I’m betting that the pay rate for foreign English as a Second Language (ESL) Teachers figured prominently during those passing thoughts you’ve had about teaching English in Vietnam. In this post, I’ll delve into the going pay rate for ESL teachers in Public Schools and English Language Centres where most foreign teachers (85% +/-) work. What foreign ESL teachers can earn plying their trade the length and breadth of Vietnam at universities, colleges, private companies, and the like will be the subject of a future post.
Time is Money
That age-old expression ‘time is money’ is more relevant in Vietnam than any of the other 34 countries that I’ve had the good fortune to visit. Why so? Most English teaching jobs in Vietnam pay an hourly rate distinct from a flat fortnightly or monthly salary. The upside to being paid by the hour is that foreign ESL teachers can control their earnings. Time is your biggest commodity, and the more strategic you are with time, the more money you can make without having to ‘bust your boiler.’
Think about it: instead of being chained to a desk from 9 am to 5 pm, you can work fewer hours teaching English in Vietnam and earn as much, if not more. This setup allows you to pursue other interests or experience the best of what Vietnam and neighboring countries offer. It’s a work-life balance that many folks dream about, but only some achieve.
Public Schools
Teaching at public schools in Vietnam provides a reliable income stream. You’ll clear around 450,000 Vietnam Dong (vnd) per hour (after tax). That’s about US $19.00 per hour. Not too shabby. Public school teaching jobs in Vietnam are less than regular office hours, Monday to Friday, with evenings and weekends off. Suppose you’re on a mission to make serious money. In that case, you can always pick up more teaching hours at a local Language Centre in the evening or during the weekend.
Language Centres
Privately owned Language Centres are another popular option. They’re everywhere, you can’t miss them. The pay rate at language centres is similar to that of public schools—around US $19.00 per hour, paid in Vietnam Dong. From my experience, language centres are more open to ratcheting up your hourly rate than public schools, based on your performance and how long you’ve been there. Language School hours tend to be in the evening (5.30 pm to 9.30 pm) and over the weekend – perfect for folks who like not working daytime hours. Having at least two full days off each week is essential to catch your breath, take care of chores, and live your life to the fullest.
Minimum Pay Rates
Let’s set some expectations. In Ho Chi Minh City, you shouldn’t accept anything less than 390,000vnd per hour, about US $16.50. If a school offers you less, they’re either trying to pull a fast one or entirely out of touch with market rates for teaching English in Vietnam. Even in regional and rural areas where the cost of living is lower, you should still avoid compromising the market rate. Your expertise is valuable; you deserve to be paid accordingly.
Bonus Schemes and Perks
Some Public Schools and Language Centres offer bonus schemes, which can boost your earnings from teaching English in Vietnam. I have seen bonuses paid for outstanding student performance, contract completion, punctuality, availability, remote location, and for referring suitably qualified friends and acquaintances to work at the school. Dedicated ESL teachers who go the extra mile can expect to see some decent bonuses coming their way.
Free accommodation and utilities are often available to folks prepared to teach in regional and rural locations in Vietnam, offering considerable savings on upfront costs. The monthly salary is usually less when freebies like accommodation and utilities are included in the employment agreement. Still, the end game – the ability to save a decent amount of money each month – will be pretty much the same. This arrangement attracts teachers who arrive from abroad without the funds to set themselves up with an apartment, a motorbike, and other necessities for teaching English in Vietnam.
Conservatively, for your time teaching English in Vietnam will set you back by at least US $1,000.00 a year if you have to foot the bill. Larger Language Schools in Vietnam, such as ILA, Language Link, and similar, often include medical insurance in the employment agreement. If medical insurance is not in the deal, it’s worth pushing to include it. If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.
Holding a valid Work Permit and a Temporary Resident Card (TRC) are the essential documents that allow a foreign ESL teacher to work and stay in Vietnam. The combined cost of these documents is around US $450.00. While somebody could argue that the employer (a school) should meet this cost, the reality is that many employers are reluctant to do so. Why? There are plenty of examples where a school has sponsored and paid for a teacher’s Work Permit and TRC only to see the teacher quit or stop turning up. I believe the employer and the employee should share the cost and risk – 50/50.
Compared to the Rest of the World
For perspective, let’s see how pay rates for teaching English in Vietnam compare to those in neighbouring countries. In Thailand, the average pay for foreign ESL teachers is between US $900.00 and US $1,500.00 a month. In South Korea, you might earn US $1,800.00 to $2,200.00 a month, but the cost of living is higher. In Japan, salaries range from US $2,200 to US $2,800 a month, again with a higher cost of living.
Vietnam strikes a nice balance. You’re earning a decent salary, especially considering the lower cost of living. Rent, food, and transportation are all cheap. In Vietnam, you can live a quintessential expat lifestyle without having to scrimp.
Conclusion
In this post, I’ve touched on what foreign ESL teachers earn teaching English in Vietnam – around US $19.00 per hour in Public Schools and privately owned Language Centres. Public Schools and Language Centres account for around 85% of employment opportunities for foreign ESL teachers in Vietnam. The remaining 15% of ESL teaching jobs in Vietnam are in colleges, universities, the corporate sector, and private tutoring.
While US $19.00 per hour might seem low compared to what teachers get paid in developed countries, it’s seriously high when the low cost of living in Vietnam is factored into the equation. With a pay rate of US $19.00 per hour in Vietnam, it’s possible to live a very comfortable lifestyle without the need to cut corners or worry about how you will pay your bills.
About the author: Peter Goudge is the Managing Director (and founder) of AVSE-TESOL in Australia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Originally from Australia, Peter has been living and working in Vietnam for close to 20 years. Check out the AVSE-TESOL website: www.avse.edu.vn
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