Ten countries side by side
| Country | Typical entry pay / month | Degree | Passport rule | Visa difficulty | Cost of living | Main hiring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | ฿30k–70k (≈ US$890–2,075) | Required | None | Medium | Low | Feb–Apr, Sep–Oct |
| Vietnam | US$1,200–2,500 | Required | None | High | Low | All year; peak Jul–Sep |
| Cambodia | US$800–1,200 | Not by law | None | Low | Low | All year |
| China | ¥10k–25k (≈ US$1,500–3,750) | Required | 7 countries for most roles | High | Medium; housing often free | Feb–Mar, Jul–Aug |
| South Korea | ₩2.2M–2.7M (≈ US$1,650–2,000) | Required | 7 countries (E-2) | Medium | Medium; housing free | For Mar and late-Aug starts |
| Japan | ¥200k–280k (≈ US$1,270–1,775) | Required* | None | Medium | High | All year; JET arrives Jul–Aug |
| Taiwan | NT$60k–80k (≈ US$1,840–2,460) | Required | English-official countries | Medium | Medium | All year; schools Aug |
| Hong Kong | HK$22k–25k centres; NET HK$35k+ | Required | None | Medium | Very high | NET by April; centres all year |
| Indonesia | Rp10M–35M (≈ US$550–1,930) | Required | 7 countries | Medium | Low (Bali higher) | All year; school year July |
| Malaysia | RM5.5k–9k (≈ US$1,355–2,215) | Required | None by law | Medium | Medium | Oct–Mar for Aug starts |
From our country guides, checked October 2026; USD at 30 October 2026 rates. “7 countries” = US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa. *Japan: three years' documented language-teaching experience can replace a degree on paper, but few employers sponsor it. Malaysia pay data is from 2024 and now sits under a RM5,000 Employment Pass floor.
Best country for…
- Saving money: China and South Korea (housing usually included), and Vietnam (low costs).
- Your first job abroad: Thailand — lots of jobs and a Monday-to-Friday timetable.
- No degree: Cambodia is the realistic legal option. See teaching without a degree.
- Non-native speakers: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Hong Kong have no passport rule. See the non-native speaker guide.
- Qualified, licensed teachers: Hong Kong's NET Scheme and international schools in Malaysia, China and Japan.
Ask yourself four questions
- Do I have a bachelor's degree? If not, Cambodia is your realistic legal option. Don't let anyone talk you into working illegally elsewhere.
- Which passport do I hold? Korea, Taiwan, most Chinese roles and Indonesia restrict English-teaching visas by nationality.
- Is saving my top goal? Free housing in China and Korea, or Vietnam's low costs, usually leave the most at the end of the month.
- Do I want weekends free? Choose school jobs over centres, cram schools and eikaiwa, which teach afternoons, evenings and weekends.
Smaller markets — and what we left out
Laos and Mongolia hire a small number of teachers, mostly in Vientiane and Ulaanbaatar. Both use employer-sponsored routes (Laos: LA-B2 work visa plus work and stay permits; Mongolia: work permit plus residence permit). Pay reported in 2024 was about US$500–1,000 a month in Laos and ₮1.8–3M (≈ US$500–830) in Mongolia. We could not verify 2026 figures, so these countries don't have full guides yet. Myanmar is not covered: we could not find reliable, current information on legal teaching work.
Tip: your first contract doesn't have to be forever. Many teachers start where entry is easiest, build a year of experience, then move for better pay.
Frequently asked questions
Which Asian country pays English teachers the most?
For qualified teachers, Hong Kong's NET Scheme (HK$35,080–67,850 a month plus a HK$20,989 allowance). For new teachers, China often pays the most once free housing is counted.
Which country in Asia is easiest to start teaching English in?
Cambodia: a degree isn't legally required, paperwork is light, and many teachers find work within weeks of arriving.
Where can non-native speakers teach English in Asia?
Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Hong Kong have no passport rule for teaching visas. Korea's E-2 is limited to seven nationalities, and Taiwan, Indonesia and most Chinese roles are restricted too.
Where can I teach English in Asia without a degree?
Cambodia is the realistic legal option. Everywhere else in this guide requires a degree in practice.
Updated October 2026 by Teacher Francois. Salaries and visa rules are typical ranges reported for 2025–2026 and can change — always confirm with your employer and the official embassy or immigration website before you pay for anything.