How Much Cash Can I Make Teaching English Abroad?
First up, we'll let you in on a secret: unless you win the lottery while you're doing it, teaching English abroad will never make you a millionaire! What it will give you, however, is a different kind of wealth - the chance to live and work in amazing destinations all around the globe, the chance to have a rewarding and exciting career, and the chance to make friends all across the world. How much cold, hard cash you actually make depends on a whole raft of things, including the standard of living in the country you're travelling to, what the country's currency is worth and your own spending habits (do you always burn through all your cash at the start of the month?). So, don't make the mistake of converting a potential salary into your own currency, then dismissing it because it seems too small to live comfortably on.
Local Standard of Living
One way to judge if your wage is decent or not is to work out what kind of standard of living it'll buy you. For example if you fancy teaching in China, you might be horrified to learn that you'll be earning a 'pittance' of around 6,200RMB a month (around £550), but when you factor in that you'll be living rent free and can get a three course meal for 90RMB it starts to look pretty darn generous! You might also want to chat to people who are already teaching in the country you're interested in to see what the average teacher's wage is and what kind of lifestyle it will buy you.
Currency Issues
So, you can get by comfortably in the country of your choice, but what about if you need to send money home or travel in your holidays? If you're wanting to convert money to save at home you'll need to double check how much your wage is worth in your own currency, and it's worth rating it against the currencies of neighbouring countries too if you want to travel in the area.
Miser or Spendthrift?
Let's face it, we never change - if you burn through the entirety of your student loan or salary the moment you get it at home, you'll do the same while abroad. There are plenty of temptations floating about like travel, good restaurants and nights out if you want to live it up while abroad. Equally, if you scrimp and save every penny possible you'll probably continue to do that regardless of where you end up. So, don't expect teaching English abroad to be the answer to all your money woes - if you're constantly strapped for cash at home, you probably will be abroad too, no matter how much you're earning.
Traps for the Unwary
No one likes getting stung for money, so it's always worth having your wits about you and checking any potential employer out thoroughly before you sign on the dotted line. Be especially wary of any promises that aren't in your contract - often teachers are persuaded to sign contracts for a limited number of hours per week and are assured that they'll be given extra hours when they arrive. Needless to say, when they do arrive the extra hours fail to materialise. Pay coming in late can be another tricky problem and make sure you get details of any bonuses for completing your contract agreed before you start. It's always best to get everything down in black and white in your contract (which should be in English) before you agree to take a job. Alternatively, you may want to let someone else do the hard work for you and try i-to-i's reputable job placement service.
Example salaries for TEFL teachers
So, if you're ready to take the plunge and teach abroad, here's an idea of what you could be earning if you use i-to-i's brilliant and hassle-free job placement service:
Enjoy some of the most delicious food in the world while teaching in China
With no rent to pay, low living cost of around £265* per month and a monthly salary of up to £550*, you should be more than comfortable during your 6-12 month contract in China. If you're interested in starting a TEFL career in this amazing country, but want a bit more support, why not try our teaching internship? You'll be able to get 500 hours of teaching practice over 5 months, a recognised TEFL qualification and a bonus of up to £2,700* just to learn.
Teach in Ecuador and you could be trekking in the rainforest on your days off!
You can take home up to £245* a month during a 6-12 month contract, but with rent of only £60* a month and very low living costs you should be able to have plenty of cash to enjoy Ecuador's stunning tropical landscape.
Be welcomed by some of the friendliest people in the world as you teach in South Korea!
With no rent to pay, you can live very nicely indeed on your monthly salary of up to £980* during a 12 month contract. Plus, the school we work with will even reimburse the cost of your flights if you successfully complete your placement.
Explore Japan's fascinating culture as you teach in a Japanese school
You can experience everything Japan has to offer, earning up to £1,575* a month during your 6-12 month contract, and despite the country's reputation for high living costs, average rent is only around £315* per month.
Experience the rich diversity of some of Indonesia's 17,000 islands as you teach there
You could become a millionaire if you make the move to Indonesia - well, in Indonesian rupiahs that is! During a 12 month contract you can earn up to IDR8,500,000* (that's £510* to you and
me!) per month, with rent of approximately £70* and other living costs of only £210* per month.
Teach in Thailand and you could be exploring the country's gorgeous beaches at the weekend! Coming soon
With a monthly salary of up to £620* and low living costs of £260* per month (including rent), you'll have no problem enjoying life in this beautiful and friendly country during your 6-12 month contract.
For more information on any of our great teaching vacancies, visit our website or give our TEFL experts a call on 0800 093 2552.
*Final salary depends on nature of the work, the location required to work, and provided you meet the minimum experience, training and qualifications as set out in the placement description. i-to-i UK Limited is acting as an employment agency for the purposes of the job placement service. Costs of living are approximates only and may fluctuate depending on what city you are staying in.
About the Author:
Chris Soames - From Online TEFL courses to Teaching English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world. Whether you're a trained teacher or a complete beginner, a TEFL qualification is your ticket for the journey of your life. For interviews, images or comments contact: Chris Soames Marketing & PR Email: chris@i-to-i.com http://www.onlinetefl.com