How Much Do English Teachers Make in China?

Teaching English in China is more than an opportunity to make money—it’s a chance to explore a new culture, meet new people, and learn something new about yourself. But, if you’re looking into teaching abroad in China, it’s normal to wonder how much English teachers make there (especially if you need to support yourself!).

Being an English teacher in China could be a great move for your travels and career!

Like most things, it depends. Being an English teacher in China will look a little different depending on your background, where you go, and what kind of school you end up in.

So if you’re dying to know how much you can earn teaching English in China, read on. We’ll break down what you need to know so you can make the best decision for your English teaching career!

READ MORE: Why Teach English in China?

Teaching English in China requirements

If you’re looking to rake in that English teacher salary in China, you have to get the job first. But it’s not as simple as buying a plane ticket, arriving in China, and looking for work. In most cases, you’ll need to get hired before you even get there.

China is known for being a relatively easy place to get a teaching job, but over the years, teaching English in China has gained more requirements.

The number of English learners has skyrocketed in recent decades, and recent estimates point to a whopping 300 million English learners. So what boxes do you need to check in order to teach them?

In general, you’ll need to fulfill these requirements before you’re eligible for teaching jobs in China:

• TEFL certificate, 150+ hours. Note that TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA are all acceptable for employment, but in China, you’ll want to have as many teaching options as possible so it’s better to have a TEFL with 150+ hours)
• Z Visa (for teaching)
• Citizenship in an approved country (UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa; this is related to Z Visa requirements, but we thought it was good to mention it here)
• Bachelors degree
• Clear a background check
• 18 - 60 years old, 55 for women

Being an English teacher in China is a rewarding experience, but just like anything worthwhile, it takes a little work. There are some exemptions and special circumstances to this list of requirements, but to be safe, aim for everything on the list above.

READ MORE: How to Avoid Common Teach in China Scams

What is the average English teacher's salary in China?

Think about where you’d want to be based as an English teacher in China.

Now that you know how to qualify to teach English in China, you’re probably wondering exactly how much English teachers make in China. This is especially helpful to know prior to accepting a job offer, or if you anticipate that you’ll need to negotiate your salary at some point.

In general, if you teach English in China, your monthly salary will be between CN¥ 16K and CN¥ 50k (currently ~$2,300 and $7,400). The average usually shakes out to be around CN¥ CN¥30,400 per month (~$4,500).

That being said, it really depends on what city you end up in, since each city is ranked by tiers. Businesses use tier categorization to track city development, market trends, tax policies and incentives, and more.

Tier 1 cities are the largest and wealthiest, which translates to higher costs of living. Lower-tier cities are less developed, or the economy isn’t as robust, but it also means the cost of living is lower. Each city’s tier is based on GDP, political administration, and population. What does that mean for you? Some cities will pay you more to teach English, and others won’t.

READ MORE: 7 Best Places to Teach English in China

How much can I earn teaching English in China?

Your English teacher salary in China isn’t set in stone. But how much do English teachers make in China compared to how much you keep? That depends on how you save your money. But your potential salary can be impacted by your teaching experience, the type of degree you have, your language proficiency if you’re a native speaker, and the country you’re from.

For teachers without teaching experience, the salary will range from 10,000 CN¥ to 15,000 CN¥ per month. If you’ve been around the block a few times and have some ESL teaching under your belt, you could make up to 18,000 CN¥ to 25,000 CN¥ per month.

The location and type of school will also impact how much you make. For example, an English teacher’s salary in China’s public schools could be 8,000 to 11,000 CN¥ per month. But if you work in a private institution, you could make up to 16,000 a month. These schools have higher expectations for their students and this level of commitment is also expected of their teachers.

International schools, where everything is taught in English, could boost your salary to 10,000 to 25,000 CN¥ per month. It’s a little more complicated to get hired in these places, and like private schools, have higher expectations and pressures.

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Being an English teacher in China is a great way to work and travel!

Ready for an adventure?

Being an English teacher in China is a great excuse to explore the world and make a little dough while you do it! No matter how much English teachers in China make, you’re sure to have an adventure.

Teaching English is relatively accessible if you happen to be a native speaker. Getting a legit TEFL certification is a breeze with the many online and in-person options. You could feasibly be traveling and getting certified at the same time, then settle in China to make some money along the way. Our free Online Advisor can help you get started!

If you decide to pursue teaching English in China, your salary won’t be insanely high, but you can still manage to save money with the average cost of living.

So now that you know how much you can earn teaching English in China, what will you do? Kudos to you for doing your homework, teach’.

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