Where can you make the most money teaching abroad?

Who says that teaching abroad only means slumming it in a jungle or on a mountain top for chump change? For many smart cookies, teaching overseas is a lucrative gig. These savvy folk earn more than enough to pay off huge student debts back home or go traveling afterward. 

Of course, your teaching English abroad salary comparison should always be balanced with the cost of living in the country you’re planning to be based in. For instance, you may get paid big bucks in Japan (one of the highest paying countries to teach English), but you’ll also spend more than a pretty penny to live there.

Get paid to travel the world? Sounds like a pretty sweet gig to us!

Another thing many teachers who want to work abroad may overlook are additional benefits. Even if the job doesn’t offer a huge salary, if it offers subsidized accommodation and travel tickets back home once a year, it’s still a pretty sweet deal. So sometimes, the highest paying English teaching jobs abroad are a combination of benefits and salary, but sometimes they're also just gigs that pay really, really well.

With all of this in mind, here are some of the highest paid teaching jobs abroad in 2024!

A snapshot of the highest paid teaching jobs—by region

We break it down for you in this handy TL;DR summary of what's to come:

• Arab countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia have always been and continue to be some of the top places to make bank teaching English in the Middle East. However if you want to snag one of these highest paid teaching jobs abroad, these big pay packages come with one caveat: you must be teacher certified and have some serious experience under your belt.
• The Asian teaching job market is like a gigantic piñata filled with all sorts of goodies. From Japan to Taiwan to South Korea, there’s something for everyone and a lot of opportunities you can take straight to the bank. Even China is one of the world's highest paying countries to teach English.
• Although Latin America may not boast the sky high salaries of Arab and Asian countries, it’s still worth exploring when it comes to English teaching jobs abroad. 
• Europe, particularly Western Europe, often gets a bad rap as a region where you can only break even as an ESL teacher. However, in parts of Eastern Europe, like the Czech Republic, you can still earn competitive salaries if you know where to look. 

The 7 highest paid teaching jobs this year

1. Get TEFL Certified & Teach English in South Korea with International TEFL Academy

South Korea is a popular choice for thousands of international English teachers. Once you get your TEFL certificate from International TEFL Academy, they will assist you in finding work around South Korea. Typical placements are in Hagwons (private schools) or public schools. Applicants must have citizenship in an English-speaking country, bachelor's degree, and pass a background check and health screening.

• Perks: Job assistance, high demand
• Salary range: $1150-$2650 monthly
• Popular cities: Seoul, Busan

[Find More Teaching Jobs in the UAE Here]

2. Teach in Saudi Arabia with Teach Away

Teaching English in Saudi Arabia is also another great way to break more than even. Teach Away seeks qualified ESL instructors and teachers of all levels for institutions in Riyadh and Jeddah. Earn $3,400 to $4,000 each month. Perks include accommodation, health insurance, and round trip airfare for the teacher, spouse, and up to two dependents.

• Perks: Accommodation, insurance, airfare for yourself & dependents
• Salary range: $4000+ monthly
• Popular cities: Riyadh, Jeddah

[Browse ALL Teaching Jobs in the Middle East]

3. Teach English with Travelbud in South Korea

Teaching English Abroad in South Korea is definitely one of the most popular choices in Asia because of the generous salaries and benefits. Travelbud recruits year-round and offers teachers the chance to earn up to $2,300 a month, free accommodation, free flights, end of contract severance pay, and more! 

You don’t need teaching experience but you should have at least a bachelor’s degree and TEFL certification (which the company will provide if you don’t already have it). Travelbud also offers round-the-clock support, perfect for folks who’ve never worked or traveled in Korea before. 

• Perks: 24/7 support, free accommodation, free flights, end-of-contract bonus
• Salary range: $2000+ monthly
• Popular cities: Busan, Seoul

[Check Out More Teaching Jobs in Korea]

4. Teach Abroad in China with Teaching Nomad

Teaching English abroad in China continues to attract teachers because the country is so vast and offers so many different teaching experiences. Teaching Nomad offers positions for subject teachers, ESL teachers, college counselors, principals, and other education professionals. ESL teachers can expect to earn up to $2,800 while subject teachers can earn a whopping $5,000 a month!

• Perks: Accommodation help, placement support
• Salary range: $2,800+ monthly
• Popular cities: Beijing, Shanghai

[Browse More Jobs Teaching in China]

5. Teach ESL in Taiwan with GeoVisions

Taiwan no longer flies under the radar when it comes to profitable teaching gigs. GeoVisions welcomes native English speakers who have just graduated from university and are looking for a non-traditional career abroad that pays between $1,500 and $2,500 a month. 

• Perks: Accommodation support, ongoing guidance, health insurance, paid holidays
• Salary range: $1500+ monthly
• Popular cities: Kaohsiung, Taipei

[Find More Taiwan Teach Abroad Jobs Here]

6. Teach English in Chile with Premier TEFL

Latin America often gets dissed when going head to head in a teaching English abroad salary comparison, as many schools expect teachers to volunteer their services for free or for a measly monthly stipend. However, teachers hired by Premier TEFL can expect to make a minimum of $985 a month, on par with the average monthly salary of a local Chilean teacher, earning its spot as one of the highest paying English teaching jobs abroad. Teachers can also make more if they work more hours. This salary is more than enough to meet basic living costs in Chile and participants are free to supplement this income with private tutoring and other side jobs.

• Perks: Highly reputable program internationally, free orientation accommodations
• Salary range: ~$1000+ monthly
• Popular cities: Valparaíso, Santiago

[Find More Jobs Teaching English in Chile Here]

Now you know how to get the highest paid teaching jobs abroad 

Let’s review: the highest paid English teaching jobs abroad might not always offer the biggest number on your monthly paycheck, but will include sweet sweet benefits that make it all worth it. Hey, if you don’t have to pay for housing or flights, that’s more money in your pocket!

But, don’t forget the kiddos! There are still plenty of well-paid teaching positions with younger students.

The key to scoring one of the highest paid teaching jobs abroad is to simply care about your students and their education—whether it’s teaching English or another subject abroad. It’s important to remember that this isn’t a line of work motivated by making the big bucks, and you should always put your students needs first. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still sock a little rainy day money away, or look for teaching jobs that allow you to do what you love and live comfortably.

Want to learn more about the salaries of the highest paid teaching jobs abroad? Check out some more hot teaching jobs, reach out to different program providers, talk to program alumni and veteran teachers, read unbiased program reviews, and compare programs side by side with MyGoAbroad. You'll be well on your way to finding the best paid teaching jobs abroad in no time.

Explore ALL Teaching Jobs Abroad Hiring Now

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