hourly rate since there are more students per hour who need individualized attention from their instructors (and more work for both parties involved)
Spanish teacher job description
Spanish teachers should be well-grounded in classroom management, teaching methodologies, and school procedures. In addition to teaching creative subjects like poetry and fiction writing, they should be prepared to teach Spanish grammar rules, spelling and diction, word pronunciation, sentence structure, punctuation, reading and essay writing.
Full-time Spanish teachers typically work eight-hour shifts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most public and some private school teachers have summers off, along with various holidays and winter breaks that generally run two to three weeks. They may also serve as advisors for after-school activities like Spanish club, yearbook and sports.
An interest in Spanish, Mexican, Latin American, Filipino and Hispanic cultures is important. Today’s curriculum for all foreign languages in U.S. schools is focused on learning Spanish, French, German, Chinese and other languages while simultaneously embracing native cultures and understanding the values of people around the world. For Spanish teachers, this includes South and Central America, the Philippines, the Caribbean, Mexico and Spain, as well as major portions of the southeastern and southwestern United States.
A passion for literature is an important facet of teaching any foreign language. Reading the literary works of Spanish-speaking authors — from Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra to Gabriel García Márquez — is sometimes required of teaching Spanish in American schools.
Spanish teachers also:
- Prepare coursework and assignments for classes with a focus on grade-appropriate lessons and full fluency as a long-term goal
- Grade tests, essays and reports, and other writing assignments, and work with students to improve classroom performance
- Meet with colleagues to coordinate techniques and work on specific lesson plans, such as phonics, grammar or writing
- Hold conferences with students to identify areas that require attention and keep them on track to become fluent in Spanish
- Meet with parents or guardians to discuss students’ academic progress, remedial issues and behavior problems when necessary
Who makes good Spanish teachers?
Spanish teachers should have outstanding bilingual vocabularies, with a firm grasp of correct word pronunciation and spelling and the ability to effortlessly break words down phonetically.
Students of English as a second language (ESL) and English speakers of other languages (ESOL) who speak fluent Spanish may take Spanish to help improve their English language abilities. This requires Spanish teachers who are sensitive to the needs of a diverse range of students with bilingual speaking skills.
People who teach Spanish should be:
- Relaxed speaking in front of large groups in English and Spanish
- Able to inspire students to converse in Spanish
- Comfortable explaining differences in gender nouns, subject/verb agreement, and use of accent symbols
- Grounded in grade-level expectations and progress indicators to keep students working toward fluency
- Knowledgeable about expository, persuasive, argumentative speaking and writing genres and techniques
- Experts in English and Spanish punctuation — from the proper use of semicolons to word hyphenation
- Able to teach critical thinking while advancing students’ bilingual verbal and written communication skills
Because grammar, sentence structure, expository and persuasive writing are rule-oriented, people with a knack for learning languages are well-suited to become Spanish teachers.
Interested in becoming a Spanish teacher?
Watch this video to learn how middle school Spanish teacher Rebeccah Wish creates the experience of being in another part of the world for her students at The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2PuQ4HyB-Q
Teaching Spanish at the various levels
The path to becoming a Spanish teacher depends on the level of instruction: elementary, middle school, high school or postsecondary school (college). The higher the grade level, the more concentrated the specialization in Spanish studies and curriculum.
Many factors determine what grade level to teach. These include:
- Degree attainment: Postsecondary institutions typically require an advanced degree; whereas elementary, middle and high schools prefer Spanish teachers to hold a master’s degree or higher
- Range and breadth of Spanish language arts subjects; the higher the grade level, the more advanced the curriculum
- Desire to teach advanced courses focused on literature and writing genres, beginning in grades 10-12 and continuing through college
- Age and maturity levels of students — from K-12 to college, the more mature the students the more attentive and dedicated to learning they tend to be
- Local salary considerations and availability of employment opportunities, with current demand for Spanish teachers highest in middle school, followed by high school and junior college
Spanish instructors should be familiar with the Standards for Foreign Language Learning. Adopted by many private and public schools over the past two decades, these standards were developed in the early 1990s to promote awareness of the five C’s embedded in foreign language studies. These guidelines for teaching world languages in U.S. schools offer practical steps to help Spanish teachers design and implement curriculum.
The five C’s for learning Spanish as a foreign language are:
- Communication: Engage students in conversations in Spanish and convey information to help them express ideas and emotions, and share personal opinions about current affairs and other topics.
- Cultures: Provide students with knowledge of Spanish-speaking cultures through personal experience, print, video, online and other sources, and help them make comparisons to the United States.
- Connections: Demonstrate various disciplines through fine arts and literature, media and commerce that introduce students to the viewpoints of thought leaders from Spanish-speaking countries.
- Comparisons: Develop insight about the language and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries with opportunities that help students demonstrate and compare their knowledge of the countries.
- Communities: Encourage students to engage with other native speakers and bilingual Spanish-speaking people at home, in local communities and abroad, and share their personal experiences.
Additionally, the cross-cultural academic integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is especially important in the 21st century. Today’s teachers are expected to help students expand their interest in STEM subjects while connecting them to diverse communities within the United States and abroad.
The development of proper verbal and written communication skills for English and Spanish learners is crucial to the success of STEM curriculum in the nation’s schools, which are increasingly bilingual and biliterate.
Elementary school Spanish teachers
Spanish teachers for elementary school generally fall into these areas:
- Spanish language teacher, often teaching half-hour or hour classes several times a week
- Immersion teacher for students to become bilingual and biliterate
- Transitional teacher for ESL/ESOL students lacking proficiency in English
Unlike traditional Spanish language teachers who focus on a single subject, teachers in Spanish immersion and transitional programs must be trained in the core subjects for the elementary grade level.
