Teaching English in Japan Salary: What to Expect

Maybe for you it’s the centuries of history or the challenge of learning the language. Maybe it came from your study abroad semester, a longing to live close to nature like Tottori’s sand dunes or Hokkaidō's hot springs, or a lifelong love of anime. Whatever first drew you in, you know teaching English gives you a path to living the dream of living in Japan.

Then, the questions come.

How much do English teachers make in Japan? And, can you actually make a living on an English teacher’s salary there?

If you’ve always dreamt of living and working in Japan, this is your sign to do it!

Japan comes through with a range of teaching opportunities that make it possible to find a job (and, yeah, corresponding salary) that fits your lifestyle goals. Whether you’re looking to teach English to young learners or aiming to help professionals polish their language skills, there’s a job in Japan waiting for you.

How much do English teachers make in Japan?

Editor’s Note: All exchange rates below were accurate at the time of writing. Please check current rates for up-to-date information.

You’ve researched the requirements for teaching English in Japan and maybe even made a wish list of places you’d like to live. But if you’re thinking about teaching English in Japan, salary is undoubtedly at the top of your list of things to figure out.

Your salary will ultimately depend on the type of teaching job you get, so breaking down your potential English teacher’s salary in Japan based on teaching placements can help you strategize your next moves:

1. JET Program: 280,000 per month in your first year to 330,000 yen per month in your fourth and fifth years ($2,120 to $2,500)

Perhaps the most well-known opportunity for English teachers in Japan, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program promises high earning potential and lots of support for participants. This government initiative hires Assistant Language Teachers, or ALTs, on yearly contracts to work at public elementary, junior, or high schools.

If you’re working via JET teaching English in Japan, salary isn’t the only benefit you’ll enjoy. ALTs on JET get visa support, insurance coverage, and transportation to and from Japan, not to mention access to training, an alumni network, and more.

Better yet, the JET teaching English in Japan salary rises the longer you participate (though participation is capped at five years). ALTs usually work Monday through Friday during the school day, but you’ll sometimes have to work outside of normal hours or on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.

No matter what schedule you work, there will still be plenty of time for adventure.

The perks and prestige of the program mean you’ll face stiff competition when you apply. You’ll also likely find yourself teaching in a smaller town, so if you have your heart set on a city like Tokyo, JET may not offer the best way to get there.

Still, teaching in the inaka delivers a unique cultural experience—plus you’ll get to keep more of the earnings you’d otherwise use to fund the higher cost of living in an urban area. The JET salary is a blanket salary all participants make, regardless of location, and JET participants are not permitted to take on outside work.

2. Public Schools: 200,000 to 250,000 yen per month ($1,500-$1,900) via recruiters, up to 280,000 yen per month ($2,120) for direct hires

You don’t have to go through the JET program to work as an ALT at a public school in Japan. Various external companies, known as recruiters or dispatch companies, recruit ALTs for public schools throughout the country.

It’s much less competitive to get hired as an ALT this way. A variety of dispatch companies coupled with a high turnover rate (most ALTs stay in Japan around two years) mean there are often many open placements. You typically won’t need Japanese language ability, teaching experience, or a TEFL certificate, but previous teaching experience (along with that TEFL certificate) can give you an advantage in the hiring process.

Unlike ALTs on JET, those hired via recruiters may have to deal with a prorated salary during school holidays. Dispatch companies also don’t pay your airfare to move to Japan. You’ll otherwise get similar support to ALTs hired through the JET program, including assistance with things like your visa, housing, insurance, and bank accounts.

Direct hire positions via a Board of Education also exist. These contracts are similar to JET positions. It’s harder to find an ALT job through a BOE, but if you plan to stay in Japan long-term, you might give it a try.

3. Private Schools (Eikaiwas): 250,000 yen per month ($1,900 per month)

Teaching in an eikaiwa can be a great way to launch your career teaching English in Japan.

As independent English conversation schools, eikaiwas offer a less competitive route to a teaching job in Japan. These private businesses or academies focus on conversational English for the general public.

You’ll see a mix of students, from learners looking for extra help with their studies to those wanting a leg up on their business English, and will likely teach lessons after school or work hours or on the weekends. That makes teaching at an eikaiwa a good fit for those looking for part-time or flexible teaching options.

Because eikaiwas are private institutions, salary and benefit packages vary a lot from school to school, as do teaching requirements and qualifications. You’ll find many jobs that only ask for the basics of native English fluency and a bachelor’s degree.

4. International Schools: 250,000 to 600,000 yen per month ($1,900 to $4,545)

Working at a legitimate international school in Japan comes with serious perks. You’ll likely net an above-average salary, you can get discounted or free tuition for your own kids, and your students—who may come from diverse backgrounds—tend to have some English proficiency already. Depending on the school, you can also get housing and settlement allowances on top of your salary.

The downside? Those same perks mean jobs teaching English at international schools are scarce. Teachers who do get hired usually stick around! You’ll also be limited when it comes to location, as Tokyo boasts the biggest concentration of international schools.

Be prepared for employers to ask for at least two years of teaching experience. Many teachers who get jobs at international schools do so thanks to networking, so you’ll need to work harder just to get an interview with an international school than for other teaching positions in Japan.

