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Teaching English in Taiwan: Salaries

With excellent salaries and a low cost of living, Taiwan’s insatiable demand for English teachers and economic conditions mean it’s a great choice for TEFL teachers.

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Teaching English in Taiwan: Salaries
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You're missing out if you weren’t already considering teaching English in Taiwan. For a long time, “Ilha Formosa” wasn’t as prominent a TEFL destination as neighbouring countries like China, Japan and South Korea. That’s no longer the case, and a large part of that - beyond Taiwan’s broad appeal - is the average teaching salary on offer in Taiwan. Combined with the low cost of living, especially in comparison to neighbouring countries, Taiwan’s salaries mean it’s an attractive proposition for English teachers who want to save while living the kind of teaching abroad lifestyle they have always dreamt of.

The demand for teachers in Taiwan is considerable, with foreign teachers able to find work in public schools, private schools and across different parts of the educational sector. This is largely due to a government initiative to see Taiwan become a bilingual English-Mandarin Chinese nation by 2030. Therefore, there are teaching programmes, outstanding salaries and benefits for teachers, and so much to enjoy.

While you’re on your downtime, there's so much to see and do in Taiwan. There’s the serene Sun Moon Lake, Taroko Gorge, the historic Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, the must-see National Palace Museum, the gorgeous Alishan Scenic Mountain Area, and after all that, you can take a dip in the Beitou Hot Springs. With fantastic food, friendly locals and newcomers alike, and well-paid English teaching jobs, what’s not to like? 

What kind of salary can you earn while teaching English in Taiwan? Is receiving benefits alongside your monthly salary, like flight reimbursement, housing allowance and health insurance, common for an ESL job? Should I teach in a private school or a public school to find the best salary? Let's take a deeper dive.

Download our teaching English in Asia guide

Average English teacher salary in Taiwan

So, what kind of salary can an English teacher earn while teaching abroad in Taiwan? A full-time ESL teacher's basic salary is likely around NT$72,436 (£1,725 / $2,220) per month. As we’ll explore, this contrasts very well with the cost of living in Taiwan, especially compared to neighbouring Asian countries like Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.

Private tutoring is a lucrative market in Taiwan, especially in the capital city of Taipei City. Any English teacher hoping to boost their monthly salaries with extra private lessons can charge around NT$700 - NT$1,000 per hour (£19 – £27 / $24 – $34). Factors like prior teaching experience, degrees and TEFL certification will help you command higher tutoring fees. 

Country Avg. monthly salary Degree required Start of term Teaching experience Housing & flights included Suitable for non-native English speakers Age restrictions
Teach in Taiwan £1,335 - £1,735 GBP
($1,700 - $2,220 USD)
September Sometimes Under 65

Types of jobs, salary and benefits in Taiwan

Public schools

With the likes of the TFET programme putting English teachers into Taiwan public schools, there’s plenty of opportunity to build teaching experience in the public sector. You’ll find enthusiastic English learners from kindergarten onwards and average salaries of around NT$62,686 - $83,581 (£1,000 - £2,000 / $1,300 - $2,600) in public school jobs.

You’ll need a degree, a teaching licence, and a TEFL certificate to be eligible for state school jobs in Taiwan. You don't need to be a native English speaker, but you'll need to demonstrate fluency in the English language through proficiency exams or your bachelor's degree. Expect large classes while teaching in Taiwan's public school system, but also anticipate being treated well. It’s normal to receive benefits like performance bonuses, medical insurance and Mandarin classes.

Cost of living

Given the salaries offered to English teachers, there's some excellent news for anyone teaching English in Taiwan: the comparatively low cost of living.

Rent is usually the most considerable expense for international school teachers working out in Taiwan. However, this can be mitigated by housing allowance or accommodation offers from teaching jobs. Alternatively, you can opt to live outside city centres, as these are the most expensive places in Taiwan. 

If you still need to cover your rent while teaching English in Taiwan, you must look for affordable apartments. So, what is the average monthly rent cost in Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan? Usually, a one-bedroom city centre apartment costs around £487/$635 per month, which falls to £359/$469 outside the city centre.

Essential utilities cost about £68/$89, while internet access is around £19/$24 - great news if you want to teach English online! Meanwhile, if you're going to zip around on public transport, you can get a monthly travel pass for NT$1,200, equivalent to £28/$36.

One of the best parts of teaching English abroad is trying food from around the world. How about experiencing Taiwanese cuisine? A meal for two at a mid-priced restaurant costs around £24/$31, while a quick bite alone costs around £5/$6.

To legally start teaching English in Taiwan and gain a visa, you’ll need to have:

  • a bachelor's degree (in any subject)
  • evidence of English fluency (be a native speaker or prove native-level fluency)
  • a passport from an English-speaking country, such as the UK, USA, Canada, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand
  • a clean criminal background (notarised by police)

You’ll also need to have completed a TEFL course with a reputable provider. The industry standard TEFL course for anyone teaching English abroad is 120 hours of study. Your TEFL certificate must come from a reputable, accredited provider to be taken seriously by employers.

Classroom experience will be essential for some teaching positions in Taiwan, especially in public and private schools, though language schools will more readily accept new English teachers. Having teaching experience means you can more quickly get a job teaching English with a higher salary and other benefits.

If you are only planning on a short-term stay teaching in Taiwan, and if you’re aged 18-35, you can teach English in Taiwan while on a working holiday visa. These visas allow citizens of certain countries to live and teach English in Taiwan for as long as 12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q. How much can I earn teaching English in Taiwan?

     The typical salary for ESL jobs in Taiwan is around NT$72,436 (£1,725 / $2,220) per month. If you teach English in Taiwan in the long term, you can expect a healthy salary rise over time, especially if you work in private schools.

  • Q. Do teachers get paid well in Taiwan?

    Yes, teaching English in Taiwan is a pathway to an excellent salary, and you can often earn other benefits, including health insurance, accommodation and opportunities for professional development.

  • Q. What qualifications do I need to teach English in Taiwan?

    If teaching English in Taiwan appeals to you, you’ll need a TEFL certificate with at least 120 hours of study and a bachelor’s degree in any subject. 

  • Q. Are English teachers in demand in Taiwan?

    Teaching English in Taiwan is an excellent opportunity. You can explore a truly stunning part of the world, live in an exciting city like Taipei and live the teaching abroad experience you’ve dreamt of - mainly because of the significant demand for English teachers across the island!