www.CostaRicaTicas.com

If you're still of working age and want to work in CR, what kinds of jobs do most get? I remember one member wrote me he taught golf to tourist and made a great salary, but I am sure he was an exception. Has anybody moved there and got a job to offset expenses if not downright made a living? If so, what did they do.

First of all... Do you have any special skills back home? If you worked as a burger flipper back home, guess what.. that is the type of job you are going to find there! If you have a entrepeneural spirit, turn your skill or hobby, into a part time job.

Yes, I have skills, but that doesn't mean a job in CR. For example I have met clerks (Arab, Indian) in convenience stores that have engineering degrees. Everyone thinks that "STEM" degrees equal automatic jobs, but they don't.

I know one software company that has no Americans in development despite a good many American applicants with degrees. The non-Americans aren't smarter, just cheaper and easier to abuse.

To me, there are no rules in jobs. I know an English major that makes $100k at a company and has engineers under her that make $60K. How many times have you heard that English majors can't find jobs, but engineers are needed? Could it be she looks like a model and the engineers look sloppy? I don't know.

I was wondering what kinds of jobs Americans get - other than the cliché "teaching English."

First of all, I don't think you can find a single golf instructor in costa rica that earns more than $40 per day, on average. This is 1 or 2 classes, per day. If you need to live here and make income, you should go to my blog.

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http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

Many of the internet gambling sites hire Americans, if you have sales abilities you can get hired by them. I was living here 2007 to 2009 and got a job running an internet gambling site, monster pay of $1800 per month, reasonably comfortable for Costa Rica, I had a sweet apartment and got puta entertainment 2x to 3x per week. Chose not to have a car and enjoyed walking, taxis and bus riding around town, also picked up a couple non putas I met on the bus.

There's other call center phone room jobs available, most pay apx $800 to $1200 salary for Americans, hard to find, but they are out there. Many of the gambling sites are commission only but I have heard of good salesmen earning 3k a month and more. It looks like most Americans here are either wealthy or on retirement income, Costa Rica wants employment for their citizens and they discourage foreigners from coming here and working, just like U.S.

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

I tell you what! Want to stake your entire net worth on that statement? Be careful what you say unless you know the truth!

with a name like lead banana dont expect much more then this

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I don't drink milk often ..but when I do it's dos tetas ..stay Horney my friends

Aweful idea. Move to CR with a guaranteed income stream. If you're depending on a job there to get by, you're probably going to starve.

I would like to get one of those security jobs standing in front of a building brandishing a sawed off shotgun wearing a cool black swat uniform making everyone nervous....

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

For what is worth, we pay $450 net to the employee on a monthly basis for this. Gross cost for that employee is about $1,800 a month, but the guys take home is about $450 to 460 depending on exchange rate on pay day.

And you are dead on about the difference of pistol versus shotgun!

Some companies may pay more just sharing my numbers.

Could you please share the tax rate to employers in CR?
That is one heck of a spread.

Odd, when I worked here from 2007 thru 2009 there was no payroll tax on employees, (internet gambling) we got what we earned and in December CR made them pay us 2x what our normal pay was. I don't know what the company's responsibility was but I was pleasantly surprised...

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

Nothing odd about it at all. You were working illegally so you did not pay payroll taxes because your employer was paying you off the books so he did not pay payroll taxes, workman's comp insurance, CAJA medical insurance, holiday pay, etc.

Sports books and call centers, but especially sports books, employ gringos who are in CR on tourist visas and not suppose to work just for that reason they save a lot of money not paying taxes and providing benefits.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

That is called el aguinaldo. It's a one month Christmas bonus common in Latin America. If the other poster is correct in that you were employed illegally, it's interesting that they did that.