When people think about teaching jobs in China, the first thing that comes to mind is almost always teaching English. That’s understandable. English teacher jobs make up the largest share of foreign teacher hiring in the country. But the focus on English has hidden the fact that schools across China need foreign teachers for many other subjects. If you have a teaching license and experience in a subject other than English, you have options. This article covers those options, from international schools to universities, bilingual schools, online work, short-term summer programs, and vocational schools.
International School Subject Teachers
International schools and schools for children of foreign nationals are concentrated in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and several provincial capitals. There are more than 800 such schools across China. They follow IB, A-Level, or AP curriculums, and they hire teachers for nearly every subject.
Mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology are standard. Every international school recruits for these positions every year. Economics and business studies are especially popular at the high school level because both IB and A-Level include them as subjects. Computer science and information technology are seeing increased demand, particularly in schools that offer AP courses and digital design classes.
There is also independent demand for STEM teachers. Some international schools and training centers hire STEM or robotics course teachers to teach coding, engineering design, or science experiments in English. These positions often do not require a full subject teaching license, but they do need a relevant professional background.
History teachers are a standard position in international schools. World history, European history, and American history all need subject specialists. History teacher jobs in these schools are as stable as math or physics positions. You need a degree in history and a teaching license from your home country. You do not need to know Chinese history. Some schools also offer Asian history or Chinese history courses, but those are usually taught by local teachers. Foreign history teachers mainly cover Western and world history.
Geography teachers are also in demand. IGCSE and IB programs both include geography, covering physical and human geography. If you have a geography teaching background, this is a direction worth considering. Geography teachers are less common than history teachers in international schools, but the demand exists.
Spanish teachers are needed in international schools. The IB program requires a second language, and Spanish is one of the most commonly chosen second languages worldwide. Spanish teacher jobs are mainly found in schools for children of foreign nationals and high-end bilingual schools. If you have Spanish teaching experience and a teaching license, this is a path worth exploring. French and German teachers also have positions in some schools, but fewer than Spanish.
International School Arts and Sports Teachers
Arts and performance subjects have their own place in international schools. Art and design teachers are regular positions. Visual arts, graphic design, and photography courses all need specialist teachers. Art teacher jobs and art teaching jobs exist in both international schools and bilingual schools. These positions place more weight on your professional background and portfolio than on a traditional education degree. Ceramics, sculpture, and digital media arts are also offered as separate courses in some high-end international schools.
Music teachers have steady demand in international schools. Orchestra conductors, choir directors, and band instructors are needed. These positions require the ability to lead student rehearsals and performances, not the ability to teach music theory. Experience as an orchestra conductor is more convincing than a degree in education. Some schools also offer music technology courses, which need teachers who can use Logic or Ableton.
Dance teachers also exist, though fewer in number than art and music positions. Some international schools and arts-focused schools offer dance programs covering ballet, modern dance, and Chinese dance. Dance teacher jobs usually require a dance background and teaching experience. The teaching license requirement may be relaxed in some schools. Some schools place dance under the physical education department, while others put it under performing arts.
Drama teachers have a place in the performing arts section of international schools. The IB program includes drama as a subject, and A-Level also offers drama and theatre studies. These positions require a drama background, directing or performance experience, and the ability to stage the school’s annual production. The number of positions is small, but once a school has established this program, it tends to hire consistently.
Sports coaches are another overlooked area. International schools usually employ foreign coaches for swimming, football, basketball, tennis, and other sports. You need relevant coaching certifications and experience with youth sports. The working hours differ from those of other teachers, with after-school and weekend training sessions being standard. Beyond mainstream sports, some high-end international schools also offer golf, fencing, equestrian, and climbing programs with coaching positions.
International School Support Roles
Beyond classroom teachers, international schools have several non-teaching but equally professional positions.
Special education teachers are in demand in high-end international schools, though the number of positions is small. A special education background and certification are required. This direction has the highest qualification requirements but the least competition. Some schools have learning support departments that provide assistance to students with learning disabilities or special needs.
School counselors are a separate position in international schools. Schools usually hire professionals with counseling qualifications to provide mental health support, academic stress management, and college and career guidance. This position does not require teaching experience, but it does require a psychology-related degree and a practice license. It is not a traditional teaching role, but it is a full-time school position.
Librarians in international schools are sometimes also hired from overseas. A background in library science or information management is needed. The work includes managing the collection, teaching information literacy classes, and organizing reading activities. The number of positions is very small, but it is a core support role in the school.
Bilingual School Subject Teachers
Bilingual schools are a type of private school in China that teach both the Chinese national curriculum and an international curriculum. The students are almost all local children, and the goal is a bilingual diploma and study abroad. There are far more bilingual schools than international schools, so the demand for foreign subject teachers is greater. However, salaries and hiring standards are slightly lower than at international schools.
You need a valid teaching license, a bachelor’s degree, and at least two years of subject teaching experience. No prior knowledge of the Chinese local curriculum is required. You need to accept a mixed management model of “half international curriculum, half Chinese requirements.” You may need to attend training or evaluations required by the Chinese education system. Monthly salaries range from 18,000 to 30,000 RMB, usually including a housing allowance or on-campus apartment.
Class sizes can be larger than in international schools, with 30 to 40 students being common. Parental involvement is high, and there are more extracurricular and administrative duties than at a university. This direction has the largest demand for subject teachers and is suitable for those with teaching experience who are transitioning into the Chinese market.
Bilingual schools usually also have sports, art, and music programs, and foreign teachers have additional opportunities in these areas. Swimming coaches, football coaches, orchestra conductors, and drama directors are roles that are sometimes filled by foreign teachers in bilingual schools.
University Lecturers
Chinese universities are expanding programs taught entirely in English, especially in engineering, business, medicine, and international relations. These programs need lecturers who can teach specialist courses in English. This is not teaching English writing; it is teaching international trade law, organic chemistry, or machine learning in English. Some positