EFL Teacher Jobs & Salaries

State schools

Government-run schools aren't a guarantee for English teachers everywhere, but many countries teach English as part of their national curriculum. Around 140 countries teach English as a mandatory subject, while over 40 more teach English in state schools as an elective subject.

State school English teaching jobs require teaching English to students of various ages. They could start as early as kindergarten and continue until the end of secondary school. State school English teaching jobs are usually reasonably well-paid, with high levels of job security, paid holidays, and opportunities for professional development.   

However, class sizes can be substantial, depending on where you teach. The location also plays a massive role in how well-invested a state school is. Schools in rural areas, even in economically advantaged countries, may have significantly less impressive teaching facilities than urban schools. This is particularly pronounced in financially disadvantaged countries.

Most routes into state school teaching - at least for EFL teachers - are through government-run programmes. Examples of this include JET in Japan and EPIK in South Korea. When government programmes like these aren’t in place, in can be very hard to find state education jobs, as local teachers are often preferred.

Private language schools

Private language schools are the place to be if you're considering teaching students of all ages. Private language schools, which teach in groups or one-to-one settings, usually function like community colleges, teaching various subjects and languages, including English. However, specific English-language schools are also common.

These institutions are usually excellent for newer teachers, with fewer employers asking for previous teaching experience or a bachelor's degree to get started. They're also great for ESL teachers seeking more flexible hours. However, these jobs aren't usually paid as well as other EFL jobs and are less secure because private language schools are run as businesses.

Universities and colleges

Universities and colleges can offer enterprising English teachers a wealth of different EFL roles, from teaching English language courses to helping individual students with translation queries.

While top lecturing jobs at prestigious universities are mightily competitive, different kinds of English teaching jobs at universities and colleges are tailored to fit various types of English teachers. These jobs usually include decent salaries, paid holidays and pension contributions, though some employers might not pay staff during the long summer breaks.

Depending on the role, you might require a master's degree or above, and some ESL jobs at universities and colleges will be limited in terms of actual teaching hours. However, if you're academically inclined, it's worth looking into. A TEFL certificate in teaching English for academic purposes is advantageous!

Online English teaching

Does teaching English online sound like your kind of job? Getting on the net and teaching English remotely to students worldwide has never been easier. Hundreds of platforms and companies take on ESL teachers, who, in many cases, can set their hours, decide their pay rates, and work wherever they choose.

Of course, there are variables. The company you work for may be geared towards a specific audience, which may mean complex time zone adjustments. You might also work through platforms, designing adverts for yourself and acquiring your customers.

However, if you're willing to face the challenges, online English teaching can be an excellent choice.

Private tutoring

Private tutoring is an excellent option for EFL teachers if you'd prefer to work one-on-one or with small groups. With lessons tailored to a learner's specific needs, you can follow an English language learner's journey from the very beginning through to fluency, or you can help with specific learning outcomes, like learning Business English or preparing for an English exam like the IELTS or TOEFL. 

Private tutoring can be ideal for EFL teachers seeking a flexible schedule, and you can set your own rates. This means there's high earning potential, provided you can attract sufficient students. However, if you work freelance, that can come with a lot of pressure - and admin.

The tutoring world can be challenging, whether finding corporate work or conducting tutoring sessions with school pupils. Still, EFL teachers with an entrepreneurial spirit will find it energising and potentially lucrative.

Asia 

In Asia, salaries vary significantly between countries. Depending on location, qualifications, and experience, an English teacher can make anything from £700 - £4,500 / $903 - $5,810 per month teaching English in Asia.

In Japan, TEFL jobs pay between 220,000 and 280,000 Yen (£1,600 – £2,000 / $2,100 – $2,675) per month, with 250,000 Yen (£1,820 / $2,390) being an ordinary payment rate. This is before including benefits, including airfare and accommodation, depending on the employer. 

English teachers in South Korea usually earn a full-time salary of around 2 million—2.5 million Won (£1,280 – £1,600 / $1,670 – $2,000) per month. For experienced teachers, wages can rise to 2.8 million Won (£1,800 / $2,345) monthly and above.

In Thailand, a language school's starting salary of around 30,000 THB—40,000 THB (£740 – £980 / $1,000 – $1,280) is relatively standard. For those with experience, salaries can move closer to 50,000 THB (£1,230 / $1,600).

Salaries in China can vary wildly, from private language schools to the most elite international schools. On average, an English teacher in China can expect to make about 13,000 RMB (£1,450 / $1,860) per month.

Meanwhile, full-time teaching positions in Vietnam pay around 27,700,000 VND – 46,171,000 VND (£920 – £1,500 / $1,200 to $2,000) per month.

Europe 

There's a significant demand for high-quality English teachers in Europe. Like Asia, wages are highly variable, but the cost of living is substantially higher, especially in capital cities like Paris, Rome, and Madrid.

In France, the basic monthly salary for a full-time TEFL teacher is likely to be around €1,000 – €2,000 (£926 – £1,852/$1,082 – $2,164), although this varies greatly between positions and locations. A Parisian salary is likely to be higher in accordance with the cost of living.

English teachers in Spain should expect to receive monthly wages of €1,200 – €1,500 (£1,053 – £1,317 / $1,300 – $1,623). Teachers who charge hourly can expect compensation in the range of €15 to €20 (£13.16 – £17.55 / $16.24 – $21.67).

In Italy, full-time TEFL jobs pay €1,000 - €1,500 (£860 - £1,280 / $1,025 - $1,530). However, full-time jobs aren't actually that common, and most teachers boost their salaries with private lessons. Teachers usually charge about €25 (£21.95 / $27.34) per hour. Summer school and summer camp positions usually pay around €250 (£220 / $273) weekly.

Like Italy, full-time TEFL jobs in Germany aren't typical. If you can land a full-time English teaching job in Germany, the average salary is about €3,179 per month (£2,692 / $3,422). Most teachers are freelance and are paid per lesson - the usual rate is about €20-€25 (£17-£21 / $22-$27) for a 45-minute lesson as an inexperienced teacher, and up to €30-€40+ (£25-£33 / $32-$43) as an experienced teacher. 

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, TEFL jobs pay around €2,000 – €3,200 (£1,880 - £3,008 / $2,400 - $3,840) per month. However, this is very much dependent on where you live in the Netherlands (cities pay more), and your qualifications and experience are utterly crucial.

Middle East 

The most lucrative salaries for teaching jobs abroad can be found in the Middle East. With the English language being the lingua franca of business and Middle Eastern businesses becoming increasingly prominent on the world stage, the opportunities for ESL talent should be obvious!

In Saudi Arabia, ESL teachers can earn starting salaries of as much as £1,711 - £3,662 / $2,133 - $4,532 - before benefits. No income tax, either, means you can keep your whole salary. In neighbouring Oman, wages for new starters on a full-time contract range between £1,280 and £2,480 / $1,600-$3,100 per month.

The average salary for an English teacher in the UAE can vary, ranging from 8,000 to 20,000 dirhams (AED) per month ($2,180 - 5,450 USD / £1,744 - £4,360). 

In Kuwait, TEFL teachers can expect a monthly average of 500-1,000 Kuwaiti dinar ($1,800 - $3,300 / £1,426 - £2,614). Kuwait boasts a lower cost of living than some of its neighbours, like Saudi Arabia or the UAE, so even starting teaching salaries can stretch comfortably across a month.