How much do English teachers make in Shanghai?

This city is bursting to the seams with fresh discoveries and possibilities. When it comes to entertainment, this city offers it all: boxing bouts organized by expatriates, martial arts classes, ethnically varied eateries, and a nightlife that rivals the best of the West.

Shanghai, the country's biggest metropolis, has a population of over 25 million people and is the world's second-largest economy. Shanghai's fast industrialization and development have created a swath of new jobs. English training institutes have sprouted up all across China to try to satisfy the growing demand for English competence. There is a consequent rise in the demand for English language teachers from outside the country.

A university degree or TEFL certification is usually required, as is two years of teaching experience in Shanghai – preferably formal teaching experience. Shanghai's average teacher's pay ranges from $1,500 to $2,200 per month.

Types of Shanghai Teaching Jobs

In China, there are mainly three types of teaching positions available:

Private Language Academies/Schools: The private language school industry employs the vast majority of China's foreign English language instructors. These institutions have the most positions available, and getting one is the simplest part of the job search. When it comes to job criteria, private language schools are known to be the most flexible. Additionally, they provide the best wages in China, but their foreign instructors must work at least 20 hours each week to make ends meet. Negotiating pay, housing, and other perks are easier when you attend a private English language school.

Generally speaking, government-owned schools and universities are the safest places for foreign English instructors to work because of the standardization and enforcement of their teaching conditions. On average, contracts last for 10 months in public universities and colleges before being renewed for another 12 months. An initial 12-month contract may be negotiated for foreign instructors with advanced degrees and many years of teaching experience in China. Despite the fact that public colleges and universities pay less than private institutions, the workload is less and vacation time is more generous.

Fewer hours and more flexibility may be had by attending a private school as opposed to a public one since private schools follow the same academic calendar in China as for public ones. In addition, and in contrast to public schools, private schools may allow for salary and benefit negotiations.

Job Opportunities in Shanghai for Those Looking to Teach English Abroad

When and where to start looking for work: When should you start looking?

There are always a plethora of teaching positions available throughout the year. ESL/TEFL websites or expat websites with a "classifieds" component allow people to reply to job postings by reading and responding to them. There are many individuals who enter the nation on a tourist visa and change it to a work visa after landing in Shanghai where they are employed as a teacher in the city.

Teachers must be native English speakers in order to teach in most schools, if not all. Furthermore, the criteria for working as a teacher in China differ greatly from one institution to the next. There are certain provinces where a college diploma is a requirement for employment. Schools in major cities like Shanghai and Beijing often require students to have a bachelor's degree. Others want you to have a TEFL/TESOL certification and prior teaching experience before they'll accept your application.