Instructor Pay & Benefits
We invest in our instructors.
Dragons offers a range of programming, including Summer, Gap Semesters, School Partnerships, Adult, and Educator experiences. We maintain consistent and fair pay rates across programs, based on three main factors: number of days in the field, relative experience, and level of responsibility on the program. Pay includes compensation for pre-program preparation work.
First-time Dragons instructors receive an entry-level salary. Instructors will be paid a higher starting salary if they have:
- An M.A. or Ph.D. in a directly relevant field
- A WFR or higher certification
- 150+ days of relative experiential education experience
- Local language fluency and 3+ years of regional experience living and working in relevant fields (cross-cultural education, development, & advocacy that can directly translate to your work in the field) related to the country in which you will work with Dragons (examples: contacts for organizations, homestays, etc)
- 4+ years prior relevant experience working in international and cross-cultural program administration with focus on curriculum development and risk management.
Each time an instructor returns to lead with Dragons, their pay level increases.
Example Pay Ranges:
- 30-day international summer course: $1,800 – $4,750 USD
- 80-day gap semester: $3,800 – $11,000 USD
We share our complete pay scale with applicants invited to a first interview.
Benefits for Staff
In addition to compensation, Dragons supports instructors with a variety of professional development benefits, including:
- Access to training resources in experiential education, social justice, etc.
- Funding toward Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification
- In-person orientations prior to programs
During programs and orientations, Dragons covers expenses for instructors, with the exception of personal items and indulgences. Dragons also covers the cost of flights to and from the location of staff training and any travel that is necessary to instruct a Dragons program.
Read more about Employee Benefits for Instructors.
