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How much do TEFL teachers earn?

[All figures are US Dollars and per month]

Earnings

Because TEFL teachers work all round the world, and in a range of countries and study situations from kindergartens to private tuition, international schools and universities, their earnings also range considerably. Remember, too, that earnings may vary considerably within a given country, usually with the highest earnings (and cost of living) in the capital.

Bear in mind that the higher-paid positions tend to go to teachers with higher qualifications: no TEFL, TEFL Certificate, TEFL Diploma + bachelors, masters etc

Possible extremes are from US$500/month to US$5000/month.

But a more realistic average range is $1250/month to $2000/month.

Also to bear in mind is that TEFL teachers sometimes choose to work self-employed on an hourly basis, and may choose to work just a few hours per month or as many as they can squeeze in. Hourly earnings can easily range, on average, from $12.50 to $25.00 or more. Again you will see a big range in earnings.

Another wrinkle is teaching online, where hours and rates vary enormously. Online agencies in some countries offer just $5.00/hour while others as much as $22.00/hour or more.

Cost of living

It should be no surprise that the countries that pay more generally have a higher cost of living, though this can sometimes be skewed because some countries also offer free or subsidized accommodation and some employers may offer other perks such as return airfares.

Example earnings and cost of living

The chart below offers guide figures for the more popular destinations, showing ranges for earnings and cost of living.