Teaching English in China: What You Need to Know (2026)

Teaching English in China is one of the most accessible ways to live and work in the country. Demand remains high, but the market has matured. Here's what you need to know.

Requirements

Basic Requirements

Legal requirements:

• Bachelor's degree (any field)
• Native English speaker (or near-native)
• Clean background check
• Good health
• TEFL/TESOL certificate (120+ hours)
• 2 years teaching experience (often waived with certificate)

Native speaker typically means:

• US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa
• Some schools accept others with strong English

The Z Visa

Work visa requirements:

• Job offer from licensed school
• Bachelor's degree (authenticated)
• TEFL certificate
• Health check
• Background check (FBI, police, etc.)
• 2+ years work experience (or waived)

Process:

1. Get job offer
2. School applies for work permit
3. You apply for Z visa at embassy
4. Enter China
5. Convert to residence permit

Timeline: 2-3 months typically

Types of Teaching Jobs

Public Schools

What it is:

• Teaching in Chinese public schools
• Usually through a program or agency
• Elementary to high school

Pros:

• Structured environment
• Long holidays
• Lower teaching hours
• Authentic China experience

Cons:

• Lower salaries
• Less support
• Large class sizes
• More rural placements possible

Training Centers

What it is:

• Private English schools
• After-school and weekend classes
• All ages

Pros:

• Higher salaries (often)
• More locations
• Flexible schedules
• Smaller classes

Cons:

• Weekend/evening work
• Sales pressure at some
• Variable quality
• Less job security

International Schools

What it is:

• Schools following Western curricula
• Expat and wealthy Chinese families
• Proper teaching positions

Pros:

• Highest salaries
• Professional environment
• Western holidays
• Best benefits

Cons:

• Most competitive
• Requires teaching license
• Often need experience
• Higher expectations

Universities

What it is:

• Teaching college students
• More academic focus
• Often "Oral English"

Pros:

• Lowest hours (12-16/week)
• Adult students
• Long holidays
• Free accommodation often
• Academic environment

Cons:

• Lowest salaries
• Remote campuses sometimes
• Less modern facilities
• Limited career growth

Online Teaching

Current status:

• Domestic online teaching to kids: largely shut down (2021 regulations)
• Adult online teaching: still exists
• International platforms: work from anywhere

Not the opportunity it once was.

Salaries

Typical Monthly Salary Ranges (approximate)

Job Type	City Tier	Monthly RMB	Monthly USD
Training center	Tier 1	18,000-30,000	$2,500-4,200
Training center	Tier 2-3	12,000-20,000	$1,700-2,800
Public school	Tier 1	12,000-18,000	$1,700-2,500
Public school	Tier 2-3	8,000-14,000	$1,100-2,000
International school	Tier 1	25,000-45,000+	$3,500-6,300+
University	Any	8,000-15,000	$1,100-2,100

Plus benefits like:

• Free housing (or allowance)
• Flight reimbursement
• Health insurance (varies)
• Completion bonus

Cost of Living Reality

Salaries stretch further:

• Tier 1 city: Save $500-1,500/month
• Tier 2-3 city: Save $800-2,000/month
• Depends on lifestyle

Best Cities

Tier 1 (Highest Salaries, Highest Costs)

Shanghai:

• Most international
• Highest salaries
• Most expensive
• Easiest adjustment

Beijing:

• Political/cultural capital
• Good opportunities
• Pollution concerns
• Great for history buffs

Shenzhen:

• Young, modern city
• Tech hub
• Near Hong Kong
• Good weather

Guangzhou:

• Southern culture
• Great food
• Less international
• Warmer climate

Tier 2 (Good Balance)

Chengdu:

• Laid-back lifestyle
• Great food (Sichuan)
• Lower costs
• Pandas

Hangzhou:

• Beautiful city
• Tech presence (Alibaba)
• Good quality of life
• West Lake

Nanjing:

• Historical significance
• University city
• Good infrastructure
• Reasonable costs

Suzhou:

• Gardens and canals
• Near Shanghai
• Lower costs
• Quieter life

Tier 3+ (Adventure Mode)

• Lower salaries
• Much lower costs
• Deeper China experience
• Less English spoken
• Fewer foreign comforts

Honest Expectations

The Good

• Live in fascinating country
• Learn Mandarin
• Save money
• Travel Asia cheaply
• Unique experience
• Warm student relationships

The Challenging

• VPN for everything
• Internet frustrations
• Cultural differences
• Teaching can be demanding
• Homesickness
• Some employers are bad

Not What It Once Was

• Stricter visa requirements
• More professional expectations
• Salary growth slowed
• Market more competitive
• 2021 regulations changed industry

Finding Jobs

Legitimate Channels

• Dave's ESL Cafe: Long-standing job board
• ECHINACITIES: Jobs + community
• LinkedIn: Growing platform
• University direct contact: For university jobs
• Recruiters: Mixed quality, verify carefully

Red Flags

• No Z visa mentioned (illegal work)
• Vague job descriptions
• "No degree needed"
• Fees charged to you
• Pressure to decide quickly
• Bad reviews online

Verification

• Research school online
• Talk to current/former teachers
• Check registration status
• Get contract in writing
• Understand all terms

Making It Work

Before Arrival

1. Get proper visa
2. Research your city
3. Learn basic Mandarin
4. Set up VPN
5. Connect with community online

Success Factors

• Professionalism
• Flexibility
• Cultural sensitivity
• Patience
• Willingness to learn
• Long-term thinking

Career Progression

After 1-2 years:

• Better positions available
• Higher salaries
• Management roles possible
• Or pivot to other China careers

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