How Much Money Do You Make Teaching English Abroad?

How much can you earn teaching abroad? Well—more than working in a deli, that’s for sure!

Okay, cheeky jokes aside, what really mattered to me at first wasn’t the exact amount I earned, but how far my money could stretch. Having graduated from university in the States with a fair bit of student debt, that mattered a lot. For those who came abroad debt-free, it was either a savings spree or full-on fun mode.

Let me be honest—without prior experience or a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, most people don’t rake in massive sums when they first start out in English teaching abroad. Think comfortable, not lavish. I had nights out and the occasional new pair of shoes, sure. But I also had packed lunches and budget plans. I took a few trips and made good use of burger night deals when I was craving Western food.

My focus was enjoying the adventure, doing well at work, and staying on top of finances. I still managed to send a solid chunk of money home most months (cue proud grin), while living quite reasonably in one of China’s biggest cities, Guangzhou.

Did I get it right every month? Not at all. I had wild nights at the infamous “Perry’s” bar and quiet weekends in—either by choice or bank balance. Balance was the key.

I shared a great apartment with two flatmates, cutting my expenses significantly. That allowed me to focus my spending on things that brought me joy—local travel, dumplings, noodles, and the occasional indulgent weekend.

TOP TIP: Local food markets in China are absolute gems. I’d regularly send photos home of all the fruit and veg I got for next to nothing—carrots, aubergines, tomatoes, and exciting unknowns like daikon and cumin greens (not a fan of those, personally). Eating locally—whether home-cooked or from hole-in-the-wall restaurants—saved me a small fortune.

If you’re new to teaching abroad, this is the smart way to budget:

• Cook at home or eat street food

• Go out occasionally but know your limits

• Make a full recovery before you’re back in the classroom with a dozen energetic kids

And if you want to make your money go even further? Stay on. Grow with a company or move into roles with more responsibility in new cities.

Bish, bash, bosh—or should I say, bish, bosh, cash!