Salary guide
Compare pay ranges, visa expectations, cost-of-living tradeoffs, and current job activity before choosing where to teach English.
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Quick comparison
The highest salary is not always the best contract. Housing, visa support, teaching hours, and local costs can change the real value of a job.
Asia
Public schools: 2.0M to 2.7M KRW per month with housing. Hagwons: 2.1M to 2.8M KRW with housing or stipend. Universities: 2.3M to 3.5M KRW with shorter contact hours.
First-time teachers who want a structured contract with housing handled. Korea's system is the most beginner-friendly path into ESL.
Asia
International schools: 25k to 45k RMB per month. Training centers: 18k to 30k RMB. Public schools: 12k to 22k RMB. Universities: 10k to 20k RMB with long vacations. Most contracts include housing or stipend.
Experienced teachers who want to maximize savings. Two years of teaching in China can clear 30k USD in savings if you live carefully.
Asia
Government schools: 30k to 45k THB per month. Bilingual schools: 45k to 70k THB. International schools: 80k to 150k THB. Language centers pay hourly, 400 to 700 THB per hour.
Teachers prioritizing lifestyle, climate, and travel access. Not optimal if your goal is paying off student loans fast.
Asia
Language centers: 1,400 to 2,200 USD per month. International schools: 2,500 to 4,500 USD. Pay is hourly for most center jobs, in the 18 to 25 USD per hour range. Cost of living is low enough that most teachers save 600 to 1,000 USD per month.
Teachers who want flexible hours, a strong expat community, and a low cost of living. Hanoi and HCMC are very different cities — pick deliberately.
Asia
Buxibans: 600 to 750 NTD per hour, with most teachers working 20 to 30 hours per week. Public schools (FET): 60k to 75k NTD per month. International schools: 80k to 130k NTD per month.
Teachers who want urban Asia with cleaner air than mainland China, excellent food, and a culture that respects educators.
Asia
JET: 3.36M JPY for first year, scales up year over year. Eikaiwa: 250k to 280k JPY per month. ALT dispatch: 230k to 270k JPY per month. Cost of living outside Tokyo is reasonable.
Teachers committed to staying multiple years and learning Japanese. The pay does not stretch as far as Korea, but career stability and quality of life are high.
Europe
Auxiliares: 700 to 1,000 EUR per month for 12 to 16 hours per week. Language academies: 1,200 to 1,800 EUR. Private classes: 15 to 30 EUR per hour. Most teachers combine sources to reach 1,500 to 2,200 EUR.
Teachers prioritizing lifestyle, language exposure, and access to Europe over savings. This is not a market you save in.
Middle East
K-12 licensed teachers: 12k to 22k AED per month, often with housing or 50k to 90k AED yearly housing allowance. Adult ESL at universities and centers: 8k to 14k AED. Add airfare, end-of-service gratuity, and health insurance to most packages.
Credentialed teachers with K-12 experience who want to maximize savings. Not a starter market.
Americas
Language schools: 12k to 22k MXN per month. Business English contracts: 250 to 400 MXN per hour. Universities: 18k to 30k MXN per month. Cost of living is low enough that most teachers live comfortably.
Teachers wanting Latin America experience, Spanish immersion, and proximity to the US. Not a market for high savings.
Country table
Asia
Asia
Asia
Asia
Asia
Asia
Europe
Middle East
Americas
Europe
Middle East
Asia
Americas
Americas
Europe
| Country | Salary range | Visa notes | Active jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea Asia | Public schools: 2.0M to 2.7M KRW per month with housing. Hagwons: 2.1M to 2.8M KRW with housing or stipend. Universities: 2.3M to 3.5M KRW with shorter contact hours. | E-2 visa for most roles. Requires a bachelor's degree, a clean criminal record check, and citizenship from one of seven approved countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa). A 120-hour TEFL certificate is standard, sometimes required. | 27 |
| China Asia | International schools: 25k to 45k RMB per month. Training centers: 18k to 30k RMB. Public schools: 12k to 22k RMB. Universities: 10k to 20k RMB with long vacations. Most contracts include housing or stipend. | Z visa. Requires bachelor's, two years of post-graduation work experience, a 120-hour TEFL, and a notarized criminal record check. Citizenship from one of seven native English countries is standard. Age cap of 60 is typical. | 16 |
| Thailand Asia | Government schools: 30k to 45k THB per month. Bilingual schools: 45k to 70k THB. International schools: 80k to 150k THB. Language centers pay hourly, 400 to 700 THB per hour. | Non-Immigrant B visa converted to a work permit. Bachelor's required. TEFL certificate strongly preferred and required for the teacher license. Many teachers start on a tourist visa and convert after hiring. | 7 |
| Vietnam Asia | Language centers: 1,400 to 2,200 USD per month. International schools: 2,500 to 4,500 USD. Pay is hourly for most center jobs, in the 18 to 25 USD per hour range. Cost of living is low enough that most teachers save 600 to 1,000 USD per month. | Work permit and temporary residence card. Requires bachelor's, 120-hour TEFL, criminal record check, and a health check. Native speaker preference but non-native teachers with a bachelor's in English or education are increasingly hired. | 6 |
