Working Abroad As An American - What You Need To Know

To work abroad as an American, you need a valid work visa from the country you plan to live in and must continue filing taxes with the United States. Most countries require that you have in-demand skills, relevant education, or a confirmed job offer to qualify for a visa.

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If you’re considering a job outside the U.S., this guide explains everything you need to know including how to get a work visa, which careers are most accessible, and where to find English-speaking jobs with competitive salaries.

If you’re looking for the best place to live as an expatriate, check out the Best Places to Live in Europe as an Expat and the Best Places to Live in Asia as an Expat.

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Top Career Fields for Americans Abroad

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There are many career fields that are in demand no matter what country you’re from. If you have education and/or experience in these fields, finding a job and obtaining a work visa as an American will be much easier. Once you have a job offer, your employer can help you secure a work visa.

Here are some employers to consider for working abroad:

Working for an American company overseas
Working for an international company with offices in multiple countries
Working for a domestic company in your desired location
Working for the United States Government abroad

According to the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations(NASDAQ), the world’s most in-demand jobs and skills include the following:

IT and Data
Sales and Marketing
Operations and Logistics
Manufacturing and Production
Customer-facing and front office

The caveat to these in-demand job listings is that these skills are in demand in industries where salaries for the positions are lower than traditional tech positions.

For example fields where technology skills are in high-demand, but with low salaries:

Education
Social work
Government
Finance and banking
Real estate
Insurance
Telecoms
Information technology
Healthcare
Communications and media

Don’t assume that a lower salary is always bad! Many countries have lower costs of living than the United States, and that may offset the lower salary without compromises to your quality of life.

Where to Find English-Speaking Jobs Abroad

One of the easiest ways to find an English-speaking job abroad would be to search in countries where English is one of the country’s official languages. Looking for United States government positions abroad is another fruitful way to search for jobs for English speakers.

English-Speaking Countries For Job Searches

There are 38 countries where English is an official language and school instruction occurs in English. That means there’s lots of countries for Americans to search for jobs. These countries include many islands, parts of North America, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Canada
Cayman Islands
Dominica
England
Ghana
Gibraltar
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland (the Republic of & Northern)
Jamaica
Kenya
Lesotho
Mauritius
Montserrat
Namibia
New Zealand
Nigeria
Scotland
Seychelles
Singapore
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tob
Turks and Caicos Islands
Uganda
United Kingdom
Wales
Zimbabwe

English Speaking Jobs Abroad: US Government Employment

There are also jobs abroad for Americans from the State Department and the Military. Jobs may be for civilians and/or members of the US military. While some of the job listings will be within the United States, international opportunities are available.

Are you willing to work in public service to fulfill dreams of living abroad? There are more government jobs abroad than you might expect!

Here are the top US government agencies with Americans working abroad and how many employees they have outside of the US:

The US Army has almost 8,900 workers abroad in many fields.
The US Navy has about 3,500 workers abroad, also in various fields.
The US Air Force has about 2,300 workers abroad in lots of careers.
Other positions in the Department of Defense include 2,200 workers abroad.
The United States Agency for International Development employs about 1,100 workers abroad.

The following US government agencies employ anywhere from dozens to a couple hundred of workers abroad:

Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Commerce
Department of Agriculture
Department of State

In general, the US State Department is looking for candidates with experience in financial, administrative, and/or management. More information about careers and job postings for the US State Department can be found here.

The United States Department of Defense currently has almost 10,000 job openings for civilians in various fields. Job candidates can search for jobs on their website.

English-Speaking Jobs In Non-English-Speaking Countries

Don’t limit yourself to searching or applying for jobs in English-speaking countries or within the US Government. There are many more English-speaking job opportunities all over the world. Expats have found English-speaking employment opportunities in many countries.

For more assistance researching jobs in countries with fewer English speakers, read our articles on Jobs for Americans in specific countries. We also have insights for the following locations:

Steps to Land a Job Abroad as an American

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The most straightforward way to get a job abroad as an American is to find and secure the job first. Once you have a job in another country, your employer will work with the country to help you get a work visa. In many countries, you must have a job in order to obtain a work visa.

Common exceptions for a job offer prior to getting a visa abroad include being married to another expat with a work visa or being married to a citizen or permanent resident of the country.

Many countries may also have visa programs for recent University graduates in high-demand fields to allow them to move to the country and search for work.

Keep in mind that visas for Americans abroad are issued by the destination country, not the United States Department. Appeals for undesirable visa applications will be submitted to the destination country’s immigration department.

Common Visa Requirements Include:

Identity documents and passports
Medical documents stating you are free of communicable disease like tuberculosis
Background checks for any countries where you have been a resident or citizen to verify no criminal history
Application materials requested by the country’s immigration department
Fees for application
Interview at the designated embassy

An increasing number of countries allow you to start the visa application process online. Many countries will still require a hard copy of documents to be mailed to an embassy.

Best-Paying Jobs Abroad for Americans

The highest paying jobs abroad include jobs in fields such as engineering, healthcare, and more. Americans searching for high-paying jobs abroad may have skills that allow them to make a high salary while exploring the world.

According to Forbes, the top ten highest paying jobs abroad include the following:

Aerospace Engineers with an average annual salary of about $120,000.
Airline Pilots earn an average annual salary of about $110,000.
Consultants with an average annual salary of about $105,000.
Offshore Drillers with an average annual salary of about $90,000.
Telemedicine Physicians have an average annual salary of about $80,000.
Event Planners earn an average annual salary of about $65,000.
Architects have an average annual salary of about $60,000.
Sailors earn an average annual salary of about $45,000.
Ski Instructors can also earn an average annual salary of $45,000.
Training Specialists earn an average annual salary of just under $45,000.

Most Popular Jobs for American Expats

Many of the most popular jobs for Americans abroad are in education or business. Even though many of these popular jobs abroad are not the highest paying jobs, that doesn’t mean that expats can’t find fulfillment in these positions or use them as a gateway to their dream of living abroad.

According to a popular social and employment networking site, these were the most common jobs to be found abroad for Americans:

Language Instructor or Translator
Sales Manager
Marketer
Research or Graduate Assistant
Business and/or Corporate Strategist
Consultant
Project Manager
Corporate Finance Specialist
Public Relations Specialist
University Professor or Lecturer

Tips for Living and Working Abroad as an American

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Americans living and working abroad need to adjust to a new culture. Work-life balance cultural norms vary from country-to-country including work hour expectations. Expats should research expectations, salaries, and the cost of living in the new position and country before accepting a job.

Most countries in the world have a lower cost of living than the United States. According to crowd-sourced data from users around the world, the United States has the fifth highest cost of living in the world.

For more information about living abroad and the cost of living, check out our guides to Living Abroad in Europe and Asia. You’ll also find more articles for select countries in each region.

Even though many countries in Europe and Asia offer universal or subsidized healthcare, American expats have to meet residency requirements before qualifying for healthcare in these countries. To live and work abroad, make sure you have international health insurance.

International Health Insurance will make sure that you have access to affordable healthcare no matter where your adventures and career takes you! If you’re living in a country with limited or primitive healthcare, also make sure your plan has a medical evacuation rider.

Speak with an insurance expert today to explore your needs and obtain a free quote.

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Conclusion

Americans with education and/or skills have many employment opportunities abroad. Once you have a job, your employer will help you file the visa application. Some countries may allow you to move to their country to seek employment. Verify with the country’s department of immigration.

Don’t be afraid to answer the call of adventure and move abroad. Start looking for your new home today!

Author
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Serena Fung

Head of Content at Pacific Prime

Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.

How to Work Abroad as an American Expat

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