Teach English in Thailand: Salary, Jobs and Visa (2027 Guide)
Public school jobs with your placement guaranteed before you go
Now recruiting: public school teachers
Your guide to teaching English in Thailand
Warm people, beautiful islands and a famously relaxed pace of life, with a guaranteed school placement before you fly. Here's what the job pays, who can apply and what life is like.
We place English teachers in carefully screened public schools across Thailand, with your school guaranteed before you go. Our service is free for teachers. Not ready yet? Get job alerts.
May and November intakes
Placements in Bangkok, Central and Northeast Thailand
Public schools · Explore Thailand
Public school English teacher
Bangkok, Central and Northeast Thailand · High school students
Up to THB 36,500A month, by qualifications
Guaranteed placementYour school confirmed before you fly
Weekdays only18–25 classes a week, Monday to Friday
Completion bonusPaid when you finish your contract
Teach for one or two semesters (5 or 10 months), starting with a full orientation covering Thai culture, the curriculum and basic Thai, plus a welcome dinner. Couples and friends can apply together.
You'll need: a degree in any subject, an eligible passport (UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or EU) and to be under 55. TEFL preferred.
Classrooms, colleagues and life outside school, from teachers who've been there.
Why teach English in Thailand?
Thailand has been one of the world's favourite places to teach English for decades. Schools across the country want native-level English teachers, especially outside Bangkok, and Thai students are famously friendly, fun and curious.
The appeal isn't a huge salary. It's the lifestyle: a weekday school timetable, a low cost of living, incredible food and weekends on beaches, islands and in the mountains. If you want to try teaching abroad without committing to a long contract, a semester in Thailand is a great place to start.
Public schools
Where our teachers work. Weekday hours, big classes, a school routine and the full Thai school experience.
Private and bilingual schools
Smaller classes and sometimes higher pay, often looking for teachers with some experience.
Language centres
Evening and weekend classes for children and adults, mostly in Bangkok and big cities.
International schools
The best-paid roles, for licensed teachers with a PGCE or equivalent and classroom experience.
What your salary covers
Thailand is one of the most affordable places to live in Asia, especially outside Bangkok. A public school salary covers a comfortable life, travel and a little saving.
Up to THB 36,500
Monthly salary on our Thailand programme
THB 5,000–10,000
A month's rent for a modern studio outside Bangkok, more in the capital
THB 50–80
A plate of pad kra pao or a bowl of noodles from a street stall
A few hundred baht
Most domestic buses and budget flights for a weekend away
Completion bonus
Paid when you finish your contract
Weekends free
Monday to Friday teaching, so every weekend is yours
A realistic month on THB 35,000
Here's an illustrative budget for a public school teacher outside Bangkok, renting a modern studio. Your numbers will depend on your town and lifestyle.
Take-home pay, after tax
about THB 34,000
Rent for a studio apartment
THB 6,000
Electricity, air-con and water
THB 1,500
Phone and data
THB 400
Groceries and eating out
THB 8,000
Scooter, songthaews and transport
THB 1,500
Weekend trips and travel
THB 4,000
Going out, gym and hobbies
THB 3,000
Left to save
about THB 9,600
That's roughly £220 a month, before your completion bonus.
Our honest take
Thailand isn't the place to save the most, and you'll pay your own rent. It is one of the easiest, friendliest places to start teaching, with a guaranteed placement, weekday hours and an incredible country on your doorstep.
Bangkok costs more than the rest of the country, so teachers placed in Central or Northeast Thailand usually save more.
Arrive with around £1,000–£1,500 to cover a rental deposit, your first month and any visa costs until your first pay day.
Who can teach in Thailand?
For our Thailand programme you'll need:
A bachelor's degree in any subject
A passport from the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or the EU
Apply a few months before the May or November semester.
Apply and interview
A short online application and interview, then we discuss your placement preferences with our local team.
Placement confirmed
Your school is confirmed before you go, so you know where you'll be living and teaching.
Visa guidance
We guide you through getting the right visa to enter Thailand for work, with your school's paperwork.
Orientation
A full orientation on Thai culture, the curriculum and basic Thai, plus a welcome dinner with other teachers.
