South Korea’s a popular destination for foreign English teachers due to its rich cultural heritage, vibrant urban centers, significant demand for English education and competitive benefits packages.
What you can earn in Korea – your monthly salary – will vary based on the type of school you work at, the location you’re living in, and most importantly your teaching credentials and qualifications. Overall, English teacher salaries in Korea are some of the highest in the world.
This article delves into the various aspects that influence how much money foreign teachers can make while teaching English in South Korea.
Types of Teaching Positions & Their Respective Salaries
Heading into 2025, most foreign English teachers can expect to earn between 2.3 and 3.0 million KRW (approximately 1,700 to 2,400 USD) per month. While it doesn’t sound like a lot at first, it’s important to remember that the cost of living in Korea is noticeably lower than the US, Canada and UK, plus the schools provide and pay for your housing (i.e. you get to live rent free!) so you have the opportunity to save a significant amount of your salary.
Private language schools, typically known as hagwons or after school programs, is where the biggest demand for foreign English teachers resides. These schools offer higher salaries than public schools because of the demand. Some hagwons will negotiate the salary with the candidates, others have predetermined salaries which are based on credentials.
How much do Hagwon teachers make?
The typical salary for hagwon teachers ranges from 2.3 to 3.0 million KRW (approximately $1,750 to $2,600 USD) per month. People with no credentials can generally expect to earn 2.3 – 2.5 million KRW per month, while teachers with credentials can expect to earn a little more, generally in the 2.5 – 2.7 million KRW per month range. There are some jobs that offer salaries above 2.7, up to 3 million KRW, but these jobs aren’t common and can be hard to land.
Public schools in South Korea have set salary rates (referred to as the EPIK pay scale) based on the candidate’s credentials and the location of the school. Contrary to what most people assume, public schools in the big metropolitan cities of Korea such as Seoul, Busan, Incheon and Daegu, actually have slightly lower salaries than the smaller cities. The reason for this discrepancy is because most westerners prefer to live and work in the metropolitan areas so they don’t need to offer as much incentive (i.e. higher pay) in order to attract candidates. It’s also worth mentioning that the EPIK Program does not negotiate salaries under any circumstances, the pay rates are essentially set in stone by the respective offices of education.
How much do Public School school teachers make?
Each office of education has their own pay rates which range from 2.1 million KRW up to 2.8 million KRW, however, you would need lots of teaching credentials, plus 2 full years of public school teaching experience, in order to hit a salary that exceeds 2.6 million KRW. Most public school teachers fall in the 2.2 to 2.4 million KRW per month salary range.
International schools provide a higher-end teaching experience and better benefits. However, these roles also require substantial qualifications and experience. Generally speaking, having an education major and valid teaching license are prerequisites for these jobs, although previous public or international school experience, along with glowing references, are often needed as well. It’s worth noting that international school teaching jobs in Korea are very limited, as such these roles are hyper competitive. Salaries are often negotiable with i-schools, assuming you can get your foot in the door with the hiring department.
How much do International School teachers make?
Salaries can range from 3.0 to 5.0 million KRW (approximately $2,200 to $3,700 USD) per month, with some prestigious institutions offering even higher pay.
Teaching at a Korean university is another job option on the higher end of the teaching spectrum. One of the biggest employment perks at Korean universities is the vacation time; teachers typically receive 2-4 months of paid time off. Similar to international schools, jobs at Korean universities – for westerners – are rare and quite difficult to land because of the sheer level of competition. Qualifications for these jobs does vary, but having an education major and valid teaching license are usual prerequisites.
How much do University Teachers make?
University teachers typically earn between 2.5 to 3.7 million KRW (approximately $1,900 to $3,000 USD) per month.
To be clear, private tutoring in Korea is regulated and technically illegal for westerners on E2 teaching visas. It is possible to legally teach private lessons but getting the respective work visa and permission from the government is difficult. That said, a large percentage of foreign teachers take on private tutoring ‘side hustles’ during their time in the country because it’s a highly lucrative gig that offers lots of flexibility with hours and rates. It’s not uncommon for departing teachers to sell their tutoring gigs to incoming teachers.
How much can you make Private Tutoring in Korea?
Private tutors can charge between 30,000 to 70,000 KRW (approximately $25 to $60 USD) per hour. The rate you can charge will depend on your credentials – education majors are in high demand – and the needs of the individual student. Location can also affect tutoring rates; locals in cities like Seoul and Incheon are generally prepared to pay more for a quality tutor for themselves or their children.
Teaching English in South Korea offers a wide range of opportunities with varying salary levels and benefits.
Ultimately, foreign English teacher salaries in South Korea are quite competitive, especially when the relatively low cost of living is factored in. Additional benefits like entrance airfare, rent free accommodation and severance pay, make the salary even more attractive.
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Gone2Korea is your connection to full-time teaching jobs in South Korea. Western graduates, primarily from the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, use our services to secure jobs with trusted Korean schools, and schools use our services to find and hire enthusiastic teachers from the West.
Worth noting: We’re not a job ‘sourcing’ agency or recruiter that finds new schools on the fly. On the contrary, we work with a select group of schools and programs that we know and trust.
In addition to helping you land a job, we’ll also be helping you with your work visa, departure, arrival, and offering support for the entirety of your contracted term.
Prior teaching experience and related degrees are NOT prerequisites for teaching in Korea. Here’s what you’ll need in order to qualify.
Korean schools and programs offer western English teachers highly competitive benefits packages which includes:
