Hello! Here’s a guest post from a reader, Nick. A few years ago Nick felt stuck and wasn’t making progress on his student loans. After researching salaries and the cost of living for English teachers in China, he realized he could save far more money there than at home. Even without prior teaching experience and while living comfortably and taking vacations, he saved about $20,000 in a year. That decision transformed his finances and gave him more freedom. Below is his account of how to teach English in China.
It was about 4.5 years ago. I remember leaving an interview in Chicago feeling completely discouraged. The employer mentioned a low salary and noted many new hires took a second job on weekends. I wasn’t expecting an amazing job, but this offer felt especially bleak. My recent history—3.5 years of traveling in Latin America while earning a modest living playing online poker—didn’t look great on a resume.
I was burnt out, making no progress on student loans, and ready for a “normal” job. Job hunting was frustrating, and when I realized how little I would earn, I began exploring other options. I’d heard teachers in Asia could earn good salaries and, driven by frustration, decided to look into it seriously. After countless hours online, I settled on China because it seemed the best place to save the most money.
I’ve now been in China for four years, paid off my student loans, and finally feel financially secure. Moving to China isn’t for everyone, but for those who are a little adventurous, open to teaching, and want to save quickly, it’s worth considering. It’s realistic to save $20,000 in a year without extreme frugality while still enjoying travel and free time.
Related articles on making extra income:
- 12 Work From Home Jobs That Can Earn You $1,000+ Each Month
- 30+ Ways To Save Money Each Month
- The Best Online Tutoring Jobs
How to start teaching English in China
The demand for teachers in China
Chinese parents spend a large portion of their income on extracurricular tutoring for children. More than 60% of students receive tutoring outside school, often averaging six hours per week, and English is one of the most popular subjects. English is a required subject in Chinese schools, and many private schools and programs emphasize English even more. The online tutoring industry has further expanded opportunities to teach English remotely.
With a population exceeding 1.3 billion, China has massive demand for English teachers. To put scale into perspective, the country contains dozens of cities larger than many major Western cities.
Requirements to be an English teacher
Becoming an English teacher in China is relatively straightforward due to high demand. Typical requirements include:
- A bachelor’s degree (in any subject)
- Two years of work experience (field not usually specified)
- A 120-hour TEFL certificate (readily available online)
- A clear criminal background check
- A health check
- Native-level English proficiency
These credentials don’t guarantee a top job—some schools have rigorous hiring standards—but even standard first jobs in China allow significant savings.
Types of English teaching jobs in China
Foreign teachers in China most commonly teach English, though there are roles teaching specific subjects, sports, or serving as homeroom teachers. The main environments are kindergartens, public schools, international schools, training centers, and universities. Salaries, hours, and conditions vary by school type and city; larger cities typically offer higher pay but also higher costs of living.
My experience has been in Beijing at two public schools and one international school, so I’ll describe those roles and salaries.
Teaching at a public school
Public school positions usually focus on oral English—speaking and listening—with large classes of 30–40 students. I typically taught multiple classes across grades and sometimes saw 200–300 students weekly. At public schools I worked at, the pay was around $1,600 per month, and this package included housing and a round-trip ticket home. Typical schedules were Monday–Friday, roughly 8 am–4 pm, with 16–20 classes weekly (each about 45 minutes). There was often downtime during the day, which I used to study Chinese.
Public schools often allow foreign teachers to leave when not teaching, meaning many days ended by mid-afternoon. Vacation time is generous: summer and winter breaks total more than three months, plus national holidays. Foreign teachers sometimes have slightly different semester dates than Chinese teachers because they usually aren’t responsible for grading or exams.
The base salary is sufficient to live comfortably and save. Many teachers supplement income by tutoring privately or working at training centers, earning roughly $30 per hour on average. Note this can conflict with visa sponsorship rules—teaching for another institution without permission carries risk—so consider the legal implications before taking private work.
As an example, teaching an extra six hours per week during about eight months of the school year could add roughly $5,760 annually. Teaching 20 hours per week for two months of vacation might add another $4,800. Combined with the public school salary, after-tax income could be about $29,760 with housing covered, and you’d still have almost two months of free time across the year.
Teaching at an international school
International schools are ideal for teachers who want to teach subjects like history or math. These schools cater to wealthier Chinese families and expatriates. Top-tier international schools can be highly competitive and may require a teaching license, a graduate degree, and significant experience, but many international schools accept teachers who meet only the basic China requirements.
Work at international schools tends to be more demanding: more communication with parents, exam creation, grading, and frequent meetings. Vacation periods are typically shorter and workdays can be busier with little downtime. However, class sizes are smaller and salaries higher. While at an international school, I earned about $2,800 per month (approximately $33,600 per year after taxes), with housing and a round-trip ticket included. Because of the workload and shorter breaks, I didn’t tutor on the side while teaching at an international school.
Typical budget for an English teacher
Individual lifestyles vary, but here’s a representative monthly budget from my experience:
- Housing and healthcare: $0/month — Most schools provide housing or a housing allowance and include health insurance. Accommodation is typically a one-bedroom apartment on or off campus.
- Food: $350/month — Many schools provide free lunch. I spent roughly $150 on groceries and $200 on eating out.
- Entertainment: $100/month — Low-cost socializing, occasional shows, dining with friends.
- Transportation: $60/month — Excellent public transit, shared bikes, and affordable ride-hailing services.
- Utilities: $15/month — Schools often cover utilities; this covers a pay-as-you-go phone plan.
- Travel: $250/month — About $3,000/year for domestic and occasional international travel. Schools often include a round-trip flight home annually.
- Miscellaneous: $50/month — Occasional purchases like clothes or household items.
Total expenses: about $825/month or $9,900/year. I’m conscious of spending but not extremely frugal—this balance allowed comfortable living while saving aggressively.
How much can you save?
My earnings generally ranged from $29,760 to $33,600 per year, with expenses around $9,900, yielding annual savings between about $19,860 and $23,700. Many teachers save more, and earnings can increase with experience. That said, living abroad doesn’t automatically make you good at managing money—if you’re prone to overspending, you can still burn through earnings quickly. But if you’re reasonably disciplined, saving $20,000 a year while enjoying travel and free time is realistic.
How to find a job
There are many job boards listing English teaching positions in China. My search started on the eChinacities job board, which lists a wide range of opportunities. The job search can feel overwhelming, and some recruiters may push lower-salary packages because it increases their commission. I’ve known people who accepted poor offers without researching first and ended up with low pay and inconvenient housing.
Talk to multiple recruiters, ask detailed questions, and be prepared to decline offers that don’t meet your criteria. Do due diligence on any school before accepting a position. While most schools are legitimate, some are not; check reviews and ask to speak with current or former teachers for an inside perspective.
Final thoughts
Living in China isn’t for everyone. It’s far from home, the language is challenging, and some people have reservations about the country. That said, my time here has been very positive overall. Air quality concerns exist, but it has been improving in recent years. Beijing is modern and offers countless interesting activities. Moving here ranks among my best decisions.
I arrived with only a few thousand dollars and significant student loan debt. Within a few years I turned my finances around, paid off loans, and built a nest egg. If you’re open to new experiences, enjoy teaching, and want to save aggressively, teaching English in China is an option worth considering.
Nick Dahlhoff is an English teacher living in Beijing. Since moving there in 2016, he’s paid off his student loans, studied Chinese, married, and started a blog. At All Language Resources he evaluates language learning tools to help learners decide which resources are worth using.
Would you take a job abroad to pay off debt? Would you consider teaching English in China?