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How Teaching English in These Countries Can Make You Rich?

Get Rich Teaching English Abroad

It has been said that teachers are in education to make a difference, not to make money.

While this is often the case, who is it to say that one happens at the expense of the other?

Why can’t teaching English as a foreign language be a lucrative as well as a fulfilling and rewarding job? 

Wouldn’t it be great to have the satisfaction of helping children, adults, professionals, learn a language to progress in their studies or careers while you earn enough money to live an exciting life abroad?

This can be possible, as long as you choose the right country to live and work in.

How Teaching English in These Countries Can Make You Rich?

While an online teaching business can be lucrative, many prefer the excitement of living and working abroad.

As a teacher of English abroad, you have the responsibility of helping others to achieve their goals that will allow them and their families to thrive.

Your lessons will make an impact on every single person you teach and, as a result, they will affect your life.

With such an important job, it’s only fair that you would be remunerated accordingly.

It is true that TEFL salaries vary depending on where you are in the world, but there are some countries that stand out for offering the highest salaries in the world.

They’re mainly located in the Middle East and in East Asia.

Let’s explore these options!

countries with the highest salaries for English teachers

Kuwait

Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world, but it’s also one of the richest.

If you’re thinking of teaching English in this country, your clients are likely to be professionals working in the oil industry.

They’ll probably require Business English and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) for their business relations. 

You can expect a salary anywhere between $2,600 and $4,000 per month, as well as attractive perks and benefit packages.

These often include medical insurance, transportation to and from work, housing and utility bills, and return flights when your contract is over.

What makes working in Kuwait even more lucrative is that your earnings are tax-free.

With the right qualifications, like a university degree and a TEFL certificate, newly qualified teachers are welcome in Kuwait.

Don’t forget to apply for a residence visa and a work permit if you want to work in this country.

South Korea

South Korea has become an increasingly popular destination because this country offers a great lifestyle and very high salaries.

Whether you’re looking for history and tradition or modern urban areas, South Korea has it all.

Let’s not forget Korean food – healthy and spicy to keep you warm in winter.

Most importantly, this country grants their international teachers exceptional salaries, between $1,350 and $3,100, depending on the school you work at.

If you are interested in working in public schools, government-led programmes can get you a foot in the door (literally!) of Korean schools.

Here are the different programmes you can apply for: SMOE (Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education), for schools in the Seoul area, GEPIK (Gyeonggi English Program in Korea), and EPIK (English Program In Korea), the most famous. 

If you want to work at hagwons – private language school – just apply directly.

They also offer very competitive salaries. If you want to know more, have a look at an excellent guide to teaching English in South Korea salary and benefits explained.

Japan

In Japan, there’s always demand for TEFL teachers and they are very well paid, somewhere between $1,300 and $4,100 US dollars a month.

But Japan is also famous for its delicious food, efficient public transport, and low crime rate, which make it an ideal place to live in.

Similarly to South Korea, in Japan you can apply for jobs in public schools through programmes organised by the government and created specifically for international teachers.

JET is the most popular programme because of the high salaries that it offers and its renewable contracts.

Getting hired as an international teacher in Japan means that you will work as an  ATL (Assistant Language Teacher).

You will help local teachers deliver their lessons, but you will also be expected to share your culture with students as well as teachers.

Taiwan

Located off the coast of  China, this South-Eastern country is an island often left out from the TEFL scene.

This is unfortunate, because Taiwan offers many perks, from free WI-FI anywhere across the country to state-of-the-art buildings, from high speed trains fascinating places to visit, like the the Chung Tai Chan Monastery in Puli Town, and the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

The visa application process is very strict in Taiwan. However, if you meet the criteria and obtain a visa, you will be able to enjoy an average salary of $2,200 per month.

China

China doesn’t necessarily offer the highest pay, but salaries are pretty high here compared to most countries and it always has a high demand for TEFL teachers. 

Many factors can impact your TEFL salary in China: your qualifications, teaching experience, and the geographical area and institution you work for.

However, your salary should be between $2,500 and $3,400 US dollars a month.

Remember that living in big cities often means higher salaries but also high cost of living.

Private language schools in China usually pay better than public schools.

However, language schools offer lessons in the afternoon, evening, and weekends, while the timetable for a public school is in the daytime. 

Another difference between private language schools and public schools is the class size.

The number of students per class in public schools is considerably higher – around 30 to 40 students per class – than that in private language schools. 

Are you ready to make money?

Kuwait, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan,  and China are amazing countries to live in while working in a rewarding and fulfilling environment, but these countries give their TEFL teachers more.

They give them the highest salaries in the world and exceptional benefit packages.

What more can you ask?

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AUTHOR

After being forced to shut down my brick and mortar business, I built my online business Be Your Maverick from scratch. Wasted way too much time researching ways to make money online. My mission is to help ambitious individuals cut through the scams and make better informed decisions getting started with an online business.