Visiting International Teachers

 Join us as a Visiting International Teacher

Thank you for your interest in joining our team! Our district supports students from all over the world and we believe it’s important to provide exposure to new cultures so our students can be prepared as global citizens.

CPS is seeking outstanding teachers from around the globe to provide high-quality teacher services across the following content areas: Special Education, Bilingual, World Language, Math, and Science. Teachers of other content areas who can bring unique perspectives and cross-cultural programming are also welcome to apply. Through partnerships with government agencies, Education and Culture Ministries and universities, our team recruits, screens, sponsors, and employs teachers on a J-1 visa for 3 academic years.

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Frequently Asked Questions for International Teachers

• Do I need to have an education degree to interview as a Visiting International Teacher?

  • Interested teachers must hold a bachelors or masters degree in Education in order to receive a teaching license in the state of Illinois. More information on licensure requirements may be found here.

• What health benefits are offered to Visiting International Teachers?

  • CPS International Teachers (J1 Visa) are eligible to enroll in the BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois BlueAdvantage Health Maintenance Organization (HMO ) Plan. There is no annual deductible on the HMO plan. The costs for full-time union employees is as follows:

  • -Employee Only : 2% annual salary

  • -Employee +1: 2.2% annual salary

  • -Family: 2.5% annual salary

• What are the costs of living in Chicago?

  • Information on various costs and estimates in Chicago can be found here.

• What is the expected pay for International Teachers and any deductions?

  • Teacher pay is determined based on the level of education (lane) and years of teaching experience (step). CPS provides a salary calculator that shares an estimated salary.

• Are there any paycheck deductions for International Teachers?

  • For international teachers, there are some taxes and deductions that must be paid and some taxes they are exempt from. In particular, international teachers are exempt from Medicare and Social Security taxes. Included below are tax deduction amounts and ranges.

  • -Illinois net income is taxed at 4.95% flat rate.

  • -There are various federal tax brackets for employees that are determined by their filing status and income. For teachers on a J1 visa, the federal tax deduction would range from 22%-24%. More information can be found on the IRS website here.

  • -CPS Teachers contribute 9% of their salary to the pension fund and are eligible to receive a refund if at the end of their program.

• How do I obtain a teaching license to teach at CPS?

  • The Illinois State Board of Education is the state entity that issues teaching licenses in the state of Illinois and our program staff can provide guidance in this process. If you would like to apply for a teaching license in advance of the interview process, you can find more information on ISBE’s website here.

• What is the best neighborhood to live in?

  • Chicago is made up of 77 different neighborhoods and where to live will depend on each individual. You can live in a neighborhood that is close to public transportation for your commute, a neighborhood that reflects your home language, a neighborhood that is near your school, and more! You can review information about Chicago’s various neighborhoods through this article by domu or by Choose Chicago.

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