Where to Find the Highest Paying Teaching Jobs in Korea – Seoulistic

Where to Find the Highest Paying Teaching Jobs in Korea

teaching english in korea

No matter if you’re looking for a job in Korea or your home country, you most likely want to find the highest paying job you can get. And although teaching English in Korea is decent enough money for entry-level teachers, you can make even more money teaching English in Korea if you know where to look. Most of the major chains will not pay higher salaries, but boutique hagwons will pay enough to let you enjoy life with some savings at the end of every month.





Where Can I Find These Jobs

Easy… Follow the money. In Seoul, that’s Gangnam, and in Gangnam, you’ll want to go to Daechi-dong, the mecca of hagwons (English acadamies). There you will find boutique academies such as Ian EnglishChase Academy, Peai, and Hoyah Academy offering some of the highest paying jobs in Korea. Where else can you find these jobs? Look in the affluent areas of Apgujeong, Cheongdam, Samseong and Bundang.

Tip 1: There are a plethora of these high-paying academies, but most do not advertise on the internet. There are a limited number of positions available and many teachers get in the door through friends.
Tip 2: These are not your typical conversation schools. See “What’s the Work Like?” below.


How Much Money Can I Make?

Entry-level teaching jobs in Korea typically start around 2.0 million won for approximately 8 hours a day. The higher-paying teaching jobs in Korea start their salaries at 4 million won a month for entry level teachers, some for as few as 6 hours of work a day. Those are of course the cushiest of jobs (most places will have a normal 8–10 hour work day). If you are just hoping to make the most money possible, the highest paying jobs in Korea can offer upwards of 10 million won a month. (Teachers at Hackers Education Group are known to make more than 10 million won a month for long/hard work hours).

On top of that, some of these top-tier hagwons offer raises based on performance and contract renewal. If you stay long enough and work hard enough, management positions can start at 6 million won a month (that comes with more work of course).


Benefits (or lack thereof)

The high pay does come at a price. You’ll most likely have to say goodbye to free flights, health insurance, severance pay and free housing — all common benefits for most teaching jobs in Korea. But depending on the school and how much they want you, you may be able to negotiate a plane ticket and/or key money for housing. They have the money, it’s just not usually part of the deal.

What Are the Requirements?

The most basic requirement for any academy in Korea also applies here: a Bachelors degree from a 4-year accredited university, a background check and visa eligibility. For some of these top-tier academies, that’s about all you really need. Teaching experience obviously helps, but there are some teachers that are hired with no prior teaching experience (rare, but it does happen).

Requirements really depend on the academy you’re applying to. Some require bilingual ability, others require a few years teaching experience. It’s all up to the individual schools to decide what they want.

Tip 1: Many of these high paying academies do offer E-2 visa sponsorships, but they also prefer to hire people with their own working visas.
Tip 2: Many of the high-paying academies in Korea value experience teaching debate classes and SAT.


What’s the Work Like?

Be prepared to work weekends as it’s typically part of the deal. Some places even require work on national holidays (but there’s usually a fair trade off for vacation days). Many of the students are highly motivated to learn, but teaching can be easier because the classes are usually all in English. It’s a lot of real work (that take teaching seriously), but rest assured, you will be compensated handsomely!

Check out our friends at koreajobfinder.com to find a job in Korea!

Keith
Keith
Keith Kim is a Korean-American who has been living in Korea for almost a decade. Being in a unique position as both a Korean and a non-Korean, he's put all his experience and knowledge for surviving in Korea in Survival Korean . Read it to learn how you can survive in Korea. Follow him on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

44 Comments

  1. Nicole Tizon says:

    Hi! Am I still eligible for a teaching position even if I’m not a graduate of an education program? I’m a college graduate though, with a degree in Communication Arts.

  2. Basma says:

    Can they hire girls who wear the hijab?

    • Stefanie says:

      There is no law against it but there is also no anti-discrimination law protecting you either. It would be difficult but not impossible do to their ignorance separating Muslims and ISIS.

  3. Stefanie says:

    I feel that it should be added that those top earning teachers at HACKERS are all Korean born teachers teaching the KSAT here. It is a field that would be extremely difficult for a foreign-raised Korean to enter into, almost impossible for a non-Korean to enter, and very difficult for native Koreans to get into. The majority of people looking at this for info would fall into 4million and below unless they found a nice university or foreign language high school position.

  4. Kerry McElwain says:

    I have a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) and am interested in a teaching English….. any suggestions where?
    God Bless You
    Kerry McElwain
    [email protected]

  5. Yadhira Ortiz says:

    I am fluent in English and Spanish. Is there a demand for Spanish teachers as well?

  6. dexter zoilo says:

    hi i want to work in korea as a n english teacher i just wanted to ask Tip from you guys, im in the philippines right now and dont have any certification yet, what is the best dertificate for a beginner?

  7. Paula says:

    Hi I have a BA in Philosophy and English literature and MA in writing. No real teaching experience… What are my chances of securing a hogwan job like those you mentioned?

  8. Zobia Muzamil says:

    Hy. ..I hv a degree of masters in English literature n also have experience of four years in English teaching …can I get a job in Korea. ..n how plz guide me.

  9. Elise Stefanik says:

    Searching for online help who has the expertise to teach the academic subject that is cheapest and most reasonable price just click one pay someone to do online class and get your needs.

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