How Much Money Can You Earn and Save by Teaching English in South Korea?

South Korea is perhaps the best nation to teach English and set aside money in. This is because of the modest cost for basic items, moderately high salaries, and advantages offered to worldwide teachers. In spite of the fact that it’s not the highest salary in the ESL teaching market, it’s probably the simplest country to save money because of the low setup cost, and the way that flights, housing, medical costs and bonuses are tossed in with the mix. Most teachers that journey to Korea leave the experience obligation-free and with savings.

The salary and advantages play a significant role in why many teachers travel to Korea consistently. However, there are bazillion different reasons to take the plunge: from Kimchi to KPOP, there’s no limit to the measure of Korean culture turning out to be mainstream, and interest in the peninsula is growing. There isn’t a foodie worth their salt that hasn’t waxed lyrical about Korea’s fermented dishes or a beauty-addict worth their lip gloss that hasn’t tried Korea’s snail-mucus skincare.

A few growing global cultural curiosity about South Korea with the amazing salaries and possible savings on a proposal for ESL teachers and you’ve essentially got a country that is a magnet for teachers of all experience levels.

We’ll save the historical intrigue, powerful landscape, and sheer appeal of Korean culture for one more day. For the time being, consider these your comprehensive guidelines to salary and finances as an ESL teacher in South Korea.

A fast Google will uncover that ESL teachers in South Korea will make somewhere in the range of 1,600 – 2,000 USD per month. Most salaries will fall in this range, yet likewise, with everything immediately Googled, this data scarcely skims the outside of the amount you will procure and save in South Korea.

The Real Average Salary for English Teachers in South Korea

Average salaries are contingent upon your experience, capabilities, and the type of institution you’ll be teaching at. There are 3 primary kinds of positions for ESL teachers in South Korea: Govt. funded schools, private schools, and universities/colleges.

Private Vs Public Schools in Korea: Why the Different in Salary?

Private schools used to pay a lot higher wages for ESL instructors, yet as of late, public schools have shut the hole, adding a lot of advantages to their agreements to make them more alluring to local English-speaking teachers.

Honestly, public schools are a more secure bet; teachers have less in general issues with things like end-of-year bonuses, getting stores back and flights repaid. They likewise offer better hours and occasions.

Some private schools offer a comparable way of life; however, instructors should go through a recruitment company and research a private school completely prior to flying across the world. There’s actually no compelling reason to face the challenge on a school you don’t know about when there are a lot of schools with amazing notorieties selecting ESL educators.

Can I make extra money by private tutoring on the side in South Korea?

The easy answer is yes! South Korea is a highly competitive place for students and some parents will stop at nothing to get their students the best education possible. English is one of three core subjects in schools (excellent grades in Korean, math and English are required to get into any good university), so this means there are plenty of parents willing to hire foreign teachers as private tutors.

The better answer is no! Although ESL teachers can pick up extra money by privately tutoring local students, this cash-in-hand process is actually in violation of visa stipulations. If you’re already under contract at a school, it’s a good idea to stick to the contract you’ve signed. The bonuses, paid flights and health insurance will far outweigh the benefits of risking it all for a sneaky extra $100 bucks a week through private tutoring.