Well, why do I need spell check since I have you to point out my errors. Happy now!

Well, apart from the missing zero on the 100k, yes that will do thank you

renee77,

Out of curiosity: if I may ask, are you now making ¨6 figures euros salary¨ in your current country of residence in your profession? And what is your profession? just as Shawn asked: do you have any special skills that make you stand out? just trying to understand why you would expect that kind of salary in Spain...

As you obviously know, you have 2 factors against your goal here in Spain: you are non-EU and Spain offers generally lower wages. I moved to Madrid about a year and a half ago and I fully expected to get much less in salary here (and I am EU). This is why I am looking to save money for retirement through other investments rather than through working for a corporation.

Good luck in making a right decision.

I think Ola and Redwood asked some very good questions, renee77!

Why do people automatically think that wages are better in Europe? By teaching English you can make way better money in Asia. Most people who come to Europe do it because they *want* to live in Europe and are willing to 'sacrifice' to do so!

I have done a lot of different types of work here on and off. This summer though I decided that I would like a semi-regular job in which I can practice my spanish and enjoy the beach lifestyle around me (luckily I have a supportive husband who has a real job ). Reality hit once I had had a few interviews!

One restaurant wanted me to work everyday, except Tuesday, about nine hours a day (in a split shift), there was no chance for a day off until the end of September. In addition, I would have the whole restaurant to myself (14 table, plus bar patrons) during the lunch rush, and during the evenings I would be my bosses assistant. My wages would be slightly less than 4€ an hour, insult added by the fact that tips are not quite as important to diners here as I have previously been accustomed too in my home country. Let's just say that I was going to make that sacrifice until I found out I couldn't take a few days off when I had family come to town.

After the initial shock of everything I now understand the point of the spanish employer. I was not the only smiling face he had in his folder of resumes. I probabaly wasn't the only native speaker of 'extranjero', which was a plus during my interview.

Unfortunately for us workers it's an employer's market! It's up to them to find the person that will put up with the most and when that person burns out, there is still a folder of happy smiling faces that will take over, and maybe for even less!

The reality of living in Europe is that population is high, most workers are educated, and unemployment (or underemployment) is really high!

So thats my two cents! Gosh darnit I wrote a lot more than I wanted. I hope madsue doens't look for any spelling mistakes in my post, as she is bound to find them!

canagaditana,

Great post. Very honest and up front and teaching English does not make you rich in Spain, that is unless you happen to own your own academy, and even that won't bring in that much money until you actually get a good client base.

Shawn

Applying for waitress jobs I knew that I wasn't going to be earning a great deal (that wasn't what I was after in the first place). I just wasn't prepared for offers THAT low!

I love Spain, and I wouldn't change my life here for anything in the world.

canagaditana, only winding up Shawn cos he's an English teacher!!!!!!!

You are so right about the low wages for the restaurant/bar staff. A friend arrived here a couple of months ago, landed on his feet, he thought. Got a job, with a contract, for 1000€ per month. OK long hours obviously, but lucky to have it. Except 3 weeks in, he got laid off, as the owner had found a gentleman from Eastern Europe who was willing to do the same job for 500€ a month

Thanks for all the replies. I have been researching moving for the last 8 months, and I was under the impression that teaching business/legal english would pay better than teaching "regular" english (I was told between 20 to 30 euros an hour), and that it was possible to make decent money from this (assuming I get enough students/hours). But given my age and personal likes/dislikes, I probably wouldn't want to be running around town all day 5 or 6 days a week to various students, so my thought is to find a business of my own (since finding a job as a non-EU person - I am a U.S. citizen) would be difficult if not impossible. Therefore, I am trying to research businesses that it is reasonable and doable for a person like me to be in. Yes, I do now earn 6 figures or more at my current profession, but my profession demands a professional degree and certification and it is not practical for me to go back to school in Spain to learn Spanish law. So any tips on businesses that someone like me can do to make a good living in Madrid? I will consider all legal and moral suggestions, including online businesses!

We can't offer any advice because you still have yet to tell us what it is you do. What are your interests? What do you hope to accomplish in Madrid?