| Taiwan Asia | Buxibans: 600 to 750 NTD per hour, with most teachers working 20 to 30 hours per week. Public schools (FET): 60k to 75k NTD per month. International schools: 80k to 130k NTD per month. | Work permit through the employer, then ARC (Alien Resident Certificate). Bachelor's required, 120-hour TEFL strongly preferred. Native English speaker preference for most roles. | 4 |
| Japan Asia | JET: 3.36M JPY for first year, scales up year over year. Eikaiwa: 250k to 280k JPY per month. ALT dispatch: 230k to 270k JPY per month. Cost of living outside Tokyo is reasonable. | Instructor visa or Specialist in Humanities visa. Bachelor's required. Native English speaker preference for most roles. JET requires application by November for the following August start. | 3 |
| Spain Europe | Auxiliares: 700 to 1,000 EUR per month for 12 to 16 hours per week. Language academies: 1,200 to 1,800 EUR. Private classes: 15 to 30 EUR per hour. Most teachers combine sources to reach 1,500 to 2,200 EUR. | EU citizens can work freely. North Americans typically use the Auxiliares student visa or, increasingly, the Spanish digital nomad visa for remote work plus side teaching. UK citizens now need a visa post-Brexit. | 3 |
| United Arab Emirates Middle East | K-12 licensed teachers: 12k to 22k AED per month, often with housing or 50k to 90k AED yearly housing allowance. Adult ESL at universities and centers: 8k to 14k AED. Add airfare, end-of-service gratuity, and health insurance to most packages. | Employment visa sponsored by the school. Requires attested degree, criminal background check, and medical exam. Process takes 4 to 8 weeks. | 3 1 featured |
| Mexico Americas | Language schools: 12k to 22k MXN per month. Business English contracts: 250 to 400 MXN per hour. Universities: 18k to 30k MXN per month. Cost of living is low enough that most teachers live comfortably. | Many teachers work informally on tourist visas, though this is technically not allowed. Legal employment uses the Temporary Resident visa with work permission, which the school sponsors. | 1 |
| Poland Europe | Language schools: 4,000 to 6,500 PLN per month. Corporate and freelance business English: 70 to 130 PLN per hour. Saving is modest, but the lifestyle and central-Europe travel are the draw. | EU and UK-settled citizens can work freely. Non-EU teachers need a work permit sponsored by an employer plus a national (type D) visa or residence card, which is harder to secure than in Asia. A degree and CELTA/TEFL are effectively required for sponsorship. | 1 |
| Saudi Arabia Middle East | University foundation programs: 12k to 22k SAR per month tax-free. Aramco and military contracts can exceed 25k SAR. Housing, transportation, and an annual flight home are standard. | Employment visa, sponsored by the institution. Master's degree often required. Process is slow — 3 to 6 months from offer to arrival is common. | 1 1 featured |
| Cambodia Asia | Language centers: 900 to 1,500 USD per month. Better private schools: 1,500 to 2,200 USD. International schools with credentials: 2,500 USD and up. Rent for a modern one-bedroom runs 300 to 500 USD. | Enter on an e-class (business) visa, then extend it 6 or 12 months through an agent. No degree is legally required, though a 120-hour TEFL certificate is expected by most reputable schools and a degree unlocks the better-paying jobs. | 0 |
| Colombia Americas | Language institutes: 1.8M to 3M COP per month. Universities: 2.5M to 4.5M COP. Corporate contracts: 30k to 60k COP per hour. Cost of living is among the lowest in popular ESL markets. | TP-4 visa for sponsored teaching positions. Many teachers also use the digital nomad visa or remain on tourist visas while doing private classes informally. | 0 |
| Costa Rica Americas | Private institutes: 700 to 1,200 USD per month. Corporate and international-school roles: up to 2,000 USD with credentials. Cost of living is higher than most of Latin America, so saving is limited. | Many teachers work on a tourist entry and renew it with border runs, especially at institutes that hire informally. Formal work permits exist but are employer-sponsored and slower. A degree is not always required, but a TEFL certificate is expected. | 0 |
| Czechia Europe | Language schools: 25,000 to 40,000 CZK per month. Freelance and corporate rates: 350 to 600 CZK per hour. Prague rent is the main expense; saving is modest, and most teachers come for the lifestyle. | EU and UK-settled citizens work freely. Non-EU teachers most often set up a zivno (zivnostensky list) trade license and work as freelancers, which is the standard route into the Prague market. A degree and CELTA/TEFL make you far more employable. | 0 |
By region
South Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Cambodia
Spain, Poland, Czechia
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia
Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica
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