Work permit
Your school arranges your work permit and teaching paperwork once you start.
The right TEFL for Thailand
Many Thai schools prefer teachers with a TEFL, and most public school classes have 30 to 50 students. A course with real teaching practice makes those first weeks far easier. Book through ESLstarter for our discounted prices with partner TEFL UK.
Our pick for Thailand
170-hour TEFL with teaching practice
£133£279
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
20 hours of assessed teaching practice, so your first Thai class isn't your first class
Modules on large classes and classroom management, the reality of Thai public schools
100+ ready-to-use lesson plans for your first semester
Good to know: a TEFL won't replace the degree Thailand's work permit requires. Thinking of international schools or better-paid countries later? The Ofqual-regulated 168-hour Level 5 TEFL (£239) is at the same level as CELTA.
Where you could live
Our placements are in Bangkok, Central Thailand and the Northeast. You'll discuss your preferences with our local team before your school is confirmed.
Bangkok
A huge, exciting capital of temples, markets, rooftop bars and street food, with the most going on and the highest costs.
Central Thailand
Historic towns such as Ayutthaya and Lopburi, close enough to Bangkok for weekends but with a calmer, cheaper life.
Northeast Thailand (Isaan)
Friendly, authentic and the most affordable region, where you'll be one of only a few foreigners and eat some of Thailand's best food.
Weekend escapes
Chiang Mai's mountains, the islands of the Gulf and the Andaman coast are an overnight train or a cheap flight away.
The Land of Smiles
Temples at sunrise, night markets after school, Songkran water fights in April and long weekends on white-sand islands. Thailand is easy to love, and plenty of teachers stay far longer than they planned.
Before you sign any job offer in Thailand
Wherever you apply in Thailand, these are the questions we'd ask before saying yes.
Will you get a work permit?
You need the right visa and a work permit to teach legally. Never teach long-term on a tourist visa.
Is the salary fixed?
Check the monthly salary, whether it's paid during school holidays and when your first pay day is.
How many classes?
Ask how many classes you'll teach a week, how long each one is and whether there are extra duties.
Who pays visa costs?
Visa runs, document checks and work permit fees add up. Make sure it's clear who covers them.
Help with housing?
Ask whether the school helps you find a flat, and whether there's a housing allowance or staff accommodation.
Bonus conditions
Completion bonuses usually depend on finishing your semester or contract. Check exactly when they're paid.
Get Thailand job alerts
Not ready for this intake? Leave your email and we'll tell you when new Thailand jobs and programmes open, along with other well-paid roles we're recruiting for.
Free, and you can unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy.
Teaching in Thailand, your questions answered
How much do English teachers earn in Thailand?
Public school English teachers in Thailand typically earn THB 30,000 to 40,000 a month. Our Thailand programme pays up to THB 36,500 a month depending on qualifications and experience, plus a contract completion bonus.
Do I need a degree to teach English in Thailand?
Yes. A bachelor's degree in any subject is needed for the work permit and teaching paperwork, and it's required for our Thailand programme.
Do I need a TEFL to teach in Thailand?
It isn't strictly required for our programme, but many Thai schools prefer teachers with a TEFL, and it makes your first weeks in a classroom of 30 or more students much easier. See the courses we recommend for Thailand.
When do teaching jobs in Thailand start?
The Thai school year has two semesters, starting around mid-May and November. Our programme has an intake for each, with orientation just before term starts, and you can teach for one or two semesters.
Is there an age limit to teach in Thailand?
For our Thailand programme, applicants need to be under 55, because of school requirements. Other employers set their own limits.
Can you save money teaching English in Thailand?
A little. Thailand is very affordable, so a public school salary covers a comfortable life with travel, and many teachers outside Bangkok save THB 8,000 to 12,000 a month. Thailand is more about lifestyle and experience than big savings.
Can couples teach in Thailand together?
Yes. On our Thailand programme, couples and friends can apply together, and we'll try to place you so you can live together.
Do I need to speak Thai to teach in Thailand?
No. You teach in English, and your orientation includes Thai language and culture tips. A few phrases make daily life easier, and Thai people really appreciate the effort.
Ready to teach in Thailand?
See the full job details and apply in a few minutes. Our service is free.
