How Well Do Foreign Teachers Get Paid In China?

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith the increasing demand for foreign teachers in China’s English education market, many “foreign experts” with work visas come to China to engage in education every year, and those fresh graduates in China can engage in English teaching as long as they have bachelor’s degree, English skills at mother tongue level and TEFL certificate.

Given the scope of China’s market for English language instruction, how much an English teacher can make in China varies widely based on the types of jobs and the size of the company

 
Boasting the world’s fastest-growing economy and home to 300 million Chinese students who are willing to learn English, China represents the largest and one of the most lucrative job markets on earth for teaching English abroad.

Given the scope of China’s market for English language instruction, how much an English teacher can make in China varies widely based on the types of jobs and the size of the company, but most first-time English teachers in China from the USA, Canada, UK or other native English-speaking countries typically make between 15.000 RMB to 30.000 RMB per month, and some make more than that. In addition, many English teachers in China also receive free accommodation, or a stipend (typically 3.000 RMB per month) to cover housing costs and some other benefits such as reimbursed airfare.

The salary depends on the location of where you teach in China too. The salary an international school in Shanghai offers will differ to what you can expect teaching English at a language school in Shenzhen.

1. If you have a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certificate but no experience, you can expect to earn 15.000 – 25.000 RMB per month teaching at an after-school language training center in China.
2. If you’re an experienced, licensed teacher teaching your subject speciality, you can expect to earn anywhere from 25.000 – 40.000 RMB per month teaching at an international school in China.
3. If you’re an experienced ESL instructor, you can expect to earn anywhere from 25.000 – 30.000 RMB a month teaching as little as 25 hours a week within the public school system in China.
4. Teaching English at a University in China is also an option that’s open to you – for around 20 hours of teaching a week, you can expect to earn up to 15.000 RMB a month.

WHAT DOES THIS NUMBER MEAN TO ME IN REAL TERMS?

While such salaries may not be high in absolute terms compared to what you may consider to be a high salary in your home country, because the cost of living in China is lower and housing costs are provided for, most English teachers in China are able to make enough to save the equivalent of 600$ – 1.750$ a month after expenses, and some teachers are able to save more than 1.500$ a month after expenses or up to 20.000$ a year.

WHY CAN I SAVE SO MUCH?

Lower cost of living

A lower cost of living in China (which is roughly 50% of the cost in the USA) means that your salary goes farther and it is easier to save. Note that salaries are often lower in regions where the cost of living is also lower, so you can still save a substantial portion of your income.

Housing costs are often covered

Most AMericans pay 25 – 35% of their monthly income in rent and other housing-related costs, so if your housing costs are covered, as they are for English teachers in China, you will be able to keep more of your income each month.

Employer covered health insurance and paid vacation

Many English teachers in China also receive health insurance and paid vacation.