How much do English teachers earn in Cambodia?

The lowest pay in the region, and why it's still worth naming plainly

$700-$1,200 a month is a genuinely cautious range and sits below Vietnam, Thailand, China, and Korea. Pay is very often cash-in-hand, calculated by the hour, and handled with less formality than in Vietnam's bigger cities — some smaller schools pay in an envelope at the end of the week or month rather than through a bank transfer. This isn't automatically a problem, but it does mean you should be more careful about confirming pay dates and rates directly with current teachers at the school, not just the recruiter or owner.

Pay at the top of the range usually goes to stronger CVs, so check the best TEFL course for Cambodia before you apply.

Language schools vs private tutoring vs the rare international school

Most jobs available to no-degree, TEFL-certified teachers in Cambodia are at private language schools in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or a handful of other towns, paid hourly with no benefits attached. Private one-to-one tutoring, arranged directly with families or older students, generally pays a better hourly rate than school work and is a common way teachers supplement a language-school income. International schools exist mainly in Phnom Penh, pay considerably more, and require a degree and real teaching experience — they're a small slice of the overall market.

No degree, informal tax, and the pay gap question

Cambodia is one of the easiest markets in the region for no-degree teachers, and pay differences here are driven more by hours worked and negotiating a decent hourly rate than by qualifications. Tax handling at smaller schools is often informal, and you may not receive a formal payslip at all — ask directly how the school handles this, and keep your own record of hours and pay received in case of a dispute. Some larger, more established schools do pay a premium for native English speakers, but plenty of smaller schools judge purely on your demo class and English level regardless of nationality.

What actually raises your rate here

Building a base of private tutoring students, especially for older students or basic exam prep, is the single most effective way to lift your income above the school-only range. Moving from Siem Reap's smaller market to Phnom Penh's larger one generally means more hours and more school options, though also a slightly higher cost of living to offset it.