Forget the Old World! The New World is where it’s at when it comes to the global job market. Now known as the Americas, this mega-continent spans the entire length and breadth of the Western hemisphere, from Canada in North America to Cape Horn in South America.
Move, shake, innovate. Look for jobs abroad in America to find out today!
In North America, make the big bucks in the US and Canada, two of the best places to work in the Americas. These are also two of the most politically influential, economically advanced, and culturally diverse countries of the world. These first world countries are perfect for gaining valuable experience in finance, media, marketing, education, and hospitality. In Central America, you can find work in any of its seven countries, from the largest, Guatemala, to the smallest, Belize. Find positions in cities, rural towns, and villages in ESL teaching, healthcare, and social work. Help preserve biodiversity in the region by working in environmental conservation or find startup opps in Panama City and Guatemala City.
At the other end is South America, home to 12 distinctive countries and some of the best places to live in Latin America. Earn mucho dinero teaching English, working for multinationals, or on conservation and sustainability projects. South America is also the best continent to learn Spanish and Portuguese outside of their European mother countries, so warm up that tongue and get ready to roll those R’s!
So let’s get down to brass tacks and have some real talk. You want to know the best places to live in Latin America. You want to know where to live in Central America. You want to know where you can find paid jobs abroad, summer jobs, and more. Well, we got it right here for you. Happy New Year. :-)
We analyzed millions of searches from meaningful travelers, and are proud to bring you this: Here are the 10 best places to work in the Americas in 2018. Read on to find more!
1. United States
Big Apple? Big opportunity! Work abroad in America and live the big city life.
Want to work abroad in America? As the world’s largest economy, the US is the world’s most popular destination to work abroad. Uncle Sam beholds a place where dreams do come true for those prepared to muck in and pay their dues. Job opportunities in the USA for foreigners include work in multinationals, IT, retail, and healthcare. Short term jobs can easily be found in Bay Area startups, national park resort towns, and coffee shops near ski slopes. Find jobs across the country, from Anchorage to DC to Honolulu.
Recommended program: Work in the US with USEH International
See ALL jobs in the US
2. Mexico
Find jobs in Mexico, one of the best places to work in the Americas.
To the south of the US is Mexico, one of the top places to find jobs abroad in America. Although still a developing country, you can find jobs to improve your proficiency in Spanish or take your bilingual fluency to a whole ‘nother level. One of the most popular jobs is teaching English, especially in popular cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara (but you can really find gigs like these all over!). Others can choose to work in tourist hotspots like Cancún or Oaxaca, making cocktails (and eventually molé?) like a boss.
See ALL jobs in Mexico
3. Costa Rica
Help save these lovely creatures while working in conservation in Costa Rica, one of the best places to live in Latin America.
Do you love Costa Rica so much that you want to live there forever? Toucan do it! The Tico way of life makes Costa Rica the best Latin American country to live. Teach English to the locals in San José, Valle Central, Limon, and Guanacaste. Also, help preserve la pura vida in Costa Rica’s dense rainforests, volcanoes, and ecological habitats. Working in Arequipa means seeing a volcano every day on your walk to work. Cool, huh?
See ALL jobs in Costa Rica
4. Canada
No such thing as a “snow day” when you choose to work in Canada—and that’s a good thing.
Unlike its neighbors to the south, Canada is the least populous country in North America. However, it’s the second largest country in the world in terms of its sheer size from coast to coast. Canada is also one of the best places to work in the Americas because of its strong economy and progressive culture. Find office jobs in America in Toronto or French speaking Montreal or on farms, ranches, and national parks across the Great White North. Just be sure to pack your manners if you want to fit in with your coworkers!
Recommended program: Work in Canada with InterExchange
See ALL jobs in Canada
5. Argentina
Is your dream job working as a ski instructor? Make the right decision to go to Argentina!
