Teaching English in China – Requirements, Jobs & Salary
Overview
Scale, salary, and sheer variety — China boasts the highest entry-level pay in Asia, with ¥18 000–¥25 000 even for new ESL teachers in Tier-1 cities and international-school packages that break ¥40 k. A bullet-train network and ¥99 airfares make weekend getaways from Shanghai’s driverless metro to Guilin’s karst peaks effortless. China’s huge demand means rapid promotions: go from instructor to head teacher in two–three years, then springboard into IB or AP programs. Add a generous holiday calendar (10+ paid weeks) and the résumé value of Mandarin-zone experience, and China shines for teachers chasing both career growth and cultural immersion.
Core Requirements
- Single-entry visa; convert to a 1-year Work-type Residence Permit within 30 days of arrival.
- Issued in 4–7 business days after submitting passport + Work Permit Notice + health form.
- Renewable annually in-country; no exit required after the first year.
- Local hires: Chinese citizens do not need a Z visa or foreign work permit to teach in China.
- Colour scan of diploma with a Hague apostille (consular legalisation no longer required since Nov 2023).
- ESL teachers: any major acceptable. Subject teachers: degree should match the teaching subject or be in Education.
- Non-English/Chinese diplomas need a notarised Chinese translation.
- Choose one route: 120-hr TEFL/TESOL/CELTA or state teaching licence or 2 years post-degree teaching experience.
- Many provinces waive the 2-year rule if you hold a recognised licence and a relevant degree.
- Experience letters must be on school letterhead with clear start & end dates.
- Provide a national criminal background certificate (FBI, ACRO, RCMP, etc.) issued ≤ 6 months before the Work-Permit application.
- Certificate must carry a Hague apostille and colour scan; some cities also request a local police clearance if you have lived in China before.
- No criminal record allowed – even sealed or expunged offences can be problematic (China runs its own INTERPOL cross-check).
- Standard age band: 18 – 60 (men) / 18 – 55 (women). Category A “high-end talent” can work past 60.
- Strong hiring preference for ages 21 – 40.
- Must pass authorised medical exam: TB chest X-ray, HIV/STD blood tests, ECG, BP, etc. (≈ ¥450). Failing the exam (e.g. positive drug test) voids the visa.
- Bring chronic-condition meds plus a doctor’s letter; some prescriptions are restricted or unavailable in China.
- Offer signed → Apostille degree & police check (1 – 3 wks) → Employer uploads to SAFEA for Work-Permit Notice (2 – 4 wks) → Receive Work-Permit Notice → Apply for Z-visa at consulate (4 – 7 days) → Fly to China → Medical exam & local police registration (1 day) → Convert to 1-yr Residence Permit at PSB (7 – 15 days).
- Up-front cash: about ¥15 000 (≈ US $2 000) for housing deposit, first month’s rent, and initial living costs before first payday.
Hiring Periods
| School / Employer Type | Main Intake | Secondary Intake | Year-Round / Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | May – July | Nov – Jan | High turnover → plenty of last-minute ads in Aug & Jan (for immediate starts after holidays). |
| Public School | Apr – Jun | Nov – Dec | Hire in late spring for September term. Smaller second intake if a teacher leaves mid-year. |
| Private School / Bilingual | Oct – Feb | Mar – Apr | Often recruit 6–9 months ahead to secure visas; some mid-year openings around March. |
| International School | Oct – Jan | — | Aligns with global job-fair calendar; offers typically issued very early for August start. |
| University | Oct – Dec (CVs) → Apr/May offers | Nov (rare spring intake) | Longest lead time; hiring for Sept starts. Spring semester hires only if replacements needed. |
| Language Center / Training School | Mar – Apr & Aug – Sept | Jan – Feb | Year-round rolling hires, with peaks before summer and after Chinese New Year. |
| Private Tutoring | Jun – Sept (summer break) | Jan – Feb (winter break) | Rolling demand; families seek tutors during school holidays (winter and summer). |
Popular Locations
Quick Facts
- Capital – 22 M residents (Tier 1)
- Subway: 27 lines, flat fare ¥3–¥5
- ESL pay: ¥18–25 k; Intl. schools: ¥30–45 k+
- 30 min bullet-train to the Great Wall
Climate Snapshot
Four seasons: icy blue-sky winters (–7 °C lows), cherry-blossom springs, hot dry summers (31 °C highs) with July downpours, and crisp golden autumns.
Weekend Getaways
- Mutianyu Great Wall: 90 min bus; toboggan ride down.
- Qinhuangdao Beach: 2 h high-speed rail; seafood & sea air.
- Datong Grottoes: Overnight sleeper; Hanging Monastery & Yungang Caves.
Monthly Cost Snapshot
- Rent (1-bed outer 5th Ring): ¥5 k
- Utilities + Internet: ¥450
- Groceries & eating out: ¥2.2 k
- Metro + taxis: ¥300
- Total survival: ≈ ¥8 k
Why Teachers Pick Beijing
Pros
- High salaries & housing stipends
- Historic hutongs & imperial sites
- Large expat networks (Chaoyang, Shunyi)
- Bullet-train hub for North China
Cons
- Winter PM2.5 air-quality spikes
- Tier-1 rent (¥8–12 k for 1-bed downtown)
- Mandarin accent tougher than Shanghai
Salary Estimates
Click a row to pre-fill the salary calculator below. The midpoint is used if you’re in “Exact amount” mode.
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| Item | Range (CNY) | Range (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Private school | CN¥18,000.00 – CN¥30,000.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Public school | CN¥15,000.00 – CN¥25,000.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Language center | CN¥15,000.00 – CN¥25,000.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Kindergarten | CN¥16,000.00 – CN¥25,000.00 / month | N/A / month |
| International school | CN¥25,000.00 – CN¥45,000.00 / month | N/A / month |
| University | CN¥8,000.00 – CN¥15,000.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Private tutor | CN¥150.00 – CN¥400.00 / hour | N/A / hour |
Cost of Living
Use the cost of living calculator to estimate your potential monthly expenses and savings.
Click on a salary above or enter one manually to calculate your expenses depending on which area you're interested in.
Select a currency
Australian Dollar (AUD)
Select a location
Click on the table rows to include/exclude items from the monthly expenses calculation.| Item | Range (CNY) | Range (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city centre) | CN¥8,000.00 – CN¥12,000.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Rent (1-bed, outside centre) | CN¥5,000.00 – CN¥8,000.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Utilities (elec + water + gas) | CN¥300.00 – CN¥500.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Internet (100 Mbps) | CN¥100.00 – CN¥150.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Mobile phone plan (4G LTE) | CN¥50.00 – CN¥100.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Groceries (basic basket) | CN¥2,000.00 – CN¥3,000.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Meal (cheap restaurant) | CN¥30.00 – CN¥50.00 / each | N/A / each |
| Metro pass | CN¥150.00 – CN¥200.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Gym membership | CN¥300.00 – CN¥500.00 / month | N/A / month |
| Total Living Expenses | CN¥0.00 / month | A$0.00 / month |