Thailand has no official pay scale for foreign English teachers, so pay is set school by school: Sitapatr School, for example, publishes a standard starting salary of ฿31,000 a month (about £700) on an 11-month contract, and the legal floor is Thailand’s minimum wage of ฿337 to ฿400 a day, depending on province. Government schools, private and bilingual schools, language centres and international schools all recruit separately, and international schools usually want a teaching licence. Housing is rarely part of the deal. Thailand is a lifestyle TEFL market rather than a Korea-style free-housing package, and the numbers work best when you plan for school-holiday months and choose your city carefully.
Last verified: 6 October 2026. Figures below come from the Thai Ministry of Labour, the Teachers’ Council of Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and one school’s own recruitment page, each linked where it is used. Currency conversion uses the European Central Bank reference rates for 6 October 2026 (€1 = ฿37.836 = £0.84880). Treat every figure as subject to your contract, city and school type.
Pay by employer type (2026)
| Route | Published pay | Usual extras | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government / public school | No official national scale for foreign teachers; set by the school or placement agency | Weekday daytime hours; school holidays (check whether your contract pays them); limited benefits | Stable entry route; often filled through placement agencies |
| Private / bilingual school | Set by each school. Example: Sitapatr School publishes a standard starting salary of ฿31,000 a month on an 11-month contract, plus a contract completion bonus of at least ฿20,000 | Sometimes flight or visa support; more planning load | Stronger expectations than public school |
| Language centre / academy | Set by each centre, often hourly | Evenings and weekends; easy to stack part-time; some chains support visa paperwork | Hires more year-round than schools |
| International school | Set by each school; no official scale | Fuller expat package possible | Usually wants a teaching licence / QTS-style credential, not TEFL alone |
| Corporate / private tutoring | Set by you and your clients | You cover tax, venue, marketing | Useful top-up in Bangkok; thinner in smaller cities |
| Online (Thailand-based or remote) | Set by each platform; rates vary widely | You cover tax and setup | Only if your visa and work permit allow it; do not teach on tourist status |
The legal floor for private employers is the provincial minimum daily wage set by the Wage Committee (Notification No. 14, in force since 1 July 2025): ฿400 a day in Bangkok, Phuket, Chonburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao and Koh Samui, ฿380 in Mueang Chiang Mai, ฿357 in Khon Kaen, down to ฿337 in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala (Ministry of Labour). It is a floor, not a teacher pay scale.
For how Thailand sits next to Vietnam, Spain and East Asia, see our pillar English teacher salaries by country (2026). Sibling guides: Vietnam · Spain · South Korea.
Language schools, government routes and city choice
Most first TEFL jobs in Thailand sit in language centres or government and private schools that hire degree holders with a TEFL/TESOL certificate. Government school roles (often via placement agencies) give daytime weekday calendars and cultural immersion. School holidays fall in April and October (Sitapatr, for example, names April and October as its holiday months, and pays its teachers through them), so read your contract’s holiday wording and plan a float or language-centre hours for any unpaid weeks. Private and bilingual schools ask more of your planning and professionalism. Language centres hire year-round, lean evenings and weekends, and are the flexible stack for teachers who want extra income.
Bangkok has the densest job market and the highest rents. Chiang Mai and provincial cities such as Khon Kaen have lower living costs, and their minimum wage floors are lower too (฿380 in Mueang Chiang Mai and ฿357 in Khon Kaen, against ฿400 in Bangkok). Coast and secondary cities trade fewer premium roles for lifestyle. Because the Thai school year runs from May, with the second term after the October break, school hiring tends to build ahead of those starts.
What life actually costs (honest save reality)
Unlike Korea’s housing-heavy packages, Thai contracts rarely include free housing. There is no official savings figure: what you keep depends on your salary, your city and how you live. Outside Bangkok, many teachers live comfortably on a school salary; in Bangkok the same wage can feel tight after rent and transport. Treat Thailand as break-even-to-modest lifestyle living with optional online or private top-ups, not a Gulf or EPIK save story. Build the spreadsheet around: base pay minus food, rent, transport and phone, then stress-test two unpaid holiday months before you sign.
Visa and TEFL requirements (high level)
To teach legally you need a Non-Immigrant B visa for employment as a teacher. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the documents: an authenticated degree certificate, an authenticated criminal record from your home country, documents from the employing school, and a letter of approval from the Ministry of Education (the Office of the Private Education Commission or the Educational Service Area Office). Within 90 days of entry you must obtain a work permit from the Department of Employment (MFA: Non-Immigrant Visa (B) for employment as teacher). Foreign teachers without a Thai teaching licence teach under a temporary permit from the Teachers’ Council, which the school requests: you need a degree in education, a bachelor’s degree in a field the school needs, or a teaching licence from another country, and each permit lasts up to two years, to a maximum of six years in total (Royal Thai Government: teaching without a professional licence). Many schools also ask for a TEFL/TESOL certificate; Sitapatr, for example, lists TEFL/TESOL/CELTA among the qualifications it looks for. Do not teach on a tourist entry: that is illegal work and puts both you and the school at risk. Confirm document authentication and timing with your employer or the Thai embassy before you book flights; rules can change.
Which Global English course for Thailand?
For most government-school, private-school and language-centre applicants, our 120-hour Level 3 TESOL Certificate is the practical primary credential: ACTDEC-accredited (Levels 3 to 5), tutor-marked, UKRLP 10056745, and verifiable online. It is not Ofqual-regulated and not a CELTA equivalent. If you are targeting competitive Bangkok centres, bilingual shortlists or later international-school pathways, step up to the 150-hour Advanced or 250-hour Professional courses. Explore the ladder on our online TEFL/TESOL hub or use which TEFL course if you are unsure. Employers can confirm your certificate on our verify page.
How much do English teachers make in Thailand in 2026?
There is no official national pay scale for foreign English teachers; each school or centre sets its own pay. As one published example, Sitapatr School offers a standard starting salary of ฿31,000 a month on an 11-month contract. The legal floor for private employers is the provincial minimum wage of ฿337 to ฿400 a day. Housing is rarely included.
Can I save money teaching in Thailand?
Modestly, if you live locally outside Bangkok; there is no official savings figure, and Bangkok often breaks even after rent. Plan for any unpaid holiday months.
Do I need a TEFL certificate for Thailand?
The visa and Teachers’ Council permit rules centre on your degree (or a foreign teaching licence), but many schools also ask for a TEFL/TESOL certificate, and it strengthens your application. CELTA is not required for the majority of Thai school and centre roles.
Is Bangkok better paid than Chiang Mai or Isaan?
Bangkok has the largest job market and the highest minimum wage (฿400 a day, against ฿380 in Mueang Chiang Mai and ฿357 in Khon Kaen), but also the highest rents. Choose on lifestyle and savings goal, not headline salary alone.
Can I teach in Thailand on a tourist visa?
No. Tourist status does not authorise employment. You need a Non-Immigrant B visa for employment as a teacher, a work permit from the Department of Employment within 90 days of entry, and a Teachers’ Council teaching permit requested by your school.
When do Thai schools hire?
Schools tend to hire ahead of the May and November term starts, after the April and October breaks, while language centres hire more year-round. Bring a float: first salaries can arrive weeks after you start.