Home of Patagonia, it can’t get more naturally beautiful than Argentina. With the third largest economy in the continent, it’s one of the best countries to work in South America. Foreigners can find jobs on farms and vineyards, in bars and ski resorts, in real estate and business, and in teaching English in Buenos Aires and Córdoba. The Paris of South America is also home to a substantial expat community and one of the safest places to live in Latin America, making it relatively easy for foreigners to fit in.
Recommended program: Teach in Argentina with International TEFL Academy
See ALL jobs in Argentina
6. Dominican Republic
Work in one of the oldest cities of the New World, Santo Domingo.
Looking for a different kind of Caribbean work experience? The Dominican Republic, located right next door to Haiti, is rife with international and American work abroad programs. Expats will assimilate in no time on an island blessed with beaches, mountains, merengue clubs, and tourist resorts. Wander the cobbled streets of Santo Domingo, one of the oldest cities in the New World, or soak in the clear waters of Punta Cana and Puerto Plata. Popular sectors for foreigners include teaching English as a foreign language and tourism.
See ALL jobs in the Dominican Republic
7. Brazil
A lot of young expats are flocking to Brazil for paid jobs in many sectors. Are you next?
Work in Brazil, Pindorama (Land of the Palms), the largest country on South America, and one of the best Latin American countries to live in. Head to São Paulo, alpha global city, and Rio de Janeiro, cidade maravilhosa, for some of the best jobs in Brazil. Foreigners teach English, work in agriculture, or find jobs abroad that require highly specialized skills, like engineering, energy, and environmental management. When you’re not kicking butt in the office or classroom, be sure to perfect your Portuguese language, samba rhythm, and costume-making skills (Carnaval will be here before you know it!).
Recommended program: Teach in Brazil with Teach Away
See ALL jobs in Brazil
8. Peru
Be smart like this llama. Live in Peru, one of the best countries to work in South America.
Maybe not for guinea pigs (a local delicacy), but the Land of the Incas is one of the best places to live in Latin America for expats in 2018. Peru is a dream destination if you want to improve your Spanish, take selfies with llamas, get to know ancient cultures, and work in a country that is starkly beautiful. Teach English or work in translation in Lima, the largest city, or in Arequipa and Trujillo. Punch the clock in hostels and restaurants in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca empire and basecamp to Machu Picchu’ers. After your 9 to 5, sip on pisco sours, hike the Andes, or explore Lake Titicaca.
Recommended program: Teach in Peru with i-to-i TEFL
See ALL jobs in Peru
9. Panama
An unexpected cosmopolitan feel in Central America. Find jobs in Panama!
Panama is so much than the home of a famous canal that connects two massive oceans. In fact, it’s definitely where to live in Central America if you seek a great standard of living and competitive salaries. When it comes to jobs for foreigners in Panama, most people head to tropical Bocas Del Toro, cosmopolitan Panama City, and mountainous Boquete. Getting a job in Panama as an expat has its challenges (the jobs aren’t many), but you can earn a decent living working in foreign affairs, international trade, English language education, and tourism.
Recommended program: Become a stadium reporter in Panama with MS Data Agency
See ALL jobs in Panama
10. Guatemala
Soak up history, observe incredible colors, stuff yourself with beans and rice—all this and more while working in Guatemala.
Guatemala is a popular travel destination for backpackers and is also the largest nation in Central America. In fact, it’s bordered by Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador, as well as the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, making it a great base to explore the rest of the region. Find ESL jobs, hustle in tourism, or work with local and international NGOs in Guatemala City, Solola, and Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage preserved city.
See ALL jobs in Guatemala
A note from GoAbroad
We’d like to thank our community for not only inspiring us daily, but for also giving us enough insight to share accurate predictions for meaningful travel in 2018.
Learn more about our research methodology, recommended programs, and links here.
Browse more of this year's report on top destinations for working abroad
- Best Destinations to Find Jobs Worldwide in 2018
- Best Destinations to Find Jobs in Europe for 2018
- Best Destinations to Find Jobs in Africa for 2018
- Best Destinations to Find Jobs in the South Pacific & Asia for 2018
- See ALL top destinations for ALL travel
