Top 5 Highest Paying Countries for ESL Teachers

Top 5 Highest Paying Countries for ESL Teachers

Maybe you’re bored at your desk job or you want to find an exotic partner in crime somewhere on the other side of the globe. Whatever it is, you’ve found that teaching ESL overseas can be your ticket out. But what does it pay?

Even though you can pack your bags and hop on an international flight for your first ESL teaching job with no degree, the highest paying countries do, in fact, require a four-year degree. 

If you don’t have a degree, don’t be perturbed. Check out my other article that shows you 10 countries that don’t require a degree to teach in.

But back to the task at hand. Here, I’ve laid out the top 5 highest paying countries for ESL teachers. It won’t take you long before you’ll come to the obvious realization that most of them are in southeast Asia. However, there’s a hidden gem at the end for the European lovers. 

1. China (mainland)

China is marking the top of the list not only because the pay is substantially higher than most countries for ESL teachers but also because it’s rife with loads of extra opportunities for many foreign teachers to make more money on the side. 

You can expect to stroll into China with a starting pay of $3000 a month but it’s not unheard of to land a contract for an international school that pays upwards of $4,000 a month. Sometimes—depending on whether or not your employer is a sneaky bastard—they will even include a paid apartment under the contract. 

Apart from teaching, it’s not that difficult to find jobs for modeling and acting seeing as China prizes the foreign face in its advertisement industry. Also, many of their products are targeted are foreign audiences so the need for foreign faces in the commercials is never-ending. 

In addition to your new acting career, you can expect to find plenty of other side hustles like voice recordings, private tutoring, and even hosting bilingual events. 

China may seem like a strange place when looked at from the outside but once you’re inside the madness of it all, you can easily thrive amongst the endless array of potential it holds. 

2.Hong Kong 

Hong Kong is essentially just an extension of mainland China but it allows an escape from many of the tight restrictions the mainland holds. You don’t need a VPN to go around the great firewall of China and you’ll find that most of the island is considerably more westernized. Not to say that it makes it better, but it certainly makes it easier to adapt. 

You can easily make around $3,000 a month teaching in Hong Kong, but the price of rent and overall living is significantly higher than if you were living on the mainland. Some mediocre apartments can go for as high as $2,500 a month and you can easily live a life that costs $5,000 a month there if you enjoy eating out and having a dashing nightlife with the occasional fancy cocktail. 

Most of the foreigners that are living in Hong Kong aren’t making their big bucks from teaching but rather dabbling in some sort of business. You will find that living in Hong Kong you can make great connections for import/export and loads of other opportunities you never knew existed. 

3.South Korea

From KPOP to hip-hop dancers, South Korea is an exceptional country glistening with potential.  Not only do they have great pay for ESL teachers, but they also provide you with an incredible opportunity to give your life a new chapter jam-packed full of unusual adventures and unforgettable memories. 

This country has it all: rolling mountain landscapes, booming night life scenery, street markets full of tasty treats, and lively arcades lit with friendly smiles and good vibes. 

South Korea will pay ESL teachers upwards of $2,500 a month and also provides more money for side hustles with private tutoring. Some students are known to have classes until 11pm so if you’re a go-getter and don’t mind working around the clock, this country can make you a fat stack in the long run. 

An extra perk about South Korea is that they have also started accepting ESL teacher with an A.A. degree although a B.A. is preferred. Nonetheless, if you happen to have only finished two years of college, don’t fret. This could still be the opportunity of a lifetime for you. 

4. Japan

Everybody has their own special reason for loving Japan even if you’ve never been there. The cherry blossoms, the clean swept streets, Mount Fuji, the samurai warrior history, manga comics, and let us not forget the illustrious tentacle porn. With such an abundantly diverse collection of classics, what’s not to love?

So, what’s the pay for teaching English in Japan? Well, pretty darn good. The average is roughly around $2000 a month but like always, potential side hustles run rampant in these city streets. They are much stricter on who they allow in as teachers compared to a lot of southeast Asia but as long as you have your four-year degree, it should be a breeze. 

If you like cleanliness, peaceful nature, and a culture bustling with ungodly technology, you might have found your new home. This is certainly one of those country’s that’s difficult to say goodbye to when your contract is up. 

5. Austria

Do you want to live and teach on one of the most iconic historical footprints of the world? Well, hot damn! Austria is a living, breathing bombshell in that regard. You can walk the same streets as some of the most notorious people of history all the way from Mozart to Sigmund Freud. 

Teaching English in Austria can land you on the soft side of around $2,500 month with even more potential from side hustling extra private tutoring classes. The cost of living is going to be pretty pricey because, let’s face it, you’re essentially living in historical heaven. However, if you play your cards right, you can potentially save around $400-$500 a month in this scenic paradise. 

Honorable Mentions:

Taiwan

In the concrete jungle of Taiwan rests the bubble tea capital of the world. This amazing island is ultimately like mainland China and Hong Kong had a baby together. It’s got the authentic feel for the culture but holds a very westernized view. However, it’s not nearly as expensive as Hong Kong and not nearly as strict as the mainland making for the perfect place to start your teaching adventure. 

Teaching English in Taiwan can get you around $2000 per month but much like most other countries, the possibilities for cranking up that salary with private tutoring classes is endless. I’ve known numerous friends who have hit the $4000 a month threshold in Taiwan from working a day school and tutoring evenings and weekends.