60 DAY TEFL · GUIDES THAT ACTUALLY ANSWER THE QUESTION

the money question, answered

How much do English teachers earn in Japan?

SALARY
Teacher with students in a classroom on a teaching placement abroad
2026 update

the short answer

Eikaiwa (private conversation school) pay in Japan typically sits at ¥200,000-¥350,000 a month, which looks modest next to Seoul or Shanghai packages and needs to be measured against Japan's real cost of living, not just the raw number. ALT (assistant language teacher) roles pay similarly but with more predictable school-term hours, while JET and public-school routes pay a set government scale rather than a negotiable rate.

Key facts

Eikaiwa pay¥200,000-¥350,000/month, typical starting range
ALT paySimilar range, often with school holidays unpaid or reduced
JET ProgrammeFixed government pay scale, not negotiable
HousingRarely included; some ALT dispatch companies help find it
Tax and insuranceIncome tax plus mandatory health/pension deductions
DegreeRequired for the standard work visa
Rate boosterPrivate lessons and moving to Tokyo/Osaka corporate contracts

step one, always

Get the certificate before you apply

Get the accredited TEFL course

We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. You still choose the course.

typical, not guaranteed

Your timeline

  1. 1

    Confirm degree and visa eligibility

    A bachelor's degree is required for the standard instructor work visa.

    before applying
  2. 2

    Choose eikaiwa, ALT, or JET route

    Each has a different pay structure and application timeline.

    when applying
  3. 3

    Apply and interview

    JET has a long annual cycle; eikaiwa and ALT dispatch hire more continuously.

    4-12 weeks
  4. 4

    Check what's deducted from gross pay

    Ask for a net-pay estimate after tax, pension, and health insurance.

    at offer stage
  5. 5

    Arrive and start

    Housing search often happens after arrival unless the employer assists.

    1-3 months after offer
  6. 6

    Add private lessons

    Many teachers supplement base pay with weekend private students.

    after settling in
Start the 120-hour / Level 5 course

Why the yen number looks low but isn't the whole story

¥200,000-¥350,000 a month sounds modest compared to headline figures from South Korea or the Gulf, and it is a lower starting salary in absolute terms. But Japan's cost of living varies enormously by city — a ¥230,000 salary in a smaller regional city can go much further than the same number in central Tokyo, so the honest comparison is pay against your specific city's rent and living costs, not pay against other countries' headline numbers.

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

Eikaiwa vs ALT vs JET vs international school

Eikaiwa (private conversation schools like the well-known chains) pay a fairly flat monthly salary for evening and weekend-heavy hours teaching adults and kids. ALT positions, often placed through a dispatch company or a direct board-of-education contract, follow the school calendar more closely and can mean unpaid or reduced pay during long school holidays unless your specific contract covers it. JET pays a set government salary scale that increases slightly with each renewed year, with no room to negotiate. International schools pay the most but require a teaching license and real classroom experience, not a TEFL certificate alone.

Tax, pension, and what actually lands in your account

Japan deducts income tax, health insurance, and pension contributions from your salary, and these add up to a noticeable chunk of gross pay — ask any employer for a specific net-pay estimate rather than assuming a rough percentage. Some teachers who leave Japan after paying into the pension system for under 10 years can claim a partial lump-sum refund after they leave; the current rules and amounts should be confirmed directly with the Japan Pension Service, not estimated from old blog posts.

What actually raises your pay in Japan

Private one-to-one lessons, often arranged directly with adult students outside your main job (check your specific contract allows this), are the most common way eikaiwa and ALT teachers top up their income. Moving from a smaller regional eikaiwa branch to a corporate-lesson contract in Tokyo or Osaka, or building enough experience to move into international-school or university-adjacent teaching, are the realistic longer-term routes to meaningfully higher pay.

what people actually ask

FAQs

Is eikaiwa pay really lower than other Asian teaching markets?

In headline terms, often yes compared to South Korea or China's better packages, but it needs to be weighed against your specific city's cost of living. A modest salary in a smaller Japanese city can still leave room to save, while the same number in central Tokyo goes less far.

Does JET pay better than eikaiwa?

JET runs on a fixed government pay scale rather than a negotiable rate, and it's broadly comparable to or slightly above typical eikaiwa starting pay, with small annual increases for renewing. It also comes with a more structured public-school placement, which some teachers prefer over eikaiwa's evening-heavy hours.

Do ALT contracts pay through school holidays?

It depends on the specific contract and employer — some dispatch companies reduce or pause pay during long school breaks, while others smooth pay across the year. Always ask this directly before signing, since it can meaningfully change your annual total.

Can I get a pension refund after leaving Japan?

Teachers who've paid into Japan's pension system for under a set number of years can often claim a partial lump-sum refund after departure, but the exact rules and amounts change. Confirm the current process directly with the Japan Pension Service before you leave.

What's the fastest way to raise my income in Japan?

Adding private lessons with adult students, where your contract allows it, is the most common and fastest way to supplement a base eikaiwa or ALT salary. Longer term, moving to a corporate-focused contract in a major city or into international-school work pays more.

keep going

Read next

Japan TEFL overview →Cost of living teaching English in Japan →Is online TEFL accepted in Japan? →
Get certified — then apply →