A Guide to Newly Qualified Teacher Jobs in China

Heading to China as a newly qualified teacher (NQT) is the ideal choice for any intrepid educator wishing to kickstart an international teaching career.

China is the leading destination for newly qualified teacher jobs, offering a wealth of opportunities, like excellent salaries, full teaching schedules, and the chance to work at a top school. If you are an NQT, have minimal classroom experience, and wondering if China might be the right fit for you, read on. This guide covers everything you need to know about newly qualified teacher jobs in China – from what will be expected of you to starting your job search, finding the right school, navigating the job application process, and how to look out for common scams.

Feel free to click straight to the relevant sections you’re interested in:

What Does Being a Newly Qualified Teacher Mean in China?

In most Western countries, NQTs with little to no experience typically undergo extensive training before they are thrown into the deep end and a class full of students. In China, this is NOT the case. If you are eligible to get a teaching visa and secure a job, you will be expected to start teaching immediately.

Starting with a full teaching schedule is one of the biggest enticements for NQTs in China. You might be considered a newbie back home, but you will be regarded as a fully-fledged teacher in the land of dragons and (delicious) dumplings.

What Types of Schools Can You Work For?

Foreign English-speaking qualified teachers are in high demand in China, so even as an NQT, there is a great chance you can get an excellent teaching job with a prominent school. However, if you have only just qualified, you might not yet know which type of school suits you best.

Here is a general overview of your options in China:

Public Schools: As the name suggests, these are state-funded schools catering to Chinese students. NQTs in public schools often teach large classes focusing on improving students’ English language skills. These might not be the best-paid jobs, but they do offer you a chance to clock up those classroom hours and experiences.
Bilingual Schools: Bilingual schools in China are educational institutions where students are taught in both Chinese and another language, often English. These schools cater to both local Chinese students and international students, and they typically follow a blend of the Chinese national curriculum alongside an international curriculum such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), or other Western-style programs.
International Schools: International schools follow a pre-set global curriculum, such as the British, American, or International Baccalaureate (IB) systems. These jobs are the most coveted by experienced teachers because they tend to have the smallest classes and offer the highest salaries. Top jobs are competitively sought and might be difficult for an NQT to get at first – sometimes, schools ask for a lot of experience and specific qualifications. These are essentially high-pressure, high-paying teaching jobs – entry-level ones are not uncommon, however, so look out for those.
Universities: Experienced educators who have had enough of the high pressures of international schools might gravitate to one of China’s universities. Teaching here is awesome. Low stress levels and workload, excellent salaries, and an engaging work life that allows for more teaching freedoms are a few of the incentives.

Other options:

The schools mentioned above are the most coveted by qualified teachers. There are two more options, although these are typically better suited to ESL educators who are not fully qualified teachers. Nevertheless, understanding all of your options is always a good thing.

Kindergartens: Good pay and low stress are the most tempting calling cards of kindergarten jobs in China. Often, kindergartens don’t seek full qualifications, which is why they are popular among the ESL crowd.
Training centers: Also known as private language schools, these institutions offer English language classes outside regular school hours. Classes are often smaller, and the curriculum and workload are more flexible. Expect to work evenings and weekends. These schools usually cater to students of all ages and are fantastic if you are not yet sure which age group you would be best suited to as a teacher. More of a part-time job rather than a fully-fledged step into a new teaching career, these are also among the most popular for ESL educators.

A brief word on choosing the right location: where you teach matters!

China divides its cities into tiers, with Tier 1 being the largest and most prominent cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. If you’re after a BIG city lifestyle, head here. Tier 1 cities are exciting, cosmopolitan, and replete with all the foreign-friendly amenities and products you might desire. You can buy French cheese at the supermarket and have lunch at The Cheesecake Factory – which you might crave after a while. China’s megacities offer more job opportunities and higher salaries. However, they also come with higher living costs, larger class sizes, and a much more competitive professional setting.

In contrast, Tier 2 & 3 cities offer a much slower pace of life, lower living costs, and a closer-knit community. The downsides (for some) are fewer expat services and lower salaries. Overall, though, you might be financially better off earning less but spending far less to live in a Tier 2 or 3 city. The teaching experience here also calls for more local engagement and a solid focus on Chinese culture and language.

What’s the Usual Career Path for NQTs in China?

The career path for newly qualified teachers in China is as varied as in any country. Your own path will be dictated by your personal goals coupled with opportunities you can create in-country.

The great thing? You can progress much faster in China. For many, the general teaching ladder looks like this:

Entry-level teacher: As an NQT, you will likely start in an entry-level teaching role, perhaps in a public or bilingual school. This is a fantastic way to assimilate and adapt to the local culture as a new resident and teacher. A low-stress, entry-level teaching role is also a great way to hone your teaching skills and understand the expectations Chinese schools place on foreign teachers. Hint – it’s pretty high.
Experienced teacher: As you gain more experience and successfully navigate the first couple of years in the country, you will be considered an experienced teacher. At this point, you may want to migrate toward a globally recognized international school, like the American, Canadian, British, WISS, Dulwich College, Wellington, Nord Anglia, and Harrow, among others. As you move up the ladder, expect a higher salary for more responsibilities. Perhaps you might wish to mentor incoming NQTs, help develop your school’s curriculum, and take charge of extracurricular activities.
Senior teacher or Head of Department: Natural-born leaders tend to move on to senior roles, perhaps becoming head of a department. Alongside a pay increase, you will also have added responsibility, including overseeing other teachers and contributing to the overall running of the school.
Academic or administrative roles: Not many on the hunt for newly qualified teacher jobs can fathom becoming principals of schools in China. But that’s exactly what happened to David here at China by Teaching! Aside from being head of a school, you might also want to work in administrative roles and contribute to admissions and teacher recruitment.

