Teach English in Thailand

Thailand at a glance

The TEFL industry in Thailand has grown in recent years, particularly in the sphere of teaching children, as the government has introduced an English Programme within Thai schools. Regulations have also been tightened, ensuring that positions are filled by professionally qualified individuals, rather than just tourists looking to secure extra income. 

While Bangkok is certainly the most popular area and has the largest variety of ESL teaching jobs in Thailand, don’t overlook other locations where your wages might go a little further. The buzzing atmosphere of the capital is appealing to some, but there are also more exploitative employers in the big city. Don’t discount smaller cities or rural areas, where you might get a more authentic experience of teaching abroad. 

In Bangkok, Siam Square is a popular choice for any prospective English teacher, and language institutes are used to teachers turning up with a CV looking for work. Always check the location of a school carefully before you arrange an interview – Bangkok is sprawling, and you won’t be on top form if you have to spend a long time travelling on public transport without air conditioning. 

If you want to avoid Bangkok and tourist areas, other English teachers have found positions in cities like Khon Kaen, Nakhon Sawan, Pathumthani, Udon Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani, where competition is minimal. Here are a few of the essential things you need to know before you teach English in Thailand: 

• The most popular locations for ESL teaching in Thailand are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Korat. 
• The average salary for an ESL teacher is around 30,000 THB – 40,000 THB (£740 – £980 / $1,000 – $1,280) per month at a language school, but closer to 50,000 THB (£1,230 / $1,600) in other positions. International school positions can pay experienced teachers from 60,000 THB – 150,000 THB (£1,475 – £3,700 / $1,900 – $4,800) per month. Hourly teaching rates are usually around 250 – 400 THB (£6 – £10 / $8 – $13).
• English teachers in Thailand must have a bachelor’s degree to receive a Non-Immigrant B Visa, which is needed to get a teaching license. Most employers will also require a 120-hour TEFL qualification. 
• A Thai school is more likely to hire native English speakers from the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. If you’re a passport holder from another country, it’s still possible to get a visa to teach in Thailand but you may need to prove your English fluency level, usually by providing a TOEIC or IELTS exam result.
• Previous experience isn’t required to teach ESL in Thailand. However, those who do have a teaching qualification or some prior work experience will find themselves able to better compete for roles in popular locations. 
• There’s no age limit for teaching in Thailand and it’s common to meet TEFL teachers of all ages.
• Term times run from May to October and October to March, while the key hiring time for new teachers tends to be from February to March and September to October. 
• Teaching programmes include the English Programme in Thai Schools, universities, Language Institutes, International Schools, Private Tutoring, Volunteering and Summer Camp
• You’ll be paid in Baht (฿) (THB) - Thailand’s national currency. In terms of teaching English in Thailand salary wise, the pay is more than enough to live on.
• Of Thailand’s near 70 million-strong population, almost 90% speak Thai, the country’s official language. In addition, there are more than 70 other languages spoken throughout Thailand. You’ll often hear basic English in the major cities, with around 27% of the population having some understanding. 

Requirements for teaching English in Thailand

So, what exactly are the requirements to teach English in Thailand? First off you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, which can be in any subject. While there are ways to teach in Thailand without a degree (which we will look at in more detail later on), it is a legal requirement if you are applying for a Non-Immigrant B Visa, which you need in order to get a teaching license.

You will usually also need a TEFL certification with at least 120 hours, to be a native English speaker or a non-native English speaker with a TOEIC score of 600/IELTS score of 5+ and to pass background and health checks for English teaching jobs in Thailand.

Remember, these are just the requirements for the working visa - each employer will also have their own set of requirements for individual teaching roles. These can range from holding a degree in education or a related field to having prior teaching experience or simply showing enthusiasm for Thai culture and language. Employers might be able to provide visa assistance in advance, depending on the institution, or whether you're going through a recruiter.

To sum up, here’s a quick checklist of what you’ll need to teach English abroad in Thailand: 

Both in Thailand and across the internet, you’ll hear people saying it’s easy to find work without any of these three documents by simply working on a tourist visa and doing visa runs to the nearest border.

However, it’s always worth thinking about the ramifications of this option. You don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of the rules in Thailand. Or worse, facing an early end to your teach abroad adventure with deportation should the local authorities decide to do a work permit check at your school! 

Teaching English in Thailand without a degree

Don’t have a degree, but want to teach English in Thailand? Don’t panic! Teaching English in Thailand without a degree is possible! While you won’t be able to apply for the Non-Immigrant B Visa, there are a few different routes to teaching without a degree in Thailand. Let us explain a little more!

The official route to teaching English in Thailand is to receive a teaching license from the government, for which you must have a Non-Immigrant B Visa, which in turn requires a degree. 

Another possible way to teach English in Thailand without a degree is to join a volunteer programme. These are ideal for those looking for a short contract, with programmes often running from 1-4 months. However, although there are a few free programmes, most involve fees, meaning some upfront costs are required. These kinds of jobs don't usually include health insurance.

We look at teaching English programmes in Thailand in more detail a little later on in this article.

