English teaching jobs in Thailand are sought after by those who want to experience living abroad. English teachers can earn a good salary. This article provides breaking down of an average English teacher’s salary in Thailand, which will be helpful for those who are planning to change their career path by teaching English in Thailand.
Thailand is one of the top English teaching destinations in Asia. Whether you’re looking for a short-term contract or a long-term position, there are plenty of opportunities available.
Teaching English in Thailand can be a very rewarding experience. While it’s not the easiest route to take, there is a growing demand for teachers as more students move into universities and institutions of higher learning. This is especially true since Thailand has been actively striving to provide better opportunities to its residents, including getting a good education.
Salary For Teaching English In Thailand Overview
In Bangkok, the cost of living tends to be about 30% higher than the rest of Thailand, but teacher salaries reflect this increase and tend to be about 30% higher as well. While this salary is double what local Thais earn, it still isn’t very high compared to other countries like South Korea.
If you have a bit of teaching experience, you can expect to earn around $1,500, especially if you have a teaching certificate (not a TEFL certificate) from your home country. Many teachers leave their old jobs in the US and the UK in favor of international schools in Thailand, where they can enjoy a much higher quality of living than they would back home.
Teaching English in Thailand is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of children and teenagers. Teaching abroad can be an amazing experience, and Thailand is a beautiful country with friendly people, great food, and lots to do.
The average salary for an English teacher in Thailand is about $2800 per month, but this number varies depending on which school you choose to work for. There are many international schools in Thailand that offer great benefits such as housing and transportation allowances as well as health insurance packages that will help you save money while living abroad.
Public Schools: $800-$1,000 per month
While private language academies used to be the go-to employer of foreign teachers in Thailand, most teach abroad educators now work for government public schools. Teachers at these schools usually make between $800 and $1,000 per month depending on location and experience. However, if you have a few years of teaching under your belt, you can definitely expect to make more.
To obtain a job at a Thai school, applicants need to be native speakers with a Bachelor’s degree. TEFL certificates are not required, but they may help you get a job or command a higher salary.
Language Academies: $9-$15 per hour ($650-$1,500 per month)
Salaries at language academies vary dramatically, as they usually pay an hourly rate (although some work on a monthly salary). Rates will depend on location and experience. Typically, teachers will work for 18-25 hours a week for about $9-$15 per hour; which is how we calculated the $650-$1,500 per month salary range.
If you’re teaching young students, a typical salary will fall within the $9-$15 per hour range. However, if you find a job teaching adults in tourism or working for an international company, you may land a salary of around $15-$30!
Language academies have the potential to pay higher rates than public schools, however, you will be working more classes and you may have to teach nights and weekends. Schools will usually demand native speakers with a four-year degree. TEFL certificates are also optional for these positions but if you have one you can command a higher salary and have an easier time finding a job.
Most language academies have erratic schedules with classes on nights and weekends to accommodate the children or business professionals you are teaching. Class sizes will typically be small, with less than 10 students to a class. These schools usually have limited benefits, with a very small amount of vacation time and potentially a one-way flight reimbursement home at the end of your contract.
Private Bilingual Schools: $1,700-$2,500 per month
If you have experience teaching and a TEFL certification, teaching at a local bilingual school is a great way to earn a high salary in Thailand. Teachers at private bilingual schools typically earn between $1,700 and $2,500 per month.
In addition to a great salary, these jobs also have better benefits. You will typically have longer holiday breaks, round-trip airfare, and health insurance. These schools are often used to working with foreign teachers and will be more accommodating to cultural differences.
Bilingual school jobs typically demand a 40-hour a week work schedule with classes running Monday through Friday in the morning and afternoon.
Private International Schools: $3,000-$5,500 per month
The absolute best way to earn a high salary in Thailand is to work at a top international school. While these schools may seem similar to bilingual schools at first, they will offer a much higher salary and will only hire those who are qualified to teach in their home country with a teaching degree or certification. The average salary at these private international schools is between $3,000 and $5,500 per month.
Jobs at Western-run international schools will typically offer benefits as well. Free flights to and from Thailand, vacation days, health insurance, and housing stipends are just some of the perks you can expect.
Finally, the best way to earn a high salary as an international school teacher is to apply from outside of Thailand. While most jobs in Thailand do want you applying “on the ground”, the top international schools will often pay more to lure qualified teachers from their home countries!
Requirements to teach English in Thailand
Would you like to teach English in Thailand, but still not sure if it’s for you? Teachers usually come from a wide range of backgrounds. From recent graduates and travellers, to writers, retired lawyers and experienced doctors looking for a new life experience.
To teach English in Thailand the level of experience required, depends on the school you are applying to. Experience is always a plus, but not a requirement for most jobs. The most important thing is that you have a friendly and positive personality and are willing to learn and work with a team. If you have experience in fields related to teaching, it will help you stand out among other candidates. Jobs such as babysitting, au pair, public speaker, etc are some examples.
Thailand is known as a country that is “flexible” with the laws written on paper and the ones actually practiced, so it depends on the organization you are working with. However, here is the list of requirements set by the government in order to receive a work permit as a teacher:
- A four-year degree in any major (bachelor’s degree or higher).
- To be a native English speaker (NES) OR a non-native English speaker (NNES) with a TOEIC score of 600 or IELTS score of 5+.
- To pass a police background check in your home country.
- To pass a simple health check
- A TEFL certificate is preferred, but not required
- Experience is preferred, not not required
- You should have an interest in Thailand and Thai culture
Salary for teaching English in Thailand
With the popularity of English growing in Thailand, there are many opportunities for foreign teachers to earn a living teaching English. With friendly people, tropical weather and amazing food, Thailand is a great place to be if you want to live a comfortable lifestyle. The amount you will earn will vary depending on the type of school you teach at and how qualified and experienced you are.
