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English Teaching Jobs in
Thailand
TEFL course provider
TEFL certificate
teachers trained
find work within 2 months
With so many great locations to teach English in Thailand, the real problem might be narrowing down your list. So how do you find great teaching jobs in the Land of Smiles?
Thailand is a fun, vibrant destination in southeast Asia with fantastic weather and unbeatable local cuisine. While some TEFL teachers head to Thailand just to get their careers rolling after gaining a TEFL certificate, others settle into the way of life and find that they never want to leave. With beautiful cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya, gorgeous beaches on seemingly endless coastlines, and more architectural splendour than you can fathom, Thailand really does have so much to offer.
Thailand is an extremely popular destination for English teachers, and it’s not hard to see why. The demand for English, especially in the cities and tourist hotspots, is huge, meaning there are loads of TEFL jobs on offer. The country is full of excellent schools, including language schools and international schools, where qualified teachers can find rewarding teaching opportunities.
We mention tourism, and for good reason. The Land of Smiles welcomes millions of visitors per year and has a thriving community of teachers who have set up new lives in Thailand. The friendly welcome, the party atmosphere in the cities and the slower pace of life by the coasts have rendered Thailand a fantastic getaway location for many, and it's also meant a raft of new opportunities for English teachers.
So how do you find teaching work in Thailand? What do you need to land a job in The Land of Smiles? What are salaries like, and what’s the cost of living in a city like Bangkok? It’s time to find out how you can teach English in Thailand!
English teaching jobs in Thailand: an overview
If you’re eager to teach English in Thailand, you won’t struggle to find work. TEFL jobs can be found throughout the country and at all times of the year, although, for public schools, peak recruitment times are in the months before the terms begin. This is common for finding work when you teach English abroad. Many teachers can find a job in April to start with the new term in May. Most work in Thailand involves teaching children, either in government schools or bilingual and international institutions.
Private schools offer more lucrative salaries than government schools and teachers are able to supplement their salaries by tutoring. While online job adverts and job boards have grown more popular, many teachers still find that getting work once they’re in the country is easy to do, particularly for university positions and private colleges, which like to hire locally.
Jobs can have a preference for female teachers, but the vast majority of foreign teachers in Thailand are male. Some teaching jobs will require you to apply for a full teaching licence rather than a provisional teaching permit.
Quick facts about Thailand
- Capital: Bangkok
- Official Language: Thai
- Population: 71.6m
- Currency: Baht
Key facts
Requirements
What do you need to teach English in Thailand? To get a work permit, you’ll need to meet a range of important criteria. Crucially, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in any subject. It’s a legal requirement if you are applying for a Non-Immigrant B Visa. This is the visa you’ll need to get a teaching licence and stay in Thailand for the long term.
ESL teachers also need a TEFL certification with at least 120 hours. 120 hours of study is the industry standard for TEFL certification. Also, you’ll need to either be a native English speaker or a non-native English speaker with a TOEIC score of 600, or an IELTS score of 5+. As you might expect, you’ll also need to pass background and health checks when you apply for jobs in Thailand.
Every employer will have their own requirements for TEFL jobs. Elite institutions like international schools and some private schools will require master’s degrees or even doctorates for specific teaching jobs, and teaching experience also counts for a great deal.
Salary and benefits
So what kind of teaching salary can you earn in Thailand? The average salary for a full-time TEFL teacher in Thailand is around 30,000 THB – 40,000 THB (£740 – £980 / $1,000 – $1,280).
Salaries can rise to around 60,000 THB – 150,000 THB (£1,475 – £3,700 / $1,900 – $4,800) per month for experienced teachers at institutions like international schools. Meanwhile, hourly teaching rates are usually around 250 – 400 THB (£6 – £10 / $8 – $13).
Benefits featured with English teaching jobs in Thailand can include free housing, airfare, medical insurance, contributions to your pension and paid leave.
Living and working in Thailand
So, before you find yourself in Thailand teaching English, you probably want to know how much everything costs. You want to experience authentic Thai culture while teaching abroad, but is it affordable?
The best way to find out is by looking at where the cost of living is most expensive. Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, offers the highest wages for teaching jobs in Thailand, but it’s also the costliest city in Thailand. So, how much are rent, utilities and meals?
