How Much Does an English Teacher Make in Japan?

Pursuing a career as an English teacher is one of the fastest ways to live and work in Japan—provided you meet the requirements. However, the drawbacks to this convenience are the industry’s competitiveness and relatively low pay.

According to insights from Japanese job boards and our own GaijinPot Jobs, the average English teacher salary in Japan is approximately ¥280,000 per month, totaling around ¥3.38 million annually (roughly $21,763).

Let’s look at the recent trends and compare English teacher salaries in Japan.

Average Starting English Teacher Salaries

Not all English teachers are the same. An English teacher from the JET programme will share some, but not all, the same experiences as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) hired through a haken (dispatch company). Likewise, a full-time university English teacher with a doctorate will earn much more than an English teacher at an eikaiwa (English conversation schools).

Here are the average monthly salaries a new full-time teacher can expect in Japan.

 Hiring Organization	Starting Monthly Salary	Potential Salary Raise
JET Programme	¥280,000	¥330,000
Direct Hire	¥250,000	¥300,000
Dispatch Companies	¥220,000	¥280,000
Eikaiwa	¥220,000	¥280,000
Business English Schools	¥300,000	¥375,000
Universities	¥400,000	¥600,000

Note: These salaries are before taxes.The salaries of English business school and university positions may look the best for aspiring English teachers. However, it’s important to note that these salaries are for full-time employees, which are scarce and fiercely competitive. You’ll likely find part-time opportunities, typically offering hourly rates ranging from ¥3,000 to ¥5,000.

What Does The Jet Programme Offer?

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) offers a unique opportunity to teach in Japan and experience the culture, all with a dedicated support system. They will even pay for your plane ticket. The JET Programme recruits foreigners to work as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) in public schools, spanning elementary, junior and high school levels. ALTs are native-level English speakers who work with Japanese teaching staff in classrooms.

While most candidates will be from outside Japan, you can apply for the JET programme while living in Japan) via the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country. It’s a competitive application process. The organization receives around 5,000 applications—only 1,000 are accepted.

To break down the annual salaries provided for JET Programme participants into monthly figures:

JET Programme Vs. Other ALT Jobs

Let’s consider different English Teaching salaries in Japan. While JET, eikaiwa teachers, direct hire and dispatch ALT jobs are all close regarding salaries, there are some very big differences. For starters, the JET programme is more difficult to get into than a job at an eikaiwa, and with it comes tons of benefits most eikaiwa teachers can only dream about.

JET benefits include:

JET Vs. Other ALT Jobs

One drawback of JET is limited contract renewals, creating uncertainty about long-term employment. Participation is capped at five years, and placements vary widely, with some in rural areas. This can lead to immersion or isolation. Also, salaries remain fixed regardless of location, potentially impacting living expenses.

On the other hand, direct hire, dispatch ALTs, and eikaiwa teachers can potentially earn more than JETs, especially direct hires. They have more control over placement and enjoy flexibility in contract length and renewal options. However, many eikaiwa and dispatch jobs are limited to one-year contracts.

In theory, Japanese law is that at five years, a company must hire you as a seishain (a regular permanent employee), with all the benefits and security that come with it. However, some companies may evade this by not renewing contracts or transferring employees. Civil servants and government employees are exempt from this rule. So, if you teach at a city position, you won’t benefit from this regulation unless the employer voluntarily offers you seishain status.

Dispatch Company (Haken) Salaries

Dispatch companies (think Interac, Borderlink and Heart) hire ALTs to teach in public schools throughout Japan. Interviews are typically conducted online, making the hiring process more accessible. Overseas hires are often placed in rural areas compared to local hires. Thus, keep an open mind about placement options if your goal is to work in Japan. With teaching experience, you can apply for positions elsewhere in Japan with a valid working visa.

Dispatch companies typically offer lower starting salaries than other teaching options, averaging around ¥220,000 to ¥240,000 before taxes. Moreover, ALTs with dispatch companies may receive prorated salaries during school holidays, unlike JET or direct hire contract ALTs, who often receive full salaries during breaks.

Direct Hire Salaries

Direct hire refers to being directly employed by a Board of Education (BOE), bypassing placement through a dispatch company or the JET Programme. Pursuing direct-hire positions may appeal to ALTs considering a long-term stay in Japan.

Direct-hire ALTs often enjoy higher salaries, typically about 30% more than those hired through dispatch companies, averaging around ¥280,000 per month. Contracts for direct-hire ALTs are designed to align with labor regulations, ensuring your rights and benefits are protected. They are similar to the contracts offered by the JET Programme.

Direct-hire positions offer high job security. In contrast, dispatch companies may lose contracts with certain cities, potentially leaving ALTs without work. By choosing a direct-hire position, you can enjoy a more stable and secure career path in Japan.However, direct-hire jobs may lack flexibility.

English Conversation School (Eikaiwa) Salaries

Eikaiwa are private English conversation schools and cater to the general public. Most classes are held after typical work or school hours, often in the evenings or on weekends.