Click here for in-depth details about teaching Spanish in elementary schools
Middle school Spanish teachers
Middle school Spanish teachers generally work with students, ages 12 to 14, on introductory and intermediate Spanish. Although some students may have taken Spanish classes in elementary school, middle school teachers should be prepared to cover a wide range of language skills.
Click here for in-depth details about teaching Spanish in middle school
High school Spanish teachers
High school Spanish teachers often work with highly advanced and sometimes gifted students who speak two or three languages. However, high school Spanish teachers should be prepared to teach introductory and intermediate courses as well.Click here for in-depth details about teaching Spanish in high school
Postsecondary/college Spanish teachers
Postsecondary Spanish teachers have opportunities to teach specific, narrowly focused curriculum. The study of Spanish literature and poetry, writing about specific cultures and countries — like Mexico, South and Central America, the Philippines, Spain, Latin-American and Caribbean islands — are just a few of the many subjects available to college students.
Click here for in-depth details about postsecondary/college Spanish teachers
Professional development for Spanish teachers
The increasing presence of bilingual print, online websites, streaming video, radio and TV broadcasting in the United States gives Spanish teachers a wide platform to find information, practice reading and listening to the language, and hone their own bilingual skills.
Professional associations for Spanish instructors offer webinars, correspondence courses, one-day seminars, symposiums and other continuing education opportunities to help teachers advance their knowledge of Spanish literature and writing subjects, improve teaching skills and broaden their scope of educational best practices. These are terrific platforms to enhance one’s understanding of Spanish language arts concepts while meeting like-minded professionals and improve their resumes, professional profiles and social media pages.
For teachers interested in pursuing advanced degrees, Spanish is ideally suited as a supplement to journalism, archaeology, marketing, public relations, web publishing and various professions that require interpreters and translators. Primary incentives include expanding knowledge of particular subjects — like play writing, speech therapy, or English as a second language (ESL) — while remaining competitive as bilingual experts in the job market.
Benefits of continuing education
BLS statistics reflect that professionals with a master’s degree have a greater chance for promotions and an increase in salaries. This is particularly true for foreign language teachers and among schools with an abundance of bilingual instructors who have bachelor’s degrees. The difference in salary between a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree for a novice teacher is $3,000 annually. After 10 years of experience, the bump increases to $4,500, according to BLS data.
Continuing education is a great way to keep a career on track, expand knowledge, remain competitive, and increase one’s real value in the jobs market.
What kinds of graduate programs can help Spanish teachers?
Studies reveal positive correlations between a teacher’s subject-specific expertise and student achievement. These findings suggest that not all degrees are created equal, and that Spanish teachers seeking graduate studies should look for programs that help elevate their world language expertise.
These recommendations reflect two significant trends in primary education today, both of which are reflected in Pew Research studies. First, the rise of natives from Spanish-speaking countries throughout the United States — but especially in the South and Southwest and along the West Coast — creates a demand for teachers who can address the needs of Spanish-speaking families.
Secondly, the increase of ESOL students, whose primary language is Spanish, throughout U.S. public schools — particularly in preschool and grades K-8 — creates employment opportunities for bilingual teachers who are fluent in both English and Spanish.
By focusing on advanced degrees in ESOL, early childhood education or educational leadership, Spanish teachers can position their careers for future advancement in areas that are presently in demand.
ESOL students and graduate studies for Spanish teachers
In a typical ESOL class, students concentrate almost exclusively on English. They are rarely, if ever, given opportunities to speak their native language.
By taking Spanish, in addition to ESOL curriculum, Spanish-speaking students can compare and contrast their native language to English. This is especially helpful in distinguishing English and Spanish syntax and sentence structure rules, as well as understanding word meanings and customs, such as addressing strangers with formal nouns and using gender-specific (masculine and feminine) pronouns in Spanish.
However, this requires Spanish teachers to be patient with ESOL learners. They must be capable of integrating students whose primary language is either English or Spanish. An added advantage to enrolling Spanish-speaking learners in Spanish classes is they can help nonnative students better master the language, while simultaneously receiving assistance learning to fluently speak and write English.
. This can mean higher paychecks for teachers who teach large numbers of students over smaller ones
At-a-glance: Spanish teachers Salary
| Elementary | Middle school | High school | College/postsecondary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor’s; master’s preferred | Bachelor’s; master’s preferred | Bachelor’s; master’s preferred | Master’s; doctorate |
| Typical study time | 4-6 years | 4-6 years | 4-6 years | 5-10 years |
| Median salary | $54,550 | $55,860 | $57,200 | $61,380 |
| Job outlook | +6% | +6% | +6% | +11% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (Note: Data listed is for elementary, middle school and high school teachers overall, and for postsecondary foreign language teachers.)
Most Spanish teachers work in subject-specific classrooms in middle and high schools, junior colleges and universities that offer foreign language courses and degrees. Depending on grade level, Spanish teachers may specialize in a specific area like reading, writing or verbal communication. They may also teach a variety of subjects, including Spanish literature and world history that assist students in making positive connections between local communities in U.S. regions and those of Spanish-speaking countries.
Some Spanish teachers also teach multimedia courses, such as video and film production; journalism, social media and mass communication, including bilingual radio and TV broadcasting (at the high school and college levels).
Regardless of their areas of expertise, all Spanish teachers are expected to have a firm grasp of vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure and written communication rules for both English and Spanish.
For people who enjoy teaching reading, writing and verbal communications, a career teaching Spanish includes many opportunities outside the school setting. Teaching Spanish is an excellent opportunity to work in a creative field while broadening knowledge for every generation of students and the workforce — introducing them to new cultures and developing bilingual communication skills that are in demand.
