TEFL Jobs in Thailand: 50 Schools and Employers Hiring English Teachers

How English Teaching Jobs in Thailand Work

English teaching jobs in Thailand fall into four employer types. Each pays differently and asks for different qualifications.

Government schools are the largest employer of first-time teachers. Most hire through placement programmes and agencies, not directly. Classes are large, and the job is conversational English.

Private, bilingual and English-Programme schools teach part of the Thai curriculum in English. They pay more than government schools. Many hire directly, and many ask for experience.

Language centres teach children after school and adults in the evening. They hire all year. Schedules include evenings and weekends.

International schools follow British, American or IB curricula. They pay the most. They usually require a school teaching qualification from your home country and classroom experience. English as an Additional Language (EAL) is a school post, not a TEFL post, and a TEFL certificate alone is rarely enough.

Pay bands are typical advertised ranges in 2026; sources are listed under what TEFL jobs in Thailand pay.

When and Where to Apply

Thai schools hire in two windows: March to June, for the semester that starts in May, and September to October, for the semester that starts in November. Language centres and placement agencies recruit all year and international schools advertise months ahead of an August start.

Bangkok has the most employers of every type and the highest pay. Chiang Mai has a cluster of international and bilingual schools and strong competition for posts. The South is resort country. Teaching jobs in Phuket are mostly at international schools and language centres in the resort areas; see our guide to teaching English in Phuket. Isaan and the central provinces are government-school country, filled largely through placement programmes, with the lowest living costs.

The 50 Schools and Employers Hiring English Teachers in Thailand

The 50 employers below are grouped by type, with OnTESOL’s two partner recruiters listed first among the placement programmes. Inclusion does not mean an employer has a vacancy today. Vacancies change through the year, so follow each official link for current requirements and how to apply.

Language Schools and English Centres in Thailand

English language schools in Thailand hire all year, teaching children after school and adults in the evening. These language centres teach general English, business English and exam preparation to children, university students and working adults, and they are the most common first employer for TEFL/TESOL-certified teachers. Expect evening and weekend classes, and ask how teaching hours convert into monthly pay before you accept.

Bilingual and English-Programme Schools

Bilingual and English-Programme (EP) schools teach part of the Thai curriculum in English. A foreign teacher may teach English as a language, or teach maths, science or a homeroom class through English. These are different jobs with different requirements, so read which one each advertisement describes.

International Schools to Watch for EAL and English Posts

International schools pay the most and ask the most. English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers support multilingual students so they can follow the wider curriculum, and these posts usually require a recognised school teaching qualification plus classroom experience. English literature and homeroom posts are separate career paths. A TEFL certificate alone is rarely enough here, and a general careers page does not mean an English vacancy is open today.

Placement Programmes and Agencies

Placement programmes and agencies recruit teachers and assign them to partner schools, most of them government schools. Many supply the curriculum, lesson materials and visa paperwork, which is why they are the usual route into a first job. Before you accept, confirm who employs you, which school you are assigned to and whether the programme charges any fee.

No employers match both filters. Show all employers

What TEFL Jobs in Thailand Pay

Typical advertised ranges, compiled November 2026 from the Thailand Starter Kit teaching guide, 2026 government-school and language-centre job advertisements, and the packages of OnTESOL’s partner recruiters (Icon Recruit ฿33,000–40,000; T.S.E.T.A ฿30,000+). Individual offers vary with location, qualifications and experience.

Housing and flights are not standard outside international schools, so compare the whole package and not only the salary. For what these salaries buy, see salary and cost of living in Thailand.

TEFL Jobs in Thailand Without a Degree

The honest answer is that legal school jobs need one. A bachelor’s degree in any subject is required for the work permit that employers sponsor, and for the teaching licence or waiver that the Teachers’ Council of Thailand issues to teachers in formal schools. Every employer type in this directory expects it.

