Top 10 TEFL Markets for 2026

Welcome to our long-awaited annual ranking of the top locations for teaching English in 2026. This year is going to have a bit of a variation in that you’ll see a “location” we’ve never included before, but it’s really shown staying power since the pandemic and we just have to include it. Really, if we’re being honest, it probably should have been included in the last three or four annual lists as well. Nonetheless, read on to find out this year’s surprise inclusion.

South Korea

South Korea takes back to top spot for 2026, reclaiming this coveted placement from China, with over 20 per cent of Oxford Seminars Job Placement Service reported positions landing in Korea so far in 2025. While this is a drop off from 2010, when Korea took in almost 34 per cent of placements, it still comes in ahead of China at roughly 19 per cent. Salaries have stayed high and the number of positions available each year remains strong. Schools continue to offer free housing, at least one-way airfare reimbursement, and substantial salaries, considering the comparatively low cost of living. Without having to pay rent, teachers can still save about $1,000 a month and live a good lifestyle.

As always is the case at this time of year, hagwons are currently interviewing for yearlong contracts starting in the first term (February/March) of the 2026-2027 school year, and those wanting to go in the next few months should be applying now. The government’s flagship EPIK public school program is now wrapping up recruitment for the February intake, but various provincial public school offices of education will continue interviewing for April, May and June starting positions in the coming months through designated recruiting agencies. The Job Placement Service has contacts hiring for the Chungcheongnam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do provincial offices of education, and can answer any questions Oxford Seminars TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate graduates have about these public school programs. Those wanting to go to Korea for the start of the second term (August/September) should plan on interviewing April through June.

Quick Facts for South Korea

Monthly Salary: 2,000,000-3,000,000 KRW

Accommodations: Usually included or allowance given

Airfare: Reimbursement (full or partial) usually given

Healthcare: Included

Holidays: Paid

For more information on teaching in South Korea visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

China

Like it did 15 years ago, back in 2010, coming in at number two this year is mainland China. The demand for teachers is still strong, but it has dropped somewhat as schools get more selective. The K-12 international schools seem to be saving the higher-paying positions for very well qualified or experienced teachers, whereas those new to TEFL are more likely to land a somewhat lower-paying gig at a private language school or public college. Don’t rule out colleges, however! With fewer teaching hours per week post-secondary instructors tend to have a lot of extra time to focus on personal pursuits, and gaining two to three years of college or university teaching experience in China can benefit future applications to more competitive regions like the Middle East.

Additionally, keep in mind that the Oxford Seminars Job Placement Service continues to work with almost every type of school imaginable in China, from language schools, elementary, and secondary schools to business English training centers, colleges and universities. As China has joined the USA and Canada in the Hague Apostille Convention, the application and visa process has become shorter than in years past, and schools are recruiting a bit closer to their term start dates, but at the same time being more selective in which candidates are offered positions. It is recommended to be applying about 3-4 months before your desired departure date. Schools and recruiters are well into interviewing for February/March 2026 starts, and will likely start considering candidates in April for potential fall term (August/September 2026) starting positions.

Quick Facts for China

Monthly Salary: 12,000-30,000 CNY

Accommodations: Usually included or allowance given

Airfare: Reimbursement (full or partial) usually given

Healthcare: Supplementary healthcare recommended

Holidays: Usually paid

For more information on teaching in China visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Online

We’re finally giving online/virtual/remote teaching positions their due attention. After Korea and China, online teaching positions garnered the most placements of Oxford Seminars graduates through the placement service in 2025, accounting for 15 per cent of total placements throughout the year.

Teaching online is a high demand sector for a number of reasons including, but not limited to: working from home; gaining experience; supplementing existing income; flexible scheduling; and working while traveling

Companies from all over the world are hiring virtual/remote teachers, and some individuals work as private online tutors or set up their own tutoring businesses. And while earning $10 an hour might seem not-so-workable in the US or Canada, that kind of money would actually buy a lot of food and fun for someone with a strong Internet connection and the warm weather of Mexico or Thailand. Wages can range from as low as $5 an hour for those without a degree or who don’t speak English as a first language, and up to $25 an hour for more qualified applicants willing to work when students are available in Asian time zones. Very well-qualified teachers working for North American or Middle Eastern language providers may even earn up to $40 an hour, but those types of wage packages are few and far between. The vast majority of positions are freelance in nature and workers are responsible for their own income tax calculations, housing, healthcare plans, and so on. Positions tend to be available throughout the year, and instructors looking for full-time hours should plan to piece together two or more positions in different time zones to make ends meet.

Quick Facts for Online

Monthly Salary: $100-$3,000 USD

Accommodations: N/A

Airfare: N/A

Healthcare: N/A

Holidays: Usually unpaid

Thailand

Thailand has garnered the fourth most Oxford Seminars graduate placements (almost 9 per cent of total) to date in 2025. Positions are typically not as lucrative as other top TEFL markets, but Thailand does boast a number of other benefits to draw in

a high volume of teachers, such as: access to tropical beaches, ancient ruins to explore, popular Thai cuisine, and the availability of shorter one-term contracts, to name a few. The vast majority of English teaching positions in Thailand are in public or private elementary and secondary schools, which will offer paid vacation and assist their teachers with finding suitable apartments nearby (sometimes rent-free). More and more agencies are offering higher salaries to those with the qualifications and experience to teach math or science in English, so applicants with a degree majoring in maths or sciences should note their interest and ability for teaching those subjects throughout the application process.

Schools and recruiters in Thailand are just finishing up hiring for second term 2025 (November-December) openings, and will begin interviewing for first term 2026 (May-June) starts in January onward.

