Language school jobs and the NET Scheme, explained
One of Asia's great cities, with harbour views, mountain trails and beaches all a short ride from the classroom. Here's what Hong Kong teaching jobs pay, who can apply and how to get there.
From private language schools with monthly starts to the government NET Scheme for qualified teachers, here are the Hong Kong roles we're recruiting for and supporting applicants with. Our service is free for teachers.
Language school · Small classes
Hong Kong · Young learners · Starts every month
You'll need: a degree, a native English passport (including South Africa) and a TEFL, which you can finish after applying.
See the job and apply
Private school · Headstart
Hong Kong · Year-round starts
You'll need: a degree and a TEFL. See the job page for full details.
See the job and apply
Public schools · NET Scheme
Primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong · 2-year contract
You'll need: a degree and a teacher training qualification (PGCE or PGDE). Apply directly to the Education Bureau.
See the NET guideLooking for the Hong Kong TEFL internship? It's closed for now. The small-classes language school role above is the best alternative for first-time teachers, with monthly starts and staff accommodation.
Get Hong Kong job alertsHong Kong has two very different routes in. Language schools take new teachers and hire every month. The NET Scheme is a government programme for qualified, licensed teachers, with a civil service salary and a generous package.
| Feature | Private language schools | NET Scheme | International schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay | From about HK$23,000 a month, plus bonuses | From HK$35,780 a month, plus HK$20,989 allowance if eligible | Usually the highest, set by each school |
| Teaching qualification | Degree and TEFL | Degree and PGCE or PGDE, plus TEFL for primary | Teaching licence and experience |
| Experience | Not required | Required for secondary | Usually 2+ years |
| Students | Young learners in small classes | Primary and secondary, with local teachers | International curriculum students |
| Contract | 12 months | 2 years | Usually 2 years |
| Start dates | Every month | August | Mostly August |
| How to apply | Through ESLstarter | Directly to the Education Bureau, with our guide | Directly to each school |
| Best for | First-timers and career changers | Qualified teachers wanting a long-term package | Experienced licensed teachers |
Figures are from our partners' current job details and the Education Bureau's published NET Scheme terms.
English is an official language in Hong Kong, and parents invest heavily in their children's English from the earliest age. That keeps demand strong across government schools, private language schools and tutoring centres all year round.
Hong Kong isn't a cheap city, so it suits teachers who want an exciting place to live more than maximum savings, or qualified teachers who can access the NET Scheme's package. In return you get low taxes, world-class transport and a city where skyscrapers sit next to mountains, islands and beaches.
Small classes and young learners are the norm in Hong Kong language schools.
Small, lively classes of young learners, monthly starts and no teaching licence needed. Where most new teachers begin.
Public primary and secondary schools, working alongside local English teachers on a civil service salary scale.
The best-paid jobs, for licensed teachers with a PGCE or equivalent and classroom experience.
Rent is the big cost in Hong Kong, but almost everything else is reasonable, and low taxes mean you keep most of what you earn.
Monthly salary on our Hong Kong roles
A month's rent for a room in a shared flat, more for your own studio
A filling meal at a local cha chaan teng or noodle shop
Most MTR, tram and ferry rides with an Octopus card
Hong Kong's salaries tax is among the lowest anywhere
Your employer pays into your pension alongside you
Here's an illustrative budget for a first-year language school teacher renting a room in a shared flat. Your numbers will depend on your neighbourhood and lifestyle.
| Take-home pay, after MPF | about HK$21,850 |
| Room in a shared flat | HK$7,000 |
| Utilities and internet | HK$600 |
| Phone with data | HK$150 |
| Groceries and eating out | HK$6,000 |
| MTR, buses and trams | HK$800 |
| Weekend trips and travel | HK$2,000 |
| Going out, gym and hobbies | HK$2,000 |
| Left to save | about HK$3,300 |
That's roughly £320 a month, plus a HK$12,000 completion bonus at the end of your year.
On an entry-level salary, Hong Kong is about the experience rather than big savings. Staff accommodation, if your school offers it, makes the biggest difference, so ask about it early.
Qualified teachers are in a very different position. A NET Scheme salary plus the special allowance, gratuity and pension puts you among the best-paid English teachers in Asia.
