What makes a decent living in DR?

anita29

New member
Mar 5, 2009
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What could I study here in Canada so that after i graduate I can move to the DR and make a decent living. Im not talking about being rich, more like middle class.

Also if i wanted to become an English teacher, what would I need in terms of education?
Thanks
Anita
 
Feb 7, 2007
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Your own business. Find a niche where there is no competition in the DR, bring some new ideas and new approach, and start your own business. Most active working members on DR1 have businesses - Robert - DR1, Mikefisher - marina, Chip - engineering, laurajane - circus, couple of people run call centers, or work for international companies. The rest are retired or semi retired, or work from home (website design, marketing, consulting) or work in the USA part-time and come back to the DR (Sking). Very few work for Dominican wages.
 
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chola1978

Bronze
Mar 20, 2006
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DR has a healthy economy for unique business.. not going to get you millions but good income to live the DR dream..
your young ..how about to do a year at PUMM and live the DR dream....while your a student then you cna see hands on what you cna make a living out of in DR
 

pedrochemical

Silver
Aug 22, 2008
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What you learn here about how to run a successful business will prepare you well for running a very successful business elsewhere - if you do not go bonkers first!
 

mike l

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Sep 4, 2007
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What could I study here in Canada so that after i graduate I can move to the DR and make a decent living. Im not talking about being rich, more like middle class.

Also if i wanted to become an English teacher, what would I need in terms of education?
Thanks
Anita

If you want to earn a living as an english teacher you may want to try being a tutor for some of the affluent Dominicans.

This would probabally pay more than working as a Tesol or whatever it is it's called.

Of course, where you want to live and with whom will dictate your options unless you are computer savvy and work remotely earning foreign wages.
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
17,850
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If you have a teaching qualification you could get a job as a teacher at one of the good bilingual schools, they pay a relatively good wage and you can supplement it with after-hours private tutoring or other freelance work like translation.
 

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
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You will not do well teaching unless it is in one of the very few schools that pays a living wage. These are located in Santo Domingo, La Romana and Cap Cana. I am sorry, but i do not know of any others that pay even fairly well (well maybe Santiago Christian)

therefore: Technology-programming, internet everything Computer repairs and parts

Manufacturing techniques: ISO proofing for ISO 9000 or whatever it is now for industries.

engineering: HVAC, Construction/Civil engineering, where you will need local assistance and partnership.

Here the main thing is who you know, not necessarily what...

The suggestion that you do a year at PUCMM is not a bad one.

If this query is based on a love story, forget about it, you are not ready for this country..

HB
 

TravelHippo

Active member
Mar 24, 2008
504
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I agree with Hillbilly on the teaching. As I just posted in another thread, I am a teacher here earning about $2 an hour, and I am not even the lowest paid teacher in the school. Yes, it is enough to get by if living a Dominican lifestyle, but it certainly won't make you middle class!
 

mariko

New member
May 27, 2009
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You will not do well teaching unless it is in one of the very few schools that pays a living wage. These are located in Santo Domingo, La Romana and Cap Cana. I am sorry, but i do not know of any others that pay even fairly well (well maybe Santiago Christian)

therefore: Technology-programming, internet everything Computer repairs and parts

Manufacturing techniques: ISO proofing for ISO 9000 or whatever it is now for industries.

engineering: HVAC, Construction/Civil engineering, where you will need local assistance and partnership.

Here the main thing is who you know, not necessarily what...

The suggestion that you do a year at PUCMM is not a bad one.

If this query is based on a love story, forget about it, you are not ready for this country..

HB

no offense, but what is up with the love story business? this is the second time i saw an answer to someone who said nothing about it include not doing something because of a love. is it popular to come across girls who want to move for that or what???
 

AnnaC

Gold
Jan 2, 2002
16,050
418
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no offense, but what is up with the love story business? this is the second time i saw an answer to someone who said nothing about it include not doing something because of a love. is it popular to come across girls who want to move for that or what???

Seems to be the biggest motivator for moving to the DR and she did mention a " love interest" in another thread. ;)
 

GFar

Member
Jan 23, 2007
46
0
6
Hillbilly,
You are too much, referring to love stories and then saying you are not ready for this country!!! :)
 

voleibolchica

New member
Mar 31, 2009
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English teacher

If you want to teach English, I would recommend studying English in college. I just got a fantastic job as an English teacher - my background is in English writing and it was my major in college (I just graduated).

My advice: apply only at private schools - the public schools won't support the lifestyle you're looking for.

My other advice: don't get into debt in college, it makes you have to pick a job you need rather than one you love.

Good luck!:bunny:
 

drloca

Silver
Oct 26, 2004
2,097
216
63
Hillbilly,
You are too much, referring to love stories and then saying you are not ready for this country!!! :)

Hillbilly is what one would call a "sage" on this forum...he knows his "stuff" so to speak!
 

holita

New member
Jun 6, 2006
341
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0
Teaching

To make money here at teaching, you have not know more than just teaching English. You need to be qualified to teach a certain subject. For example, I have a Law degree and a degree in Literature and History, and I had one year of teaching experience before I came. I teach US Government, US History, Economics, etc at a local private high school and make excellent pay. I earn more than 10 dollars an hour, plus free living! In addition, I tutor those subjects for about 20 dollars an hour. Therefore, just teaching English will not be enough, but you can make money if you have a degree in a certain area with teaching experience. ;)
 

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
18,948
514
113
"Sage and onion stuffing" hummm sounds good if you provide the turkey...

The only reason i put that note in there was because the whole OP sounded so dreamy eyed....

People just don't up and say, hey, I'm gonna go the the DR and live....You have to know that there was something else and to play into the hands of a sanky that young in life, well, it seems a shame..

anyway, there are some interesting posts in the thread...Surprised at "holita" post...seems to be good pay for a high school...better, in fact than many colleges pay....

HB
 

El_Uruguayo

Bronze
Dec 7, 2006
880
36
28
Owning a buisness, providing some sort of service as a consultant, having a trade / or a niche specialisation. Those are pretty much the best options, otherwise working for someone else here won't really help you achieve any long term goals. From personal experience, and through experiences of others close to me, working for someone else for "good pay" or $1000 a month or more, usually means long hours are expected, about 6 days a week, or 70hrs/wk. That and employers will exploit you as much as they can, little advancement, pay incriments, or recognition of work. Employers often have a slave driver mentality, and no matter how good you are, you're dispensable - the way they say it, there's always someone else in line that's willing to work for less than you.

There might be a few jobs out there that pay well and treat their employees well, but they are few and far between - these may be comission based, or again for niche areas. If you are a geologist, do advanced IT stuff, a specialized surgeon, then things might be different. Other wise "good paying" jobs, don't pay enough $1000 - $1500 a month is not enough compensation for 50+hrs a week. One example, the US embassy was advertising for an accounting clerk, they want a university degree, 5 years + experience, and pay was something like 20 000 pesos.

Owning a business or consulting service is the way to go, trades seem to pay relatively well, but they may be hard to keep busy 7-8hrs a day. Working for someone else in the DR is not worth it 96% of the time, unless you want to be a beach bum.