Quick Facts for Thailand

Monthly Salary: 30,000-50,000 THB

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Supplementary healthcare recommended

Holidays: Paid

For more information on teaching in Thailand visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Taiwan

Looking back to 2010, the relatively small island of Taiwan boasted the fourth most placements of Oxford Seminars

TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification graduates, at 4.45 per cent of total placements. So far in 2025, Taiwan accounts for the fifth

most placements at almost 9 per cent of total placements. Schools hiring English teachers in Taiwan have been offering salaries comparable to Korea, which are more than enough to live on comfortably and even save a bit of money, considering the low cost of living. Employers usually give paid vacation, help with finding a suitable apartment, and with registering in the local health care system.

Public school positions are reserved for those with the state teaching credentials to teach in the public schools of their home countries, but there are a few private K-12 schools and many language academies are looking to hire teachers from English-speaking countries for February and later 2026 starts. Language schools often have openings for yearlong positions throughout the year. It is recommended to begin applying to potential employers in Taiwan about 3-4 months before your desired departure date.

Quick Facts for Taiwan

Monthly Salary: 38,000-72,000 TWD

Accommodations: Rarely included

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Included

Holidays: Usually paid

For more information on teaching in Taiwan visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Japan

Salaries for English teachers in Japan are still among the highest in the world, and while the savings potential may not be as great as Korea and China due to the higher cost of living, it’s definitely enough to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. Employers tend

to provide rent-subsidized apartments, which helps to ease the transition into Japan’s restrictive rental systems, and generally assist with enrolling in state healthcare. Other benefits include paid vacation and contract completion bonuses.

The application and visa process for Japan can be quite lengthy, so it’s recommended to be applying to private language schools in Japan about 4-6 months before your desired departure date. The Job Placement Service works with a number of well-regarded private language school chains in Japan, as well as offers international school positions, for those with the right combination of education and experience.

Quick Facts for Japan

Monthly Salary: 225,000-300,000 JPY

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Usually included

Holidays: Paid

For more information on teaching in Japan visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Costa Rica

Many schools in this Central American nation pivoted to hiring remote teachers for online learning during the pandemic, and

even as we roll into 2026 it seems a large number of students, especially in the business sector, have preferred to stay learning online. As such, instructors applying to Costa Rica should be open to a hybrid of online and in-person classes. Wages on offer are typically a bit higher than what’s available in other countries in the region, and schools will most often assist with finding suitable accommodations.

Most of the better-paying hourly rates come from language schools focusing on business English for adult students, or general English for all ages, which hire as openings arise throughout the year. Teachers should plan to start applying about 2-3 months before they hope to arrive in the country.

Quick Facts for Costa Rica

Monthly Salary: 370,000-750,000 CRC

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Supplementary healthcare recommended

Holidays: Usually paid

For more information on teaching in Costa Rica visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Spain

Whenever searching Internet job boards for TEFL positions in Europe, Spain seems to come out on top in terms of the most job ads at any given time. The most commonly represented postings seem to be with teacher training or work-study type programs

that enable non-EU citizens to enroll in an educational course and enter on a student visa. The vast majority of private language schools posting jobs online, on the other hand, require their teachers to hold a passport from an EU member state. Those who have obtained a Youth Mobility Visa for Spain, eligible to citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea who are 30-35 years of age or younger, country depending, may also be considered.

Language assistant programs placing participants in K-12 schools tend to have most of their openings in September and October, which run through June – basically these jobs run from the start to the end of the school year. Private language schools are more likely to hire year round.

Quick Facts for Spain

Spain

Monthly Salary: 900 – 1,500 EUR

Accommodations: Rarely included

Airfare: Never included

Healthcare: Usually included

Holidays: Sometimes paid

For more information on teaching in Spain visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Italy

Just behind Spain in terms of both TEFL job positions in Europe, as well as percentage of Oxford Seminars graduate placements in 2025, Italy always seems to have positions available. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, most such postings still denote a

strong preference for those already in possession of working rights within the European Union. That said, more schools are now indicating a willingness to sponsor work visas for UK nationals and hire teachers with (or willing to obtain) a Working Holiday Visa for Italy. This gives young Canadians, along with EU passport holders, a strong advantage in securing jobs in Italy. What’s even better for Canadians is that they can participate in the Working Holiday Visa program twice, allowing them to work in Italy for up to two years!

The majority of English teaching opportunities in Italy are found in the private language school sector, with dozens of schools posting job ads daily on popular TEFL job boards. Many schools hire throughout the year, with September/October and January being the peak hiring months. If you’re looking to teach in Italy, now is the perfect time to explore the opportunities available in this exciting and culturally rich country.

Quick Facts for Italy

Italy

Monthly Salary: 900 – 1,600 EUR

Accommodations: Rarely included

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Rarely included

Holidays: Sometimes paid

For more information on teaching in Italy visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Mexico

Wages in Mexico, and throughout Latin America, certainly don’t compare to the stronger employment packages offered in most of Asia, but the educational requirements are also lower, making Mexico a great option for high school graduates or those wanting short-term contracts. And with Mexico just across the border from the US, relocation is typically a fraction of the cost.

Mexican employers often assist with finding a suitably-priced apartment, or provide free accommodations, making it possible to experience the famous food and culture, Spanish language, ancient ruins, and breathtaking beaches this country has to offer. Private language schools tend to hire new staff throughout the year, as positions open up, whereas elementary, secondary and post-secondary institutions mostly look to bring in new teachers for the start of the school year in August.

Quick Facts for Mexico

Monthly Salary: 5,000-20,000 MXN

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Rarely included

Holidays: Sometimes paid

For more information on teaching in Mexico visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

The Oxford Seminars Job Placement Service has numerous contacts in all of the listed locations, and specializes in assisting our graduates in submitting competitive applications. Get in touch with a Course Advisor at 1-888-225-2480 to learn more about TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification and Job Placement!