Thailand offers teachers various different teaching opportunities. You can work in a modern metropolis like Bangkok, or surround yourself with beautiful mountains in the north or tropical beaches in the south. Teaching jobs will vary between kindergarten students to adults. Classes can vary from 40 students, 10 students to 1-1 and teaching contracts can range from 6 months to 1 year. Here are the types of jobs and salaries you can earn:
| School | Salary |
|---|---|
| Public or Government Schools | 25,000 – 35,000 Baht per month |
| Private Schools | 35,000 – 70,000 Baht per month |
| Private Language Schools | 25,000 – 40,000 Baht per month |
| International Schools | 80,000 – 170,000 Baht per month |
| Universities | 30,000 – 60,000 Baht per month |
| Private English Lessons | 400 – 1,000 Baht per hour |
Public or government school jobs
Thailand offers Thai nationals nine years of basic education for free. This means that Thai students can attend Public schools for free until grade 9. They are also offered additional 3 free years until grade 12, but these years are optional. At these schools, your students are likely to all be Thai.
Because of the ease of access to these schools, the classes are often on the larger sides, with a high student to teacher ratio. Larger classes give you an opportunity to work with a wide variety of students, but also keep in mind that it might be a bit more difficult to keep order. At public schools, the students’ understanding of English often varies. Some students might be able to speak English fluently, and write excellent essays, while others in the same class might not know how to finish a sentence. This presents a bit of a challenge, but a very rewarding one to solve when you see the difference you have made.
The salary English teachers earn at public schools typically range between 25,000 to 35,000 Baht. This also differs depending on the school and location. If you are experienced teachers you can also be offered a higher salary.
Private school jobs
The main difference between public and private schools is that the classes are typically smaller with a lower student to teacher ratio. Because these schools often require a larger investment from parents since they aren’t free, less people are able to attend. At public schools your students might be predominantly Thai, but you can expect students from all other nationalities to attend, depending on the school and location. A school in a larger city, with more expats, will have more foreign students. Private schools are pretty much like the school you attended back in your home country.
Your day to day duties here will be no different than at public schools. At public schools you are often given complete control over planning your lessons and curriculum, at private schools, especially the best ones you can expect to have someone review your lesson plans and make sure you are on the correct track. There is often a strong support system and staff assigned to help you if needed.
Private schools might also have different programs such as a basic program and intensive program, where students can choose to take their classes in Thai, with some English classes or study in both English and Thai.
The salaries at these schools are usually higher than public schools, and will vary depending on location and school. English teachers will earn a salary of 35,000 to 70,000 Baht per month at these schools. Things like your education, experience and nationality could also affect your salary. Benefits here could include a housing allowance and paid vacations.
International school jobs
Expats living in Thailand often send their kids to international schools. Some Thai parents also send their kids to an international school if they believe it will be good for their education. These schools are located in Thailand but follow a western curriculum, usually from the United States, United Kingdom or Canada. There are also international schools for students from other nationalities such as Japan, China and South Korea.
The fees to attend these schools are much higher than other schools in Thailand. Because of this there is a high standard that needs to be maintained. Getting a job teaching at international school usually requires a teacher to have experience teaching in their home country as they want to attract the most qualified teachers. For these jobs it’s best to apply before travelling to Thailand.
These are also the most well paid jobs. Teachers here can expect to earn a salary of 80,000 to 170,000 Baht per month as well as many benefits such as contract bonuses, increases, vacations, health insurance and sometimes flights to and from Thailand.
Language school jobs
Language schools are another great place to teach English in Thailand. Here you won’t be teaching during school hours. Your students will be kids and adults. Adults might study in the mornings or evenings and kids will usually study after school in the late afternoon or evening. Because of this your working hours will be different than working at a school where you will work from the morning to early afternoon.
At a language school, workdays depend on the school, and can be extended to the weekends. The class size also depends on the school and some classes could be group classes and others one on one classes. For most schools, the teacher is responsible for setting up the lessons but some schools do help with this. If not, there are a ton of awesome resources online to help with lesson content.
You could work both full time and part time at language schools. Some pay per month but common practice is to pay teachers per hour. Although salaries are usually higher than public schools, because you work per hour, you often have to work a lot more at language schools. The salary at language schools is usually around 25,000 to 40,000 Baht per month if you work full time or 300-500 Baht per hour if you work part time.
University jobs
Universities are very prestigious in Thailand and teaching English here is a highly respected job, just like being a school teacher. The main difference between universities and schools is that at schools you are required to be at work all day, even when not teaching. At universities you are only required to attend your lessons, and are free to do as you please in your free time.
This could be a great benefit if you are someone who has other things to do during the day or plan to tutor English privately. You could schedule meetings with students when you are not teaching at the University. Because of the high status of universities, working there will also be a great CV boost.
The salary you earn at universities depends on your role and how many classes you need to teach, but also on your qualifications and experience, as well as the university and location. On average salaries are 30,000 to 60,000 Baht per month.
Private tutoring jobs
Many English teachers opt to tutor some students privately after work to earn some extra money. There are even a few teachers who do this full time. It is not that common though because it takes some work and skill to build up your own client base, but can be very rewarding.
When tutoring privately some students might look to hire a teacher to help prepare for exams or tests but most will be interested in learning conversational English which is fun to teach and doesn’t feel like work at all. You could meet up at your students home or at a mall or café for your lessons.
A major downside with private tutoring is the lack of stability, guidance and support and this might turn many teachers away. On the plus side that opens up room for freedom and creativity. English tutors in Thailand often make 400 to 1000 Baht per hour.
