US citizen looking for work...

WOW! Talk about a "babe in the woods!"

1) Your being a US citizen in not a job recommendation
2) You need a Dominican c?dula to work in any legal fashion.
3) You had better define your skill set(s) and come and see.
4) Unless you are hired overseas by an international or local company, you pay is usually in pesos.
5) Pay for most entry level jobs is very low. I would not hazard a guess right now about anything in Santo Domingo.
6) If you are going to study, do you think you will have time to work?

You need to check this place out, first...

HB

From what you have said you will be looking in the hotel/casino or call work areas. You can get call work without cedula but will need it for hotel/casino jobs. Your salary will be around 100 pesos per hour. If studying you will need plenty of cash, a grant, savings or bank of mum n dad to exist. There are plenty of house shares to hitch up with, for a reasonable houseshare with other clean respectable students in a safe area expect to pay between 5 and 10,000 pesos. The zone you are living in dictates your rental costs, you need to visit to see the difference, it isn't always easy to judge on first looks. For example Zona universitaria in very expensive but you will wonder why on first impressions, then you will see the massive police presence and zero crime and it seems like it is worth the extra cost. So best not jump into anything for a month or so. Good luck with the studies and finding work.

If you can find work expect to get paid the same as a Dominican with the same skills. It will be far less than an American would make in the same job. Of course if you are out of work and can't find a job in the US then you may find happiness working here on a Dominican wage. Can you become a minimalist?