In Bangkok, it costs about £462/$604 per month to rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre. This lowers to £239/$312 outside the centre, depending on which part of Bangkok you move to. Monthly utilities cost about £69/$90 per month. When teachers initially move over to start teaching English in Thailand, they'll usually share accommodation, so it's a good idea to look for rooms rather than renting out a whole place by yourself.
A major advantage of teaching abroad in Thailand is the food. How often can you experience authentic Thai cuisine while you teach in Thailand? We’ll let you crunch the numbers, but a solo meal at an inexpensive eaterie is about £2/$3, while a three-course meal for two at a mid-price restaurant is £22/$29. When you teach English in Thailand, you can also experience the fantastic cuisine on your lunch breaks, and be the envy of your friends at home!Types of English teaching jobs in Thailand
Public schools
The most common route to becoming an English teacher in Thailand is through public schools. When you teach at public schools, you can expect class sizes of around 20-50 pupils, with 15-20 hours of teaching time per week. A TEFL job at a Thai state school will usually come with ample time off, so you can travel around Thailand (we’d recommend taking in northern Thailand!). What’s more, these schools tend to offer a decent starter salary. English teachers in public schools work regular hours, Monday to Friday, and have weekends mostly free, except for specific school events.
Jobs boards
Check out The TEFL Org Jobs Centre to see listings of current TEFL jobs in Thailand.
Applicants to the American University Alumni Language Center need a 120-hour TEFL certificate and a degree. 1-year contract, 4-6 teaching hours daily.Ajarn lists TEFL jobs in Thailand and has other pages of interest such as regional guides and details about work permits.
Bright Future International Training & Services hires over 100 teachers with a degree and TEFL certificate.
ECC is the largest private language school in Thailand, hiring around 500 native speakers with new recruits every month. You need a degree and a TEFL.
Echo English is a teacher recruitment and management agency. You need a degree, and a TEFL is desirable, although experience could be considered as an alternative to qualifications.
The International Schools Association of Thailand is a good place to find information about International Schools and any hiring opportunities.
Teaching Thailand is a jobs board for expats in Thailand, with easy search tabs so you can look for jobs in private schools, universities, language institutes, private tutoring and more.
Teaching programmes in Thailand
The TEFL Org’s Thailand Teaching Programme is a brilliant gateway to teaching in Thailand - find out if you’re eligible now!
Volunteer HQ has two opportunities to teach English in Thailand, one in Hua Hin and one in Chiang Rai. Teach for 3-5 hours a day. Fees vary.
Karen Hill Tribes Trust is a voluntary organisation teaching English across Thailand. You don’t need a TEFL, degree or experience.
Related articles for teaching English in Thailand
Teach English in Thailand
With a low cost of living, countless TEFL opportunities and a fantastic climate, Thailand is a premium destination for new and experienced English teachers alike.
Teach English in Bangkok
Even with a huge tourism industry, English being taught from an early age and enormous interest in the language, Bangkok still struggles with English proficiency. This means there are huge opportunities for TEFL teachers in a beautiful city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much do TEFL teachers get paid in Thailand?
The average salary in a public school or language school is about 30,000 THB – 40,000 THB (£740 – £980 / $1,000 – $1,280). Salaries can rise to around 60,000 THB – 150,000 THB (£1,475 – £3,700 / $1,900 – $4,800) in more elite institutions like international or private schools.
Q. Can I teach in Thailand with a TEFL?
If you’re teaching through a training programme, you may be able to teach English in Thailand through TEFL certification alone. Normally, however, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in order to meet conditions for a work permit.
Q. Are English teachers in demand in Thailand?
Yes, English teachers are in significant demand across Thailand. ESL educators are particularly needed to teach English in busy tourist areas, where adults are looking to secure more lucrative jobs in the hospitality industry. They're also needed by professionals looking to expand their business opportunities overseas, as well as young people who want to explore academic options abroad.
Q. What country pays the most for TEFL?
What country pays the most for TEFL?
It depends on your qualifications and experience, but generally speaking, some of the highest TEFL salaries can be found in the Middle East, in Singapore, Hong Kong and Switzerland.