English teachers at Taiwan's buxibans were offered about NT$690 to NT$850 an hour in 2026 job listings, roughly NT$60,700 to NT$73,700 a month on 20 guaranteed hours, while public school teachers on the Ministry of Education's TFETP scale earn NT$67,840 to NT$88,800 with a bachelor's degree. International schools pay more to licensed teachers, and a comfortable cost of living means most full time teachers can save every month.
Taiwan gets talked about less than Korea or Japan in TEFL circles, which honestly makes no sense once you look at the numbers. Lower cost of living, genuinely excellent food, a clear work permit process, and salaries that go further than almost anywhere else in East Asia. This post is part of our main guide to teaching English in Taiwan. Let's get into what you'll really take home.
Key Takeaways
- Buxiban (private academy) jobs listed in 2026 paid about NT$690 to NT$850 an hour, or roughly NT$60,700 to NT$73,700 a month on 20 hours a week; public school TFETP teachers with a bachelor's degree earn NT$67,840 to NT$88,800 ($2,133 to $2,792).
- International school teachers earn the most, but need a teaching license and usually two or more years' experience.
- A single person's 2026 budget runs from about NT$29,200 a month in Kaohsiung to NT$47,330 in Taipei, so most full time teachers save.
- Taipei has the highest salaries but also the highest rent; cities like Taichung and Kaohsiung often offer similar or better savings.
Taiwan English Teacher Salary by School Type
Here's the breakdown, covering the main routes into teaching in Taiwan.
| School type | Monthly salary (NT$) | Monthly salary (USD approx.) | Typical hours | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buxiban (cram school) | About NT$690 to 850 an hour (about NT$60,700 to 73,700 a month at 20 hrs a week) | about $1,908 to $2,317 a month | Afternoons and evenings, 14 to 32 teaching hrs a week | College graduate plus degree or language teaching certificate |
| Public school (TFETP teacher) | NT$67,840 to 88,800 | $2,133 to $2,792 | Mon to Fri days, up to 20 co-taught classes | Bachelor's degree plus license, or experience and approved training |
| Public school (TFETP assistant) | NT$50,000 (2024 notice) | about $1,572 | School day | Bachelor's degree, no license needed |
| International school | Higher, varies by school | Varies | Standard school day | Teaching license plus experience |
TFETP figures from the Ministry of Education's published terms, updated 3 October 2026. Buxiban figures come from 2026 listings on the job board Teast: NT$850+ an hour at a Linkou, New Taipei learning center with 20 guaranteed hours; NT$700 to 800 at a Taichung school; and NT$690 to 760 for part time evening work in Taipei. Monthly figures assume 20 teaching hours a week. Conversions at about NT$31.8 to the US dollar.
Cost of Living: What You'll Actually Spend
Taiwan's biggest selling point isn't the salary ceiling, it's how far a modest one stretches. Average one bedroom rent runs about NT$26,250 a month in Taipei, against roughly NT$14,375 in Taichung and NT$13,250 in Kaohsiung, based on 2026 figures from AffordWhere. Sharing a flat in Taipei can bring rent down to around NT$5,000 to NT$10,000 per person.
| City | Average 1 bedroom rent | Total monthly budget |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei | NT$26,250 | NT$47,330 |
| Taichung | NT$14,375 | NT$31,375 |
| Kaohsiung | NT$13,250 | NT$29,200 |
Source: AffordWhere city budgets built on 2026 government statistics. For a line by line breakdown, see our guide to the cost of living in Taiwan for English teachers.
Public School (TFETP) vs. Buxiban: Which Pays Better?
Taiwan's government-backed Foreign English Teacher Program, TFETP, places teachers in public elementary and junior high schools with a transparent pay scale: NT$67,840 to NT$88,800 a month for Foreign English Teachers with a bachelor's degree, depending on teaching seniority, and NT$50,000 for Foreign English Teaching Assistants in the Ministry's 2024 notice. It comes with airfare up to NT$40,000 each way, housing reimbursement of up to NT$5,000 a month, a performance bonus and national health insurance, and it runs on weekday school hours. Our TFETP guide covers eligibility in detail.
Buxibans usually pay by the hour, with 2026 listings ranging from about NT$690 to NT$850, and they hire year-round rather than on fixed intakes, which makes them the faster route in if you want to start sooner. The tradeoff is evening and weekend hours, since buxibans exist specifically to teach kids after their regular school day ends.
International Schools: The Ceiling
If you're a licensed teacher with a few years of classroom experience, Taiwan's international school sector, concentrated in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung, pays considerably more, often with housing allowances, flight reimbursement and comprehensive health insurance. It's not an entry-level option, but it's worth knowing the ceiling exists if you're TEFL-certified now and planning ahead.
How Taiwan Compares to the Rest of the Region
For context on how Taiwan's numbers stack up against Korea, Japan, Thailand and dozens of other destinations, our TEFL Salary Report covering 30 countries puts every major market side by side.
Getting Started
To teach in Taiwan legally you'll need a work permit, a resident visa and an Alien Resident Certificate, as our guide to the Taiwan work visa and ARC explains. Language schools need you to be a college graduate with a degree or a language teaching certificate, while public schools require a bachelor's degree. Our accredited TEFL courses cover the certificate, and our free Taiwan teaching guide walks through job types and what to expect once you land.