5. Universities: 270,000 to 600,000 yen per month ($2,045 to $4,545)

Tokyo? Osaka? Kyoto? There are tons of great universities in Japan!

While the salary for an English teacher in Japan at a university might inspire you to do a double take, it’s not the only benefit of university teaching. You can also look forward to appealing work hours (many jobs are structured around 10 to 15 work hours per week plus administrative duties) and up to three full months of vacation.

You’ll have a lot of competition for university gigs thanks to the higher salary and overall benefits these positions offer. Along with the high pay comes high hiring standards, with many positions asking for substantial teaching experience along with a master’s degree or even PhD and published research if you’re up for a faculty appointment. The requirements depend on the type of university job you ultimately get.

If you’re working at a university as an English teacher in Japan, salary figures will also vary depending on how you’re hired. Short-term, indirect hires earn on the lower end of the spectrum. You’ll earn more if a university directly hires you as a tutor or lecturer, and you’ll earn the most if you’re hired on a permanent contract.

6. Business Classes: 3,800 yen per hour ($29 per hour)

Corporations in Japan hire teachers to help their staff study English, and these companies often have the resources to pay teachers more. Though full-time positions do exist, it’s generally tough to teach business classes full-time since most corporate classes take place after the work day.

But part-time business classes offer a great way to supplement your main income, especially if you’re located in a big city like Tokyo, Kyoto, or Nagoya. Teaching business English classes at a corporation usually means teaching group lessons about work-related tasks (think: making phone calls and composing emails) and helping students who are more fluent in English with presentations.

You’ll likely need native English skills, a university degree, and an appropriate visa in hand to get hired. These jobs may also ask prospective teachers for more than one year of teaching experience and business knowledge and experience.

7. Private Tutoring: 3,000 yen per hour ($23 per hour)

Being a private tutor could mean being an au pair, or even a freelancer.

If you’re looking to bring in some additional funds beyond your English teacher salary in Japan, you can also consider tutoring English privately. Sure, you won’t get work benefits beyond the extra cash (those come from your regular job), but you will get to set your own schedule and rate.

Look into local rates and demand to set a price that ensures you’re earning to your full potential. Remember, it’s up to you to find interested pupils. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to tutor privately in Japan, so if you’re motivated to advertise your services and build your network, you can use tutoring gigs to pad your main source of income.

Can you make a living teaching English in Japan?

You absolutely can make a living teaching English in Japan, no matter which teaching route you choose. The key is figuring out how to budget and plan for your biggest expenditures.

Here’s how to make the salary of an English teacher in Japan work for you:

• Assess the total package: As an English teacher in Japan, salary (at least in terms of monthly checks from your employer) isn’t your only concern. You have to get there and find a place to live, right? Salary packages in many places include accommodation, training, and even flights, so your start-up costs and ongoing cost of living may look a little easier to handle once you factor that all in.
• Consider your housing options: If you’re not living in housing provided by your teaching contract, getting set up in an apartment can be pricey. Consider all options when searching for accommodations. This includes gaijin houses (guesthouses that offer shared or private apartments for foreigners), which let you save big on housing costs while living like a local.
• Learn where to cut costs in daily life…: You can easily drop tons of cash on expensive nights out. Shop like a local at the supermarket and buy seasonal Japanese products to keep your spending under control. Oh, and don’t forget 100 yen shops (similar to American dollar stores) for quality school supplies and stocking your new home!
• …and while traveling: Shinkansen trips may be fun and convenient, but make journeys on the bullet train an occasional treat and look to cheaper buses to travel during time off from teaching. Accommodation prices also range significantly. Check out all your options when you’re on the road, considering everything from hotels and hostels to ryokan and minshuku. Japan may have a reputation as an expensive travel destination, but you can totally see the country on a budget.
• Sign up for kyushoku: If you’re working in a public elementary or junior high school and eligible to do so, go ahead and sign up for the school lunch program. You’ll get a nutritious meal every day and get to experience a changing menu. If you can’t sign up for kyushoku, cook at home and bring a bento for a budget-friendly meal at work.
• Location, location, location: The salary for an English teacher in Japan can vary depending on location. You may earn more if you work in a city than in a rural area, but all in all, your salary will stay proportional to the cost of living where you land. The JET salary, a blanket salary for all participants, is an exception.

Learning how to live like a local will let you make the most of your salary so you can explore your new home while still saving money. Even if you have to stick to a budget, you’re getting paid to be in Japan. Not a bad deal!

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If you’re looking for a job teaching English in Japan, salary fears shouldn’t hold you back. You can make a living teaching English in Japan—and experience a country that abounds with natural wonders, unique history, and plenty of good reasons to teach while you’re at it. Next stop: Getting that job that makes living and working in Japan your new reality.

This article was written with help from International TEFL Academy. With 40,000 alumni teaching English in 80 countries & online, ITA specializes in online and in-person TEFL courses worldwide. With almost 2000 positive reviews on GoAbroad, TEFL students can expect top-quality participant support at ITA, including lifetime job guidance.