Making 20 - 30 Euros an hours is highly unlikely as a new English teacher in Madrid.

Shawn

renee77--
It seems to me that you would need a lot of seed money (and experience) to start any sort of business that could hope to clear 100,000 euros a year... Also, the logistics of starting a business as a non-EU citizen are rather daunting. To do it legally, you would need to come in with a visa that allows you to work for yourself, which if I remember correctly requires a certain amount of investment (research permiso de trabajar por cuenta propia).

I think your best bet to ensure that you are paid anywhere close to the level that you are interested in is to get a job within an American (or other) company that will transfer you to Spain or work as a consultant for companies back in the US while living in Spain. Keep in mind that the average salary here is around 27000 dollars a year.

I'm an attorney. I had noticed some other posters who mentioned they have started businesses and were making 6-figure incomes in Spain (they may have been EU persons, though). My lack of papers is why I am seriously considering an online business - easier to run without going through all the "formalities" of the Spanish bureaucracy. Regarding business/legal english, I was told that this is a specialty niche within the english-teaching market (hence the higher pay per hour), but perhaps the information I was given is wrong?

Even if you were able to make 30 euros an hour teaching, you would have to work 5 hours a day 5 days a week every week of the year to clear 39,000 euros. That seems really unlikely (impossible?) given that:

1. You would have problems finding that many hours every day at that rate.
2. There are at least 2-3 months out of the year (and a multitude of holidays) when the kind of people are interested in this kind of class won't be taking them.
3. This would involve a LOT of hustling and running around during the times when you could line up a lot of hours.

I think that you have to realistically look at the situation and see if you could deal with several years of much lower wages and uncertainty while you work to get something off the ground here. Otherwise, with the income that you are looking for, you would be better off building a business or consultancy before you come that you could manage while living in Spain or getting a job that will transfer you.

renee77,

My impression has been that the attorneys in Spain do not make that much money, unless they work in a very prestigious international law firm and hold important positions. I had a student once who was one of the top attorneys in one of the biggest Spanish law firms but she wasn´t looking for any legal English training, but rather to practice conversation for her vacation travels. Unfortunately I didn´t ask her how or where she acquired her business English skills.
I was also told once that in Spain its notaries that generally make a lot more cash than attorneys because they hold more responsibility, while attorneys are not held in such high regard.

The idea for online consulting business should be the most feasible... but I tell you, if I had an idea for an online business I would be doing it now myself
Good luck! keep trying and I´m sure you´ll find what you´re looking for.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'd rather be prepared than unpleasantly surprised. I will do more research, and I would still appreciate hearing from anyone who has managed to start a business (online or otherwise) in Spain. Thanks again.

renee77.

quote:

I had noticed some other posters who mentioned they have started businesses and were making 6-figure incomes in Spain

where? on what message baord? please link to the thread as i have never seen anyone on this board say they were pulliing down 6 figures unless it was in pesetas.

Ola is right, the lawyers here do not normally make huge money, not nearly as much as in the u.s.a.

being a lawyer here is looked upon as a respectable profession which is a nice change from the states where it is seen as a slimey gig.

in my humble opinion, making 6 figures from an online consulting business will be next to impossible.

quote:

I would still appreciate hearing from anyone who has managed to start a business (online or otherwise) in Spain.

expect to make about a 3rd of what you now make in your current job.

i have an online biz that is tourist bases and i was a teacher in the u.s.a. i have been here 10 years and now make about half of what i would be making in the states.

the move to spain SHOULD NOT BE A MONEY motivated one. i have said that before and will say it over and over again. it should be a lifesyle change.

renee, just do the math. even if you make 30 euros an hour and teach 25 hours a week (with class prep and all, 25 is really the max. you can expect to teach) you will pull in 750 a week. since there is very little work in summer here, you lose 10 weeks a year so 750x42 weeks is 31,500 euros (again, this is on the max. side).

31,500 euros is $42,200 USD.

that would be best case if you were legal here. realistically speaking, expect to make half of that without papers so you are looking at around $21,000 a year (16,000 euros).

if money is very important to you, DO NOT drop a 6 figure job in the u.s.a. to move to spain.

saludos,
jer...