Major Eikaiwa chains such as ECC, Aeon, and Berlitz typically offer monthly salaries between¥275,000 to ¥280,000 for full-time instructors working around 38 hours per week. In contrast, other chains like NOVA and GABA often pay based on lessons taught, with bonuses for peak-hour classes or high customer satisfaction. Typically, between ¥1,430 to ¥1,930 per 40-minute lesson.

Smaller independent English language schools may offer salaries in line with local wages, potentially varying based on location. While salaries outside major urban centers like Tokyo may be lower, the lower cost of living could balance the earnings.

Eikaiwa positions can be attractive for those seeking part-time or flexible schedules, allowing teachers to balance teaching with other pursuits. However, individuals seeking full-time employment should confirm that their contract guarantees sufficient classes to meet their financial needs, as a “flexible schedule” may not always equate to consistent income.

Average Eikaiwa Salaries in Japan

Here are the most well-known eikaiwa in Japan and their base salaries.

Company	Average Base Salaries in (JPY) 
ABC English	¥275,000 ~ ¥280,000
AEON Corporation of Japan	¥275,000
American Language School	¥250,000
Amity	¥275,000
Berlitz	¥280,000
British Culture Academy	¥190,000
California Language Institute (Japan)	¥172,500 ~ ¥240,000
ECC Japan	¥270,000
Gaba Corporation	¥1,630 ~ ¥2,170 Per Lesson
Interac	¥240,000 ~ ¥300,000
Ittti Japan	¥240,000
KidsDuo	¥250,000 ~ ¥270,000
Model Language Studio	¥250,000
NOVA (Japan)	¥230,000
One Coin English School	¥1,200 Per Hour
Riso Kyoiku (TOMAS)	¥260,000
Seiha English Academy	¥251,000
Shane English School	¥252,800
Vantage Japan	¥265,000 ~ ¥280,000

Business Teaching Salaries

Business English classes, funded by companies for their staff, offer higher pay rates despite fewer teaching hours. Typically conducted in groups, these classes cover work-related tasks like email writing and phone calls, with advanced students seeking assistance with presentations.

While some schools prioritize teachers with business experience, hourly rates for business English teachers surpass those of other English teachers due to corporate willingness to pay more. Hourly rates average around ¥3,800, primarily in major cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Most starting salaries at a business English school start around ¥300,000.

Some popular business English Schools are:

Company	 Average Base Salaries in (JPY) 
Berkeley House Language Center	¥270,000 ~ ¥290,000
Tokyo Center for Languages and Culture

University English Teacher Salaries

Teaching at a university offers exceptional career advancement opportunities. Short-term instructors typically require a degree and teaching experience, preferably in EFL or ESL, with teaching qualifications desirable. Long-term faculty members need a Master’s degree or Ph.D., research publications and university-level teaching experience.

University teaching is recognized for its high salaries, especially for tutors and lecturers directly employed by universities. However, earnings for short-term English instructors at Japanese universities, often hired through dispatch companies like Westgate Corporation, are comparatively lower. These instructors can expect monthly earnings from ¥270,000 for less experienced teachers, with contracts lasting three to five months.

Directly employed university faculty members receive even higher salaries. They typically require advanced qualifications such as a master’s degree or Ph.D. in English, linguistics, or education, along with published research. However, you can expect ¥400,000 ~ ¥600,000 per month for such an esteemed position.

How Many Hours Will I Actually Teach?

The typical number of hours English teachers in Japan spend teaching in the classroom varies depending on their position and employer. However, a common range for classroom teaching hours is between 20 to 25 hours per week for full-time positions. This can vary based on school policies, grade levels, and curriculum requirements.

Outside of classroom teaching hours, English teachers often engage in various activities such as lesson planning, grading assignments, attending meetings with colleagues and school administrators, participating in extracurricular activities or school events, and providing additional support to students needing assistance with English language learning. At an eikaiwa, you might even be cleaning on a slow day.

The difference in responsibilities between direct hire, JET Programme participants, and other ALTs can influence the distribution of classroom teaching hours and additional duties. For example:

What’s The Best Teaching Job in Japan?

Before signing an English teaching contract in Japan, understand how the company calculates your scheduled working hours. Like in Japan’s General Union’s article, “When is a 45-hour week actually a 29.5-hour week?”, some language schools manipulate workers’ schedules to keep them below the 30-hour threshold, thereby avoiding pension contributions.

For instance, schools may only count actual lesson time, neglecting preparation periods before, after or between classes. All residents in Japan must enroll in the national pension system. Failure to enroll may result in mandatory make-up payments. For more information, refer to our Japan 101 section about Health Insurance in Japan.

Here is what you should consider before your next English teaching job hunt:

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What’s the best salary for English teaching you’ve seen in Japan? Do you have any tips for hopeful teachers? Let us know in the comments!