EFL jobs are roles teaching English as a foreign language to learners whose first language is not English, in language schools, state school assistant programmes, summer schools, international schools and online. In the UK the National Careers Service lists pay from £21,000 to £32,000 a year; abroad, pay and visa rules depend on the country and the employer.
Key takeaways
- EFL here means English as a foreign language. If you were looking for the English Football League, this is not that page.
- Seven employer types cover almost every EFL job: academies, government assistant programmes, UK summer schools, online platforms, international schools, business English and private tutoring.
- UK EFL teachers earn £21,000 to £32,000 a year on 30 to 37 variable hours, according to the National Careers Service (read 12 October 2026).
- The most common qualifications named by the National Careers Service are Cambridge CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL and a Level 5 TEFL Diploma.
- Programme windows matter: British Council assistantships open in November 2026, JET runs October to early December, and EPIK Spring 2027 is open now.
What are EFL jobs?
EFL jobs are teaching positions where English is taught as a foreign language to people whose first language is something else. They include language academies, government assistant programmes such as EPIK and JET, UK summer schools, international schools, business English and online platforms. Requirements, pay and hours differ by employer and country, so read the job description, not the label.
Some employers use EFL and ESL interchangeably. The practical distinction is where the learner lives: EFL usually means the learner is in a country where English is not the community language, ESL that they live in an English speaking country. For a job search, read the duties, learner age, hours and pay rather than the acronym. Our guide on how to find TEFL jobs covers the boards and recruiters; this page is the map of what is out there.
What types of EFL jobs are there?
Almost every EFL advert falls into one of seven employer types. The table lists what the work involves, what employers usually ask for, and where each type is concentrated.
| Job type | Typical work | Usually required | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private language school (academy) | General English, exam classes and young learners, often evenings and Saturdays | TEFL certificate; a degree is required by some employers and by most work visas | UK and worldwide; the largest single employer type |
| Government language assistant programme | Classroom support alongside a local teacher on a fixed term contract | Passport from an eligible country, degree, programme specific paperwork | British Council assistantships, EPIK in Korea, JET in Japan |
| UK summer school | Short intensive courses and activities for visiting teenagers, June to August | TEFL certificate, safeguarding checks, often residential | UK boarding schools and universities |
| Online teaching | One to one or small group lessons through a platform or your own client list | TEFL certificate, a demo lesson, reliable equipment | Anywhere with a stable connection |
| International school | Curriculum English or English as an additional language within a full school | Teaching licence or QTS, degree, classroom experience | Worldwide, concentrated in Asia and the Middle East |
| Business and in company English | Workplace English for professionals, often early morning or lunchtime | TEFL certificate plus a business English specialism helps | Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and online |
| Private tutoring | Self employed one to one lessons, in person or online | TEFL certificate, your own marketing and admin | Anywhere, usually alongside another role |
Requirements vary by employer and by the visa rules of the country. Qualification names follow the UK National Careers Service EFL teacher profile. This is a comparison framework, not a promise of eligibility.
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Where are EFL jobs, and what do they pay?
Pay figures below carry the source and the date each was read. UK figures are from the National Careers Service EFL teacher profile, read 12 October 2026. EPIK figures are from epik.go.kr, read 12 October 2026. Other country figures are typical advertised ranges from Premier TEFL's TEFL Salary Report, compiled and verified in July 2026. Ranges describe typical advertised pay, not guarantees.
| Region | Typical pay | Hours | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £21,000 (starter) to £32,000 (experienced) a year | 30 to 37 hours a week, variable | National Careers Service EFL teacher profile, read 12 October 2026 |
| Spain | €1,000 to 1,600 a month in academies | Academy hours, often split shifts | Premier TEFL Salary Report, verified July 2026 |
| Italy | €1,000 to 1,600 net a month; international schools €2,200 to 3,500 | Academy or school hours | Premier TEFL Salary Report, verified July 2026 |
| South Korea (EPIK) | 2.2 to 2.8 million KRW a month at Level 2 and above, plus housing | Public school hours, weekdays | epik.go.kr pay scale, read 12 October 2026 |
| Japan (JET) | Year 1 ¥4,020,000 a year (about ¥335,000 a month) | Public school hours, weekdays | Premier TEFL Salary Report, verified July 2026; window from jetprogramme.org, read 12 October 2026 |
| Vietnam | Full time averages around VND 44.8 million (about US$1,766) a month | Language centre and school hours | Premier TEFL Salary Report, verified July 2026 |
| Thailand | ฿30,000 to 45,000 a month in public schools | School hours, weekdays | Premier TEFL Salary Report, verified July 2026 |
| China | RMB 12,000 to 25,000 a month mainstream; international schools RMB 40,000+ | School or training centre hours | Premier TEFL Salary Report, verified July 2026 |
| UAE | AED 10,000 to 21,000 a month, tax free, in Dubai | School hours, Monday to Friday | Premier TEFL Salary Report, verified July 2026 |
| Online | Cambly US$10.20 (adults) and 12.00 (kids) an hour; Preply average US$19.37; iTalki US$15 to 35 self set; independent US$12 to 70+ | Hours you book | Premier TEFL Salary Report, verified July 2026 |
Local currency figures are as published by the source. US dollar equivalents in the Salary Report are approximate and move with exchange rates. Housing, flights and bonuses are not included unless stated.
