Private school teachers in Brazil: hourly pay, vacation and school breaks

Private school teachers hired under the CLT have their own rules (arts. 317 to 324). Pay is usually by class hour, and the monthly salary counts the month as 4.5 weeks (art. 320, § 1). The 30 days of vacation are separate from school recess: during recess, teachers cannot be required to work beyond scheduled exams and activities.

Quick summary

• Monthly salary: weekly classes × 4.5 × class-hour rate, plus paid weekly rest.
• Vacation: 30 days plus 1/3, like any employee.
• School recess: a period without classes in which pay continues.
• Fewer classes: reducing the teaching load because of fewer classes is not unlawful if the hourly rate is kept (OJ 244 of the SDI-1).
• Collective agreement: usually sets a pay floor, gap periods and other guarantees.

How to calculate pay

Example: 20 classes a week at R$ 40 per class hour. Base salary: 20 × 4.5 × R$ 40 = R$ 3,600. Paid weekly rest is added, calculated according to the category's agreement.

Vacation and recess

1. Vacation: 30 days a year, usually overlapping part of the school holidays, paid with 1/3.
2. Recess: the other days without classes. Pay is full, and teachers may only be called for scheduled activities such as exams, class councils and planning.

Dismissal at the end of the term

Many agreements provide guarantees for those dismissed at the end of the school year, such as vacation pay or compensation. Check the teachers' union agreement for your region.

Frequently asked questions

Can the school reduce my classes?

Yes, if classes or students decrease, as long as the class-hour rate is kept. Cutting the hourly rate is unlawful.

Is school recess vacation?

No. Recess is a fully paid period without classes; the 30 days of vacation are a separate right.

Are teachers entitled to preparation time?

In private schools, it depends on the collective agreement. Public schools have their own rules.

Read more in this series

• Paid vacation under the CLT
• Collective agreements
• Salary reduction
• Index: complete guide to labor rights

Topic: this guide is part of Types of employment contract, with all the guides on the subject.