Teaching English in Thailand with no experience

While teaching without a degree might come with a few caveats, teaching English in Thailand with no experience couldn’t be easier! Demand for native or near-native English-speaking teachers is high, meaning that many places are happy to employ English teachers new to TEFL teaching. 

While teachers with prior experience may be able to demand better roles and higher salaries, those without experience can easily find teaching jobs, especially beyond the competitive locations of Bangkok, Chaing Mai and Phuket. 

To teach English in Thailand with no experience, you will almost always require a TEFL certification with a minimum of 120 hours. If you want to boost your confidence as a first-time teacher or compete for a role somewhere like Bangkok, we recommend Level 5 TEFL certification. 

First-time TEFL teachers may also want to consider obtaining Advanced TEFL certification, especially for those hoping to teach young learners or business English to adults. These qualifications can be completed at the end of a regular TEFL course and are a great way to make your CV stand out from other applicants. 

Visa for teaching jobs in Thailand

The official route to teach English in Thailand is to obtain a Non-Immigrant B Visa, with two different options for how you receive this. You can either apply for your visa before you leave your home country or process it once you have arrived in Thailand.

However, it’s worth being wary of schools that push for the second option as you might find yourself on a tourist visa for longer than expected! 

Once you have your Non-Immigrant B Visa and are in Thailand, you can then apply for a work permit or visa, which in turn allows you to apply for your teaching license. This temporary teaching license is legally required for everyone hoping to work as a teacher in Thailand unless you already hold a degree in education. TEFL certification alone won't do it.

If that all sounds a little complicated still, don’t worry! Your school or employer should be willing to help with any documentation or red tape you may come across as you apply. In the meantime, here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll need for each stage of the process:

Teach English in Thailand: Salary & Cost of Living

Teaching English in Thailand might sound like the dream job, but exactly how far will a teacher’s salary stretch? What sort of salary can you expect to make? The good news is Thailand is one of the cheapest countries in Asia, meaning your hard-earned money will usually go quite far. Wages for experienced teachers, especially at private international schools in the big cities, can be extremely generous. 

There are, of course, a few things that will affect how big your salary will be, many of which you’ll decide before you even step on the plane!

These include where you want to live, what kind of school or employer you want to work for and how you plan on spending the majority of your free time. For example, a TEFL teacher with their heart set on working in Phuket might discover that competition for jobs is high, which makes getting one of the well-paid teaching roles more difficult.

It’s also a very popular tourist area of Thailand, so prices in restaurants, bars and shops will reflect this. On the other hand, someone who is happy to teach in a quieter area may find their salary is slightly lower but the cost of living is much cheaper, making it possible to save, and have a more authentic experience of Thailand too! 

Let’s take a more detailed look below at how much you can make and what you can expect to spend teaching English in Thailand: 

While the TEFL industry is still going strong in Thailand, wages haven’t increased as they have done in other Asian countries. However, the cost of living is still low and, on a modest wage, most TEFL teachers in Thailand can save a percentage of their wages for the future. 

Newer teachers might have to settle for a lower-paying position but it’s possible to take on private students if you want to earn a little extra. 

How much can you make teaching English in Thailand?

The average salary for a full-time TEFL teacher in Thailand is likely to be in the region of 30,000 THB – 40,000 THB (£740 – £980 / $1,000 – $1,280) per month, working at a Thai school. This can move closer to 50,000 THB (£1,230 / $1,600) in other positions.

At an international school, experienced teachers can make in the range of 60,000 THB – 150,000 THB (£1,475 – £3,700 / $1,900 – $4,800) per month. Meanwhile, hourly teaching rates are usually around 250 – 400 THB (£6 – £10 / $8 – $13).

Of course, salaries vary between public schools and private schools, and health insurance isn't always guaranteed. Also, the salary you will be offered will depend largely on what location you teach in. Salaries in Bangkok, for example, are up to 30% higher than in other parts of the country. However, it’s worth remembering that the cost of living is almost the same percentage higher too! 

For a new TEFL teacher with no prior experience, a salary of around 32,000 THB (£750 / $1,000) is a realistic aim. If you’re brand new to teaching, TEFL certification from an accredited provider will really help to show your value to a potential school when negotiating a salary.

Meanwhile, teachers with some prior experience can ask for closer to the 50,000 THB (£1150 / $1500) mark. 

Alongside your monthly wage, some schools will also provide accommodation or a housing allowance, and many will reimburse your flight out to start teaching. Some also include a return flight home at the end of one year contract. 

Teaching English in Bangkok

Bangkok as a base

For those looking to travel around Thailand and Southeast Asia on the cheap, Bangkok couldn’t be a better base.

From here, flights to nearby destinations like Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are incredibly affordable, while cheap domestic travel via trains and buses to locations like Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi makes exploring Thailand’s towns, beaches and islands a breeze! 

Of course, Bangkok won’t be for everyone. There are downsides to living in a city crammed with more than 9 million people. Traffic is intense, the centre can be difficult to navigate during the tourist season and new teachers need to be on the lookout for scams from dodgy employers. But, for most TEFL teachers, spending at least some time in Bangkok should be high on their priority list. 

You can find out more about the top schools to work for in Bangkok by visiting The Good School Guide.