5 destinations to look for high paying TEFL jobs
Everyone wants to earn more for what they do. That’s a given. A few extra dollars per hour here, a holiday bonus there – it can make the world of difference, or maybe just let you afford an extra beer in the beach bar come the weekend. Cranking up they pay is the reason a lot of language-teaching pros will try to home in on the destinations that offer only high paying TEFL jobs. There are a few that really stand out from the crowd, touting whopping take-home prizes of up to $4,000 per month! Let’s take a look…
Saudi Arabia ($2,200 – $4,000)
Okay, so Saudi might not conjure up the same free-living, chill-out vibe that say Thailand or Bali can. This is a country that’s torn between old and new, tradition and modernisation, that’s for sure. Media reports of tight press controls and lack of human rights might not be totally unfounded, but there’s a soaring quality of life in this corner of the Middle East, and plenty of growth in the EFL sector to match. You’ll get to explore some pretty amazing places, from the ramshackle old town of Jeddah to the shifting sands of the desert, all while earning a tax-free wage of between $2,200 and $4,000 each month!
United Arab Emirates ($2,500 – $3,900)
The economic powerhouse of the Arabian Peninsula continues to boom into 2020 and beyond, with growth estimates of 1.7% (at least, before the coronavirus impact) and a healthy GDP per capita of $37,000. It’s also one of the more open and international of the Middle Eastern states, with a huge community of expats of all walks of life and nationalities. On top of that, you get year-round sun and can choose between living in spots like the electrifying metropolis of Dubai or the culture capital of Sharjah. Wherever you go, high paying TEFL jobs are sure to be the norm – you’re looking at average wages of up to $3,900/month in these parts!
South Korea ($1,700 – $2,100)
South Korea is a good first port of call for high paying TEFL jobs. It’s an enthralling, open Asian destination that is big on tourism, so you won’t have to navigate the same stark culture change as you would when planning a move to the Middle East. That’s not to say things aren’t strange here – one bite of stinky tofu on the street is usually enough to prove that they certainly are! Throw in a high quality of life, stunning mountain ranges, beautiful dynastic palaces that date back centuries, lovely beaches – there’s a long list. Oh, and the average monthly wage of between $1,700 and $2,100 is often supplemented by extras like holiday pay and return airfare reimbursement.
Japan ($1,500 – $3,000)
Japan is a doozy of a place to look for high paying TEFL jobs. Money aside, the experiences and encounters you’ll have in this archipelago nation of the Far East will be priceless. We’re talking strolls through mystical Shinto shrines, meditation sessions up the top of Mount Fuji, and evenings of sake and sushi in the neon-lit districts of sleepless Tokyo. It’s no secret that jobs are notoriously competitive in Japan, and the cost of living is quite high, but wages of up to $3,000 per month surely more than balance out those negatives, don’t you think?
Hong Kong ($2,400 – $2,900)
Hong Kong is a city that fizzes with energy at every turn in the road. From the night bazaars of Kowloon to the steaming dim sum houses of Wan Chai, you’ll never be bored in this corner of Asia. Influences come from far and wide: You’re just as likely to spot a refined English colonial mansion as you are a bustling Chinese wet market. Life can be lived in the hubbub of Central, where bars and shops abound, or out somewhere like Lamma, which has beaches and forests and mountains. Pay sits around the $2,900 USD mark at its top end.
If you think you’ve discovered any more awesome destinations for high paying TEFL jobs, we’d love to hear about them in the comments below. For more information on any of the above places and what requirements you’ll need to get teaching there, head over to our destinations page…