So you’re interested in moving to Japan to teach English. The very first way to get to Japan you discover is the JET Programme. It’s a Japanese government run scheme to place young educated people from foreign countries into public schools to help teach English in Japan, where many public schools do not have an English speaking teacher.
The thing is, the JET programme takes nearly a YEAR to apply for and get (if you’re lucky) and there is a strict application process. What you might not know is that more than 95% of all the teachers in the country are not on the JET programme but are working directly for boards of education, English conversation schools, kindergartens and business English schools in Japan. This is a much faster way to get to Japan, so how do you land one of these jobs and move in the next few months instead of waiting years?
Thankfully, moving to Japan is not that complicated.
Get a Working Visa
In order to work legally in Japan, you’ll need to obtain a working visa. There are several types of working visas available, depending on your profession and work experience. The application process can take several weeks, so it’s essential to start early. You need to find and apply for a job that will sponsor your visa.
Many countries have agreements with Japan to do something called a “working holiday visa” where you can come to Japan, and find temporary work while you travel and explore. For this, you might want to get in touch with your local Japanese embassy or consulate to see if this is an option in your country.
You must have a job offer from a Japanese employer who is willing to sponsor your work visa. The employer must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) on your behalf from the Ministry of Justice.
Do I need English teaching experience or qualifications to teach in Japan?
Japan is one of the few countries that doesn’t require any specific teaching qualifications to start teaching here. Of course, the kinds of jobs you can get with zero experience and zero qualifications are limited as you might expect, but you can get your first job here without any of that stuff. This is great if you just want to live in Japan in the short term, or want to “try out” teaching as a job before you commit time and resources to getting qualified only to find out you don’t particularly like teaching.
How much money can I earn teaching in Japan?
Depending on where you end up in the country, the median starting salary in Japan is around 240,000 Japanese yen per month. In Tokyo this might be a little higher as it is more expensive to live in Tokyo, and for certain jobs it might be more or less depending on your work hours. Minimum wage in Japan is 930 JPY per hour, but almost certainly as an English teacher you will be earning considerably more than that. You are also unlikely to have major responsibilities when you have just started, and almost never will you have to do more than 30 minutes or so of overtime.
Once you have a year or two of good experience under your belt, and perhaps you have earned yourself a TEFL or CELTA qualification, your salary prospects go up to perhaps 280-340,000 JPY per month in K-12 education, and over 400,000 JPY per month if you go the university route, though the latter is much more competitive. Many teachers, once they live in Japan, branch out and switch into lucrative careers in tech or recruiting.
- English language schools: English language schools, also known as eikaiwas, often pay around 250,000 to 300,000 yen per month (approximately $2,300 to $2,700 USD) for full-time teachers. Part-time teachers can expect to earn around 2,500 to 3,500 yen per hour.
- Public schools: Public schools in Japan often pay around 250,000 to 280,000 yen per month (approximately $2,300 to $2,500 USD) for full-time English teachers.
- Private schools: Private schools, such as international schools or universities, can offer higher salaries ranging from 300,000 to 600,000 yen per month (approximately $2,700 to $5,400 USD) or more, depending on your qualifications and experience.
- ALT dispatch companies: ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) dispatch companies often pay around 200,000 to 250,000 yen per month (approximately $1,800 to $2,300 USD) for full-time teachers, with the possibility of overtime pay.
It’s important to note that the cost of living in Japan can be high, especially in major cities like Tokyo, so it’s important to budget accordingly. Additionally, taxes and social security contributions will be deducted from your salary, which can vary depending on your income level and employment status.
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