How Much Can You Earn as a Newly Qualified Teacher in China?

The salary for teachers in China varies widely depending on the teacher’s experience, the type of school and job title, the location, and the included benefits package. The same theory applies to NQTs.

As a newly qualified teacher in China, you can earn between 16,000 to 25,00 RMB per month (approximately $2,200 to $3,500 ). International and bilingual schools typically offer higher salaries. In contrast, public and private language schools may pay less but often include additional benefits such as housing, relocation costs, flight ticket home once a year, and health insurance.

Additional benefits can make a massive difference to your lifestyle, so don’t discount them – they are crucial bargaining chips!

It’s important to note that your earning potential can increase swiftly in China. It’s also worth knowing that the cost of living here is relatively low compared to Western countries. Even a modest starting salary can provide a comfortable lifestyle and options to save or travel during school holidays.

An Overview of the Hiring Process in China

The hiring process for NQTs in China generally involves several stages:

Application: Start with a polished resume, a cover letter, and copies of your teaching certificates and degree. Some schools may also request an introduction video.
Interview: If your application is successful, you will be invited to conduct a video-call interview. Here’s how to prepare for that.
Offer: Once you dazzle your recruiter in the interview, expect to receive a job offer and contract. This document outlines your salary, benefits, and other details discussed in the interview. Go through it meticulously, and remember that you will not get it if it is not in your contract. Don’t take any verbal offer or assurance at face value – if it’s not on paper, it never happened. Read more about potential red flags in the What Should You Look Out For? section down below.
Visa processing: Once you accept the offer, the school will assist you with applying for a valid work visa. This complicated process involves collecting and submitting your documents to Chinese authorities for authentication.
Arrival and orientation: You book your flight to China only once your visa is secured. Liaise closely with the school at every step. Most will provide orientation as you arrive and might even assign you a staff member to help you navigate the first steps in the country.

The hiring process can take two to six months, depending on the time of year and the specific school.

Teaching Visa (Z type) Requirements for China

Here’s what you need to apply for a Z Visa, the only visa type that allows you to teach and live in China legally.

First, here’s what you should be:

A citizen of one of the pre-approved, English-speaking countries.
Between the ages of 18 and 60

And here’s what you should have:

A Bachelor’s Degree (in any subject).
A recognized teaching qualification (e.g., PGCE, TEFL, TESOL).
Have at least 100hr of teaching experience[LP2] .
A clean Criminal Record Check.
A Work Permit for China (officially called a Notification Letter of Foreigners Work, this document is supplied by your employer).
Job invitation letter (also supplied by your employer)

What Should You Look Out For?

When searching for newly qualified teacher jobs in China, watching for common scams is essential. These are the “red flags” in our industry, and they can come both from schools and recruitment agencies:

What to look for when dealing with a school employer:

Vague or missing contract details that you had discussed in the interview.
Unaccredited or dubious schools – for which you cannot find much info online.
Promises of high pay with minimal requirements – if it sounds too good to be true…
Illegal or inadequate visa offers – are you offered anything other than a Z visa? Decline!
Lack of support with relocation – if they are not interested in your well-being before you arrive, they will not care about you once you do.
Unrealistic work expectations – does an employer expect you to take on 18 classes a day? Not happening! Exploitation is widespread, so protect yourself.
Poor communication or unresponsive employers – obvious red flag.
High staff turnover – one of the most critical tell-tale signs of a poor employer.
Negative online reviews – sure, you can’t please everybody, but if all the reviews you read are negative, take the hint.
Unclear and confusing job duties – you cannot make heads or tails of what they want you to do.
Pressure to accept offers quickly – they will have patience if it’s a good job and you are a good fit.
Unreasonable restrictions or penalties for terminating contracts – employers invest a lot of money in a new recruit, so it might be reasonable to assume you will be fined for breaking a contract. Let’s be clear: breaking a contract is a huge deal. But sometimes, stuff happens. Exorbitant fees, the forfeiting of all your salary already paid, threats of expulsion from China, or the withholding of your passport are all considered unreasonable penalties.

What to look for when dealing with a recruitment agent:

Upfront fees or hidden charges – At China by Teaching, our fees are paid by the school after a successful recruitment. Teachers don’t pay any fees at all.
Lack of transparency about precise job details or schools – the city’s name and general job title are not enough to accept a job.
Pressure to accept a job offer without enough information – much like employers, recruiters who pressure you to accept a dubious job offer are shoddy.
Promises of guaranteed jobs without interviews – no one can guarantee you will find a job!
Unclear or misleading visa guidance – same as with employers, regarding the offer of anything other than a Z Visa.
No support is offered after job placement – reputable recruiters will want to follow along and support you on your path.
Refusal to provide past client references – TrustPilot exists for a reason. Use it.
Overly aggressive recruitment tactics – no one should be trying to manipulate you into using their services.

Where Should You Start Your Job Search?

Starting your job search for newly qualified teacher jobs in China can be overwhelming, but there are several resources you can use:

Teaching Recruitment Agencies: Reputable agencies like China by Teaching specialize in placing teachers in international schools and provide support throughout the application process. These are your best and safest options for securing a job with a reputable school. At China by Teaching, we can help you polish your CV, apply to the right school (so you don’t waste time with the wrong ones), and mentor you through recruitment. We only work with reputable schools with fantastic track records and are with you every step of the way.
Direct applications: Many schools, especially international schools, have job postings on their websites. Direct applications can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates, although this mainly applies to teachers with experience in the field and know what they’re doing.
Social media and forums: Platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, and Facebook groups focused on teaching in China can offer job leads and valuable insights from current teachers. The problem is that you do not know what or who you’re dealing with. There are undoubtedly exploitative sides in the international teaching sphere, and telling the red from the green flags might be challenging for newbie teachers.