Can you survive on a TEFL salary? Happily, yes and the really good news is that you can even put money away into your savings in some destinations, too!
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is one of the few jobs in the world that allows you to travel almost anywhere, and support yourself at the same time.
In most destinations you’ll earn something comparable to a typical local salary — or perhaps even higher. You’ll certainly earn a salary good enough to live a comfortable lifestyle, comparable to most locals.
If you’re looking to earn money on a gap year, pay off debts back home, or just spend longer backpacking the world, you’ll have to choose your country carefully, but it’s certainly possible!
Here’s what you can expect to earn…
North Asia
There’s a huge demand for TEFL teachers throughout the region, and in Japan, Korea and Taiwan salaries are amongst the highest in TEFL (up to £2000 a month).
There are also plenty of opportunities for one-to-one tutoring, which can pay £15-£40 an hour.
Of course you should remember that the cost of living in some locations is high. Expect to pay a third of your salary on accommodation (if it isn’t included) and another third on essentials. It still means you can save a pretty good amount, if you’re careful with your spending. If not, you can guarantee you’ll have a good time while you’re there!
In China you’ll earn around £1000 a month, but the cost of living is low, and many employers offer amazing perks such as free accommodation and return airfare for longer contracts. It’s worth considering all of the options open to you, before lurching for the highest salary on the table.
Southeast Asia
Salaries aren’t so high for English teachers in Southeast Asia, but on the plus side, neither is the cost of living, so you’ll earn enough to get by and have an amazing experience at the same time.
In Thailand and Vietnam you can expect a salary of around £600 a month (incidentally, the average Thai makes half that). It’s typical, and completely accepted, for teachers to take on additional classes out-of-hours for £10-16 an hour.
Make sure that you’re not paying a tourist price for everything and you’ll be able to live comfortably and even put some money away for a rainy day.
Central and Eastern Europe
Some places (like Czech Republic and Hungary) are so popular with TEFLers that the best jobs are harder to come by. But just dig deeper, as there’s a lot of need and a lot of great positions.
You can certainly make a decent salary of around £1000 a month; pretty good when a pint of the local beer might set you back a mere £1!
Western Europe
There are limited opportunities in Western Europe — remember where English levels are higher there will always be less demand!
Positions in France and Germany may offer around £1800 a month; in Italy or Spain they may be half that, but jobs are more plentiful. Many schools offer hourly rates only, so you may need to juggle jobs.
Latin America
It’s hard to generalise about South America as economic conditions are so varied between the countries. One thing we can say with certainty is it’s one of the most exciting regions to live in.
In a large wealthy city like Buenos Aires or Santiago you can make a decent living, with an hourly rate of around £7. At a rural school outside of the city you might earn a third of that.
However, there is a low cost of living, and it’s always possible to juggle contracts schools to get by quite comfortably.
Middle East
The secret’s out! The Middle East is currently the number one destination for earning big salaries as TEFL teachers.
In Saudi Arabia an experienced teacher can earn £2600 a month, along with return airfare and fantastic accommodation; and what’s more, demand is increasing as the Saudi government pumps billions of dollars into the university sector.
Be prepared for challenges however, and a huge but fascinating cultural shift.
Africa
Most positions in Africa remain on a volunteering basis, so it’s quite likely you’ll need to have the necessary funds to pay for the opportunity.
But if you have the funds and you’re looking for an amazing and worthwhile trip, how can you beat an experience that will be life-changing for you AND your students?
Start Your Teaching Abroad Adventure
Whether you are looking to work abroad or take a gap year, hopefully our general overview of what you’re likely to earn around the world as a TEFL teacher has been helpful if you are thinking about embarking on this career.
Of course, salaries vary between countries and cities, and change quickly depending on demand.
Interested in earning some cash on your travels? Search TEFL courses are just £99. Plus, we can sort you out with a TEFL internship, which includes the TEFL course and guaranteed job abroad! Check out our current offers on internship programmes right here