For a country by country view with visa routes, start with the South Korea salary and E-2 visa guide, the JET Programme guide and the online English teaching jobs guide. The Departure Board tracks which programme windows are open this fortnight.
EFL Jobs: Types, Where They Are, What They Pay and How to Apply
What qualifications do you need for EFL jobs?
It depends on the setting. The National Careers Service, read 12 October 2026, names Cambridge CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL and a Level 5 TEFL Diploma as the most common TEFL qualifications, and says you will need one to teach in a private language academy. To work in UK state schools you will usually need to be a qualified teacher. International schools abroad generally ask for a teaching licence, a degree and classroom experience.
Most work visas for teaching abroad also require a bachelor's degree; the employer or programme should tell you exactly which documents the immigration authority wants. Premier TEFL's 180 Hour Level 5 TEFL Diploma is regulated by Ofqual in the UK, which is the same Level 5 band the National Careers Service refers to, and it is the qualification most academies and programmes accept for a first contract.
How much do EFL teachers earn in the UK?
The National Careers Service gives an average salary of £21,000 a year for a starter rising to £32,000 for an experienced EFL teacher, on 30 to 37 hours a week described as variable, with evening and weekend work possible. Those figures were read on 12 October 2026. Summer school contracts are usually quoted weekly and often include accommodation and meals, so compare the net figure after those costs rather than the headline.
Abroad, the useful comparison is pay after housing. EPIK provides housing on top of 2.2 to 2.8 million KRW a month; a Spanish academy at €1,000 to 1,600 a month usually does not. Our TEFL Salary Report puts 30 countries side by side on that basis.
When do EFL programmes open?
Windows read on 12 October 2026 from each programme's official site.
- British Council English Language Assistants: paid six month or one year placements; applications for 2027 to 28 open in November 2026.
- JET Programme (Japan): applications accepted from October to late November or early December, with the deadline set by each embassy; interviews in February and departure in July or August.
- EPIK (South Korea): the Spring 2027 intake is open now and processed in the order received; see our EPIK application guide for the full timeline.
- Academies and summer schools: academies in Europe hire most heavily for September and January starts; UK summer schools recruit from roughly February to May for June to August contracts.
How do you find and apply for EFL jobs?
Six steps, in the order that saves the most time.
- Pick one learner group and one route. Adults in a Spanish academy, teenagers at a UK summer school, Korean primary pupils with EPIK, or online. Every later decision depends on this.
- Get the qualification the route asks for. The National Careers Service names Cambridge CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL and a Level 5 TEFL Diploma as the most common qualifications. UK state schools usually need qualified teacher status; private academies need a TEFL certificate.
- Check your right to work. For UK roles use the GOV.UK right to work guidance. For jobs abroad the employer or programme must explain the visa route; never start on a tourist status.
- Watch the programme calendars. British Council assistantship applications for 2027 to 28 open in November 2026. JET accepts applications from October to late November or early December. EPIK's Spring 2027 intake is open now and does not publish a closing date.
- Build a two page teaching CV and a short demo lesson. Qualification, learner groups taught, availability and location near the top, with two or three concrete classroom examples.
- Screen every offer before you send documents. Legal employer name, gross pay and currency, paid hours, who handles the visa, notice and exit terms. Pressure to pay a fee or transfer money today is the signal to stop.
Our TEFL CV guide has a template, and how to find legitimate TEFL jobs without getting scammed lists the red flags in detail. For UK roles, GOV.UK explains how to prove your right to work.
What are the red flags in EFL job adverts?
Guaranteed income with no stated hours, a fee to be placed, pressure to buy a course from the recruiter today, unpaid trial teaching that looks like a normal timetable, no legal employer name, and a contract that only arrives after you have paid. A low salary is not automatically a scam and a polished website is not automatically safe. Ask for the school's official email domain and verify it independently before sending a passport scan or bank details.
Get qualified for EFL jobs with Premier TEFL
Premier TEFL's courses are regulated by Ofqual in the UK at Level 5 and carry an Approved Quality Curriculum accredited by DEAC in the US. Compare our TEFL courses, pick the route that matches the job type you chose in step one, and keep your lesson plans and tutor feedback: they are the evidence an interviewer asks for.
Sources: UK National Careers Service EFL teacher profile and British Council English Language Assistants page, read 12 October 2026; jetprogramme.org application timeline and epik.go.kr pay scale, read 12 October 2026; Premier TEFL Salary Report, verified July 2026. Where a source and this page differ, the source is correct.
