The average salary of Foreign English teacher in China working for a leading language school， between 6,000 – 16,000 RMB (1,000 – 2,500 US dollars) per month is very competitive and allows for a comfortable lifestyle. The exact amount is determined by which school you work for, the city you are based in and the number of years of previous teaching experience.
Low cost of living
As the living cost in China is significantly lower than that of the West, an English teachers’ salary goes a long way. Eating dinner at a local restaurant will typically cost between 15-30 RMB per person (roughly 2 – 4.50 US dollars) and most teachers find they can live easily on 100 RMB per day (15 USD). While the cost of living in large cities such as Shanghai and Beijing is higher than other areas in China it is still possible to shop and eat in cheaper areas.
Benefits offered on top of the English teacher salary
Most language schools generally offer a number of additional benefits as part of the compensation package, as detailed below. As a result, the English teacher salary received every month is virtually all disposable income as there are very few expenses. Obviously this depends on spending habits but it is definitely possible to live a comfortable, enjoyable life in China and still build good savings.