Arrive with around £2,000–£2,500, as renting usually needs a deposit of two months' rent plus the first month upfront.
For our language school roles you'll need:
For the NET Scheme, you'll also need a recognised teacher training qualification such as a PGCE or PGDE, and secondary applicants need at least a year's post-graduate English teaching experience. No Cantonese needed. See the courses we recommend for Hong Kong.
Allow one to two months for language school roles.
An online application and video interview, often with a short demo lesson.
You sign your contract and send copies of your degree, passport and other documents.
Your employer applies to Hong Kong's Immigration Department for your employment visa. A fast-track option may apply if your documents are ready.
You arrive for orientation and training before your first classes.
Within 30 days of arriving, you apply for your Hong Kong identity card, which you'll need for banking and your lease.
Hong Kong's language schools require a TEFL, and the NET Scheme asks primary applicants for a recognised TEFL or TESL on top of their teaching qualification. Book through ESLstarter for our discounted prices with partner TEFL UK.
£239
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
£133£279
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
Good to know: the Education Bureau assesses every TEFL individually for the NET Scheme, so no provider can guarantee acceptance, and a TEFL doesn't replace the teacher training qualification it requires. Just need the basics for a language school role? The 120-hour TEFL starts from £63.
Hong Kong is compact and superbly connected, so most teachers choose where to live by rent and lifestyle, then commute by MTR, tram or ferry.
The classic Hong Kong of Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, with trams, skyscrapers and the Peak. Rents are the highest.
Busy, local and full of markets and street food, with slightly lower rents and great transport links.
Towns such as Sha Tin and Tai Po, with more space, lower rents and country parks on your doorstep.
Beaches, hiking and a slower pace, with a ferry into the city. Popular with teachers who want an outdoor life.
Dim sum on a Sunday morning, a ferry across the harbour, a hike over the Dragon's Back and an evening on the beach. Then Macau, Taiwan and the rest of Asia are a short flight away.
Wherever you apply in Hong Kong, these are the questions we'd ask before saying yes.
Your employer must sponsor your employment visa. Never start teaching on a visitor entry.
Rent is the biggest cost in Hong Kong. Ask whether staff housing or a housing allowance is available, and how much it costs.
Check teaching hours, office hours and whether you'll work weekends, which is common in language schools.
Your employer should enrol you in the MPF pension scheme. Ask about medical insurance too.
Training and completion bonuses usually depend on finishing your contract. Check exactly when they're paid.
Ask how many days of annual leave you get and whether public holidays are paid.
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Language school teachers in Hong Kong typically start at around HK$23,000 a month plus bonuses. Qualified teachers on the government NET Scheme earn from HK$35,780 a month on the civil service pay scale, plus a special allowance of HK$20,989 a month for eligible teachers recruited from overseas, a contract gratuity and pension contributions.
The Native-speaking English Teacher (NET) Scheme is run by Hong Kong's Education Bureau and places qualified English teachers in public primary and secondary schools on two-year contracts. Applicants need a degree and a recognised teacher training qualification, and secondary teachers also need at least a year's post-graduate English teaching experience. Applications go directly to the Education Bureau. Read our NET Scheme guide.
Yes. Hong Kong employment visas for English teachers generally require a bachelor's degree, and every Hong Kong role we recruit for asks for one. The NET Scheme also requires a teacher training qualification such as a PGCE or PGDE.
For language school roles, yes, although you can usually complete it after applying. For the NET Scheme, a TEFL or TESL certificate recognised by the Education Bureau is required for primary roles and strengthens secondary applications. See the courses we recommend for Hong Kong.
On a NET Scheme package, yes, comfortably. On an entry-level language school salary, savings are modest because rent is high, so look for roles with staff accommodation or completion bonuses. Low taxes, cheap public transport and inexpensive local food help a lot.
Yes. Our Hong Kong language school partner recruits teachers from the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and sponsors the work visa.
Allow one to two months from interview to arrival for language school roles. Your employer applies for your employment visa with the Immigration Department, and once you arrive you apply for your Hong Kong identity card.
No. You teach in English, and English is an official language in Hong Kong, so signs, transport and daily life are easy to manage without Cantonese.
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