From gleaming skyscrapers and national parks to street markets and Michelin-star restaurants, Hong Kong boasts a unique blend of western and Chinese culture. Although officially a Special Administrative Region of China operating its "One Country, Two Systems" principle, it was a British colony until 1997. 

Today, Hong Kong is an international city with two official languages; Cantonese and English. While the standard of English is higher than in other Asian countries, teachers are needed to maintain Hong Kong's status as a global financial hub. Read on for The TEFL Org’s guide on teaching English in Hong Kong, from requirements and salary expectations, to visas — and more.

Key Takeaways

• There are two official languages in Hong Kong: Cantonese and English.
• The demand for English teachers is high in Hong Kong, but the market is also competitive.
• English teachers need a bachelor's degree and TEFL certificate to teach English in Hong Kong.
• You can find teaching jobs at kindergartens, public and private schools, international schools, and universities.
• Average monthly salaries range from HK$20,000–HK$30,000 ($2,550–$3,830 / £1,920–£2,885).
• International school and NET scheme teachers can earn HK$30,000–HK$75,000 ($3,830–$9,575 / £2,885–£7,115) plus benefits.
• Teachers need the General Employment Policy visa (GEP) before entering Hong Kong.

Requirements for Teaching English in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has a competitive TEFL market, and teachers should take into consideration both government and unique school requirements.

Can I teach English in Hong Kong without a TEFL certification?

Yes, you need a TEFL certification to get the correct work visa for teaching in Hong Kong. Not only is it a competitive market where having 120-hours of TEFL training is the minimum requirement, you'll need proof of formal training and qualifications to get the Hong Kong GED visa.

You'll learn the essential aspects of teaching English as a foreign language with a 120-hour TEFL course, but you can also increase your depth of knowledge with The TEFL Org's 250-hour Level 5 TEFL course, or specialist courses like teaching young learners or business English.

Read more about the purpose of a TEFL Certification.

Teaching English in Hong Kong without a degree

Unfortunately, you can't teach English in Hong Kong without a degree. To get the GEP work visa — a government requirement for all teachers to work legally in Hong Kong — you need to hold a bachelor's degree.

Read more about teaching English abroad without a degree.

Do I need teaching experience to teach in Hong Kong?

You don't need prior teaching experience to teach English in Hong Kong. The job market is competitive, but many schools like private language centres and kindergartens, welcome entry-level teachers and fresh graduates as long as they're TEFL certified. Some employers in Asia also find in-person TEFL training to be valuable.

Visa requirements for teaching English in Hong Kong

To teach in Hong Kong legally, you need a working visa — or General Employment Policy (GEP) Visa — before you arrive. You can secure the GEP visa by receiving a job offer and making an application on the Gov HK online portal.

Your employer will assist you by providing the necessary documents, but you'll need to submit the application yourself. To qualify for this visa, you'll need the following:

• Bachelor's degree
• TEFL certificate
• Clean criminal background check
• Notarised, legalised, and authenticated documents, including your bachelor's degree, TEFL, and background check
• Passport and scans
• Invitation letter or employment contract

Some teachers enter Hong Kong on a tourist visa or visa exemption. However, working before you get your work permit is technically illegal, and it's not uncommon for immigration officials to carry out checks at schools to ensure that teachers are working legally.

Important: Immigration rules can change; be sure to check the official Hong Kong government website for updated visa rules. The information above is not intended as legal advice.

Read more about the visa requirements for teaching English abroad

Salary and Cost of Living in Hong Kong

You can earn a high salary teaching in Hong Kong as an English teacher, but you'll need to consider the cost of living to figure out how far your money can actually go.

How much can you earn teaching English in Hong Kong?

Most teachers earn a monthly salary from HK$20,000–HK$30,000 ($2,550–$3,830 / £1,920–£2,885) per month in Hong Kong, but qualified teachers can earn significantly more.

