What's in this guide
This page lists official published pay figures for major public ESL programmes and official schemes, shown in local currency with the date they were checked; confirm current pay with the programme or embassy before signing a contract.
Summary table: official salary figures by programme / country
Only official programme or authority figures are included; private-sector ranges are out of scope. Cells without a primary source are marked “No official figure found.” Each amount below is followed by the source URL and the consult date.
South Korea
Japan
Hong Kong
Spain
China
Methodology and caveats
Data were collected from primary government programme pages and official circulars. Only figures published by the programme or authority are reproduced here. Each figure is shown in the currency used by the source and is followed by the consult date.
Salary publications are presented as published by the authority. Where a programme shows a graded table or refers to the Master Pay Scale, the page reproduces that framing rather than selecting a single value. Variation by province, employer or contract type can occur; where the programme notes variability, that note is referenced and linked.
Salary figures are published by the official programme or authority and are shown here in local currency with the date we checked them. Before signing a contract, confirm current pay with the programme or embassy.
South Korea — EPIK
The official EPIK Salary & Benefits page lists a graded salary structure identified by levels (L1–L3). The page details a salary table and lists named allowances and contract-related payments such as installation and end-of-contract payments. The page also notes that arrangements vary by province; the salary grid is administered through provincial offices and conditions can differ by location.
The EPIK site also lists specific benefits including initial installation allowances and an entry/renewal benefit structure. The page indicates that housing is provided with charges potentially borne by the teacher and that insurance arrangements for dependants are detailed on the same site.
Japan — JET Programme
The JET Programme FAQ states an annual gross remuneration for a first appointment of 4.02 million JPY. The programme pages indicate that this figure applies to first appointments and that the programme publishes remuneration tables for subsequent years, where applicable.
The JET documentation should be read as an annual gross figure; local arrangements such as prefectural supplements or housing support may appear in recruitment notices on JET or on prefectural pages. Confirm with the specific recruiting prefecture or the JET office for local adjustments.
Hong Kong — NET Scheme (EDB)
The Education Bureau NET Scheme pages reference remuneration set against the Master Pay Scale (MPS) rather than a single figure. The EDB materials and recruitment circulars explain how to read the MPS and list allowances such as special accommodation allowances and retention incentives (examples cited in EDB circulars).
Where the EDB provides circulars or memoranda that specify retention incentives (for example, 5% or 10% in defined cases), those instruments are cited directly in the document list and should be consulted for exact calculations in a given posting.
Spain — Auxiliares de conversación
The Ministerio de Educación convocatoria for 2026–2027 publishes a monthly stipend of 800 € for the Auxiliares de conversación scheme where the contract specifies 14 hours per week.
The convocatoria also outlines eligibility conditions and the calendar for application; consult the official ficha for application windows and age-related conditions listed in the convocatoria.
China, Vietnam, Taiwan, UAE, Thailand — concise notes
China: national-level consolidated pay figures were not found; provincial rules govern foreign teacher permits and pay practices. Provincial government sites must be consulted for exact local requirements and payroll figures.
Vietnam: our research references Decree 219/2025 (in force 07/08/2025) as the regulatory text that addresses foreign teacher permissions and related conditions. The decree should be read directly for any claim about TEFL requirements or permit conditions.
Only publish exact amounts if the MOE or the local authority’s primary page is available and consulted.
How to read a published salary (gross vs net, allowances, gratuities)
Published figures may be shown as annual gross, monthly gross, or a stipend. The JET amount is explicitly an annual gross figure (4.02 million JPY) on the JET FAQ page (source: Jetprogramme). EPIK presents a graded salary table; read level definitions on the EPIK page to map a level to a contractual salary (source: Go).
Allowances commonly listed by programmes include housing support, installation payments, travel allowances and retention incentives. Where the authority publishes an allowance, that allowance is named in the linked source. Confirm whether listed amounts are employer-paid or teacher-paid and whether taxes or social insurance are deducted at source by checking the primary programme documentation.
What is NOT included
- Private-sector pay ranges for hagwons, private language schools, or freelance platforms are out of scope unless a primary authority publishes them.
- Any “average” private salary or anecdotal postings from agencies are not reported here unless an official source is cited.
- Claims about uniform national age limits or uniform national TEFL certification rules where provincial or local rules contradict each other are not published here.
Practical checklist before you accept an offer
Confirm visa/work-permit. Get the contract in writing. Confirm who pays insurance and taxes. Confirm gross vs net. Ask for itemised allowances. Confirm start date and termination payments.
What we did not find (items not reconciled)
Keep reading in this section
Sam Reyes
Sam taught English in South Korea for six years, first with EPIK in a public middle school, then at a Seoul hagwon. He now writes about hiring seasons, visa paperwork and what public and…
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