Salaries in Thailand for foreigners vary enormously based on how you got the job. Expats hired from overseas with a proper package often earn close to home-country rates. Foreigners who arrived first and found work locally earn Thai market rates — significantly lower.
Role | Monthly (THB) | Monthly (USD approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Government school teacher | 25,000 – 35,000 | $700 – $1,000 | Has barely moved in 20 years |
International school teacher | 60,000 – 120,000+ | $1,700 – $3,400+ | B.Ed. required, much better outlook |
Private tutoring (add-on) | +10,000 – 30,000 | +$280 – $850 | Most teachers do this to stay afloat |
Senior software developer | 70,000 – 100,000 | $2,000 – $2,800 | Remote options available |
Hotel General Manager | 150,000 – 300,000+ | $4,200 – $8,500+ | Often includes housing and benefits |
Executive Chef | 70,000 – 150,000 | $2,000 – $4,200 | 5+ years experience needed |
Finance Manager | 80,000 – 180,000 | $2,200 – $5,000 | CBD Bangkok roles |
Multinational transfer | 100,000 – 350,000+ | $2,800 – $10,000+ | Home-country salary, Thai cost of living |
Diving instructor | 30,000 – 80,000 | $850 – $2,200 | Seasonal and location-dependent |
Call center (European language) | 25,000 – 45,000 | $700 – $1,250 | Odd hours, but full work permit |
The teaching trap
English teaching is easy to get into, easy to stay in, and very easy to get stuck in. Government school teaching salaries have sat in the 30,000–35,000 THB range for over 20 years while the cost of living has continued rising. It's enough to get by. It's not enough to build anything.
The salary is just comfortable enough that you stop looking for something better. Many teachers who planned to stay one or two years are still there five years later, with no recent professional experience in anything else and no clear way out.
If you're going to teach, go in with a plan. Two years maximum to establish yourself in the country, while building skills in something more scalable on the side — tech, content, sales, business development. International schools are a different story: the pay is good, the career path is real, and the work is genuinely professional. Aim for those.
Su su!
(keep fighting!)
–Tim