People without a degree usually do one of three things: finish the degree first, teach online for a company based outside Thailand, or choose a country where the work permit does not depend on a degree. Some listings do say “no degree required.” Ask how the employer will obtain your work permit. If it cannot, the job is not legal, and the risk of fines or deportation falls on you, not on the school.

Visa Sponsorship and the Work Permit

Legal teaching work requires a Non-Immigrant B visa and a work permit, and the employer sponsors both: it supplies the documents for the visa and applies for the permit once you arrive. The steps are set out in the visa and work permit section of our Thailand guide.

TEFL Jobs in Thailand With No Experience

First-time teachers are hired every semester, mostly for government schools through placement programmes. Among the employers above, SINE Education has advertised for applicants without teaching experience, and Icon Recruit treats experience as preferred, not required. BFITS, MediaKids Academy, Kids English Thailand and OEG Teach in Thailand also place teachers in Thai schools by the semester; confirm the experience each one asks for on its current listing.

What these programmes provide matters more than the title: a set curriculum and lesson materials, an orientation or training week, a Thai co-teacher or coordinator in the school, and the visa and work-permit paperwork. Language centres also hire new teachers, and they usually ask for a demonstration lesson. A 120-hour certificate with assessed lesson planning is what makes the demonstration lesson manageable.

Non-Native English Speakers

Non-native speakers teach legally in Thailand with the same degree and the same visa. The extra requirement is proof of English: employers and licensing officials commonly ask for a TOEIC score of 600 or higher, or an IELTS band of 5.0 to 5.5 or higher. Teachers with passports from the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand are generally treated as native speakers and are not asked for a test score.

Among the employers above, Eduplus states that it invites both native and non-native applicants. Many government-school advertisements say the same, often at a lower salary. Others, including some placement programmes, list a native-speaker requirement, so read each listing before you apply.

Agencies vs Direct Hire

Most teacher recruitment agencies in Thailand place teachers in government schools, and their hiring is busiest before the May and November semesters. With an agency or placement programme, the agency is your employer: it holds your contract, pays your salary and handles your work permit, and the school is its client. With direct hire, the school does all three, which often means higher pay and paid holidays but less help settling in. Either way, the questions to put to an employer are the same; we list them in 15 questions to ask before signing a teaching contract in Thailand.

TEFL Jobs in Bangkok and the Other Hubs

Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces hold more than half of the employers in this directory: most language-centre chains, the largest group of international schools, and the head offices of the placement agencies. See our guide to teaching English in Bangkok for districts and living costs. In Chiang Mai, look at Lanna, Prem, Panyaden, Mill Hill, Varee and SBS Chiangmai. In the South, BISP, UWC Thailand and Kajonkiet are in Phuket, and Krabi International School is across the bay. Pattaya has Regents and MIS. In Isaan, ICS and UDIS are both in Udon Thani, and SINE places teachers in government schools across the region. Use the region filter at the top of the directory to see each list.

Online English teaching jobs in Thailand are mostly with companies based outside the country. Teaching online while living in Thailand does not come with a work permit, so check the visa position before relying on it — for platforms and pay, see teaching English online.

How to Apply and Stand Out

Build a shortlist around the qualifications you actually hold. A TEFL-certified graduate should start with language centres and placement programmes. A licensed teacher with school experience can add bilingual and international schools.

For language-centre and government-school jobs, show that you can plan a lesson: a clear aim, communicative activities and materials adapted to the class. For school-based EAL roles, explain how you assess language needs, develop academic English and work with subject teachers.

Prepare a tailored CV, a short cover letter, scans of your degree and certificate, and professional references. Check each advertisement for the certificates and experience it accepts, and match your application to the advertised curriculum, age group and responsibilities. Follow the employer’s instructions exactly. Some schools accept only their own application form or a named recruitment platform, and some ask for an introduction video or a demonstration lesson.

Before you accept, ask for a written breakdown of salary, paid holidays, teaching hours, required on-site hours, insurance and any housing support, and confirm who handles and pays for your visa and work permit. The full checklist is in the 15-questions article linked above.