Comparison
Experienced teacher choosing between lifestyle (Japan) and savings (China).
Japan offers stability and a longer career path; China pays significantly more, especially at international schools. Japan's eikaiwa hours skew toward evenings and weekends. China's market shifted toward in-person K-12 after the 2021 online tutoring ban.
JET, eikaiwa chains, and ALT positions. Pay is steady, vacation is short.
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.
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.
International schools, training centers, and universities. Pay is the highest in 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.
Experienced teachers who want to maximize savings. Two years of teaching in China can clear 30k USD in savings if you live carefully.
English Instructor (Eikaiwa)
Sakura English Studio · Tokyo, Japan
Teach Abroad in Japan – Paid Public School Teaching Positions
RVF International · Various
A Full Time English teacher is needed in Tokushima, Japan
Squbee English · Various
English Teaching Opportunities — Online & In-Person in Japan
CES Continental English school · Various
Assistant Language Teachers in Japan
Interac · Across Japan, Japan
Jobs at K12 Schools 2026
Teachingsurfing · China
ESL Teacher - Training Center
BrightPath Language Center · Shanghai, China
Competitive Salaries Up to 30K at a Top-Rated School in China
Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) International Group,China. · China
High Paid Native Teacher Position | Weekend Off + Flight Reimbursement
Horizon Recruitment · China
Kindergarten teaching position in Hangzhou
ShenzhenNew Silk Road Education Hangzhou Branch · China
WANTED: Kindergarten English Teachers (Beijing)
Beijing RZD Culture · China
Japan
JET if you can wait 9 months for a placement and want a public school role with full benefits. Eikaiwa if you want to start within 60 days and are okay with evening hours. ALT dispatch is the fallback when you are already in Japan and need work.
Japan
Less than in Korea or the Gulf. Most teachers cover living costs comfortably and save 30k to 80k JPY per month outside Tokyo.
China
Not for K-9 students inside China. Adult-focused online teaching to Chinese learners through global platforms is allowed but pays much less than the old VIPKid era.
China
Tier 1 (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou) pays 30 to 50 percent more, but cost of living absorbs much of that. Tier 2 cities often have better savings rates.