Here's how teaching salaries compare between schools in Hong Kong:

• Private language schools: Private language school teachers can expect to make the average teaching salary of HK$20,000–HK$30,000 ($2,550–$3,830 / £1,920–£2,885) in Hong Kong.
• International schools: If you've previous experience, a master's in English or education, and advanced TEFL qualifications, you can earn HK$40,000+ ($5,105 / £3,845) per month working at international schools.
• NET scheme: Unlike other Asian countries, you can earn the highest salary at public schools via the NET scheme. Teachers on the NET scheme can earn HK$30,000–HK$75,000 ($3,830–$9,575 / £2,450–£7,115) in addition to a housing allowance of HK$20,000 ($2,555 / £1,890).

Some schools may offer benefits like free accommodation or allowance, health insurance, and a contract completion bonus.

Find out how much you can earn as an English teacher abroad

Download our guide →

How much does it cost to live in Hong Kong?

Teaching English salaries are high in Hong Kong, but it also ranks as one of the most expensive places to live in the world. On average, a person spends HK$8,000–HK$9,000 ($1,020–$1,150 / £770–£865) per month living in Hong Kong, excluding rent.

Rent for 1-bed apartments ranges from HK$12,000–HK$18,000 ($1,530–$2,300 / £1,150–£1,730) per month.

Here are our best tips for saving money as an English teacher in Hong Kong:

• Live outside hotspots: Generally, accommodation on Hong Kong Island is more expensive than in Kowloon. Kowloon's affordable areas include Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, Hung Hom, or Mongkok, and landlords are often open to negotiating rent.
• Use public transport: Public transport in Hong Kong is an effective and convenient way to get around the city. Monthly passes like the MTR cost around HK$550 ($70 / £50), or you can buy an Octopus Card.
• Opt for shared housing: Shared housing can save you as much as HK$5,000 ($640 / £480) each month. You can find house shares on websites like spacious.hk, GeoExpat, AsiaXpat, and also Facebook groups.
• Eat locally: Local eateries like Cha chaan tengs (tea restaurants) — where meals cost around HK$60 ($7.60 / £5.70) — or wet markets can save you plenty of money in the long run.
• Enjoy free activities: Free activities, whether it be hiking, Tai Chi, visiting museums, and even learning a second language through language exchange meetups, can fill your day without breaking the bank.

English Teaching Jobs in Hong Kong

Generally, English teaching jobs in Hong Kong are structured and well-paid wherever you teach. But, many factors, like your teaching experience, qualifications, and even your nationality or gender can influence your teaching path. For example, kindergarten and early childhood education schools may prefer female teachers.

Find out about TEFL jobs in China to see how jobs in Hong Kong compare to its neighbour.

Public schools

English Medium of Instruction (EMI) schools are public schools where English learning is a primary focus. This means that public school teachers here teach a range of subjects in English.

Teachers can find most public school teaching jobs in Hong Kong on the NET scheme. However, since English is common in Hong Kong, standards and requirements are very high in public education.

What to expect teaching at public schools in Hong Kong:

• Teaching a range of subjects in English
• Very high entry requirements, including a bachelor's or master's in English or education, and a post-graduate teaching qualification
• Monthly salaries of around HK$30,000–HK$75,000 ($3,830–$9,575 / £2,450–£7,115) and a housing allowance of HK$20,000 ($2,555 / £1,890)

Private language schools

Private schools or language centres are a popular option in Hong Kong, with year-round hiring and peak demand in May and June. Students range from young learners to adults, often focusing on exam preparation and business English. Teachers typically need a TEFL qualification, and schools often prefer native speakers.

What to expect teaching at private language schools in Hong Kong:

• Teaching smaller classrooms in evenings and on weekends
• Part-time and full-time roles
• Entry-level requirements; a bachelor's degree, TEFL certificate
• Monthly salaries of around HK$20,000–HK$30,000 ($2,550–$3,830 / £1,920–£2,885)

International schools

There are plenty of international schools in Hong Kong that deliver lessons from a British or American curriculum to local and international students. These roles are well-paid and competitive, and teachers can apply for both English and subject teaching positions like maths, science, P.E, and so on. While classroom facilities are often high quality, schools have high expectations of teachers.

What to expect teaching at international schools in Hong Kong:

• Teaching smaller classrooms
• Teaching local and international students
• High entry requirements; a bachelor's and master's degree, TEFL certificate, previous teaching experience, teaching licence
• Monthly salaries of upwards of HK$40,000+ ($5,105 / £3,845)

Universities

Teachers with advanced academic qualifications like a master's or PhD and teaching experience can work at universities in Hong Kong. These positions are best suited to teachers pursuing a long-term academic career. You can find positions on Times Higher Education, or by applying directly to schools such as HKU, HKBU, Lingnan, and more.

What to expect teaching at universities in Hong Kong:

• Lecture-based teaching with emphasis on research and mentorship
• Supporting students with academic development, research, and career readiness
• Opportunities to contribute to research and academic partnerships
• High entry requirements, including a master's degree or PHD and teaching experience

Private tutoring

Teachers commonly supplement their income outside of their primary job through private lessons. With high demand for English, teachers can earn around HK$100–HK$550 ($13–$70 / £9–£52) per hour depending on their expertise.

Teaching Programmes in Hong Kong

Much like JET in Japan and EPIK in South Korea, teachers can join a government-sponsored teaching programme, called NET, that offers job placement support to launch their teaching career in Hong Kong.

What is the NET Programme?

The most popular teaching programme in Hong Kong is the government-run NET (Native English Speakers) Scheme. NET places English teachers in public schools, with the aim of improving English proficiency and promoting cultural exchange.

NET teachers work at public schools, both primary and secondary schools, assisting local teachers in the classroom.

Teaching in public schools in other countries typically offers a lower salary, but not in Hong Kong. Teachers can earn a competitive salary ranging from HK$30,000–HK$75,000 ($3,830–$9,575 / £2,450–£7,115) alongside a monthly housing allowance of HK$20,000 ($2,555 / £1,890).

However, you'll need to meet the following requirements to compete for a spot on the NET programme:

• Native English proficiency or non-native with proof of English proficiency
• Have a bachelor's degree majoring in English (language or literature), and a TEFL certificate
• Or, a bachelor's degree in any subject, a master's degree in English, a teaching licence (such as a PGCE), and a TEFL certification
• Previous teaching experience (preferred)
• Foreign teachers with non-local qualifications must have their credentials assessed by the HKCAAVQ

It should be noted that successfully joining the NET scheme doesn't guarantee a teaching job.

Read more about the NET scheme in Hong Kong.

TEFL Org Teacher Story

Want to hear firsthand insight on what it's like to teach English in Hong Kong? Check out what Chay, a teacher from northern England, had to say about living here.

Chay, Hong Kong

"Teaching young children can be immensely rewarding. Chatting with the children during snack time is often highly entertaining and culturally enriching for me. The children also give me quick lessons in Cantonese. However, with nine different tones, I am yet to master this language despite all the free coaching from my school children.

I've had many wonderful experiences working in this field and I have been fortunate enough to craft a new life for myself and meet some incredible people along the way. Living in Hong Kong also gives me the opportunity to regularly visit countries that I love such as Japan and Taiwan.

If you're looking for an incredible East Asian adventure once you've completed your TEFL course, Hong Kong is worthy of your consideration. Hong Kong is consistently rated as one of the best cities to live in for an expat. However, the real reward here is getting to know Hong Kong people and learning about their very unique heritage and way of life."

Want to find out more about what our TEFL Org graduates get up to abroad? Check out more student stories.

Get Started Teaching English in Hong Kong

One of the most important pieces of the puzzle as a TEFL teacher is getting qualified. And whether you're planning on teaching abroad in Hong Kong or elsewhere in the world, getting a TEFL certificate is one of the best ways to prepare yourself.

While a TEFL course ticks boxes on an application form, it also gives everything you need to start your teaching journey, as well as the confidence to teach in real-life classrooms wherever you end up.

Why not check out The TEFL Org's 120 hour course to get started — the industry standard in terms of hours and training needed to teach English effectively.