Job Discussion Forums

[Jennad]

I'm looking into teaching in Thailand because I love the country, but it's pretty contingent on what I would be making. I was told by a friend that $600, or 19-20,000 baht is the starting salary for a new teacher, but I will have one year's teaching experience in Korea, plus I'll be TESOL certified.

Does anyone have any idea how much more I could get with a year's experience? I have student loans to pay, and obviously paying any kind of U.S. debt in baht is a bummer.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[Scott R]

A fellow San Diegan in Thailand,
20,000 is too low if you have a degree. It can vary but figure on 30,000 to 40,000. This is a bad time to come and maybe a bad time to look at job postings to get an idea for salary. Most schools start again in May.
Good luck.

[Jennad]

[plumpy nut]

33000 Baht for someone with a degree. That salary is barely liveable, let alone 20000 Baht. When you start teaching, come prepared for the dysfunctional students in a dysfunctional school. The really bad classes the students will be running around while you teach, and no one will be paying attention to you except to copy the stuff you write down on the board. The better classes the students in the back will be extremely noisy with the first few rows of students paying attention. Also unless a Thai teacher is in the room during tests, they will openly cheat and thier is nothing you can do about it, absolutely nothing, so adjust to it and except it as a part of Thai behavior, which by the way it is.

[Scott R]

I work at one of the better government school teaching M-2 and M-3 Science. If a student openly cheats, which they have done. I take their test and give them a zero and the cheating stops very quickly. I have about 3 out of 30 student per class that are a problem. I also have more support and automomy than what seems to be normal here. It seems like the younger the kids the more they will cheat and not understand why it is a problem.

[Jennad]

[MaiPenRai]

There are many different types of teaching jobs as well as many different 'tiers' within these jobs so a lot depends on what you are looking for.

First off, your TESOL certificate will mean very little to most Thai employers and at best will get you the job over someone else similar to your experience and 'look' or 'personality'. Your 1 year of experience in Korea may do the same for you depending on if it was a K-12 school or a hogwan. At best expect a thousand baht or 2 more per month for those qualifications. Any school that "requires" or "wants" TESOL certified teachers will probably look for teachers with a CELTA or Trinity.

Government school regular programs pay about 25-35K/month
Government school EP (MEP) programs pay about 30-45K/month
- possible to make more at better EP programs but you would need more in country experience and/or connections

Language Schools vary from 250baht/hour to 600 baht/hour with some offering full time at about 30-45K/month

University or Technical College ESL teachers usually make less than 30K/month (but usually have fewer teaching hours)

Low Tier 'International' schools and private/bilingual schools vary from 35-50K/month
- your qualifications would probably get you an interview. What is your major for your B.A?

Mid-Tier 'International schools and better private/bilingual schools vary from 50-80K/month plus some nice perks. Many of these schools hire from overseas and/or at job fairs
- most require minimum QTS status [licensed (B.Ed, PGCE, PGDE, etc.) to teach in your home country]

Top Tier International schools vary from 75-120+K/month with good perks. 95% of these teachers are hired from overseas and have 5+ years experience in a specific subject area. Many have Masters degrees as well.

If you live in Bangkok, living off 30K/month is difficult if it is your only source of income. But it is definitely possible. You can find decent rent for 5-8K/month. Transport can be very cheap. Food can be very cheap. Entertainment can be very cheap. The key word is "CAN". On one side of a street you can get a fried rice for 35 baht and on the other side you can get a pizza for 350 baht. You just wont be able to do much more than just live (no holidays, etc.). Living in Bangkok is hard on 30K/month because there are so many opportunities to spend money. If you live outside of the city or in another part of the country, 30K/month is a lot easier to do.

Obviously having debt back home will make life difficult/near impossible on 30K/month.

On low end salaries (25-35K/month), you cant expect to save much, but it is livable. Most teachers work side jobs to earn anything from a few thousand baht more per month to as much as doubling their base salaries. These require connections so don't expect too much on the side for the first few months-year. Making more money isn't that great if you are working all the time though.

Most government schools start in April/May and again for 2nd term in October/November. So the best time to find work is just before and during these months. Language schools hire year round as needed, but tend to peak during the semester breaks in March/April and October. Many private and international schools operate on the Western school calender starting in August/September.

There are many bad schools and bad students in Thailand just as there are in Korea and every other country. There are also good schools in Thailand and good students. That being said, the standard of education at most Thai schools is far below that of Korea, Japan, Taiwan and many other countries.

Finally, a big part of your success in Thailand depends on your look and your attitude. If you look the role and play the role, you could be earning 35-45K/month to start and work your way up fairly quickly.

Most people will tell you that it is best to come to Thailand first and look for work rather than accept a job online. If you have some experience traveling and teaching, this is probably true.

If you decide to come, please re-visit us here and ask about documents you should bring, etc.

Best of luck.

[plumpy nut]

[plumpy nut]

[plumpy nut]

[ncrebel1]

[Scott R]

Thailand is a country of extreme contrast.
Health care can be good or bad. I broke my scapula and two ribs in a motorbike accident and had to take a taxi to the ER where they gave me a bandage sling and told me to go home (they missed the ribs completely). They said I would be fine in 3 weeks. Luckily I healed on my own in about 8 weeks and that was with insurance. I Got it rexrayed later in a private hospital which was very professional.
If you stay in the tourist areas and visit the bars it will be very expensive.
My rent for a 3 bedroom house is 4,500 Baht per month and my lunch and dinner at school and in the market is 20 Baht for each meal, cooked and served. It's fine I don't need Big Macs or bar girls. I do have a problem with cokes and snickers bars which are expensive.
Lots of choice you have to search what you want and lean where to go in the area you live in.

[Christian St.Bacon]

Lots of choice you have to search what you want and lean where to go in the area you live in.

...but remember when you 'lean' towards where you want to go - move your feet...!!! or you'll just fall over - done it plenty of times along Sukhumvit...

Shukran very much

[Scott R]

Sorry I can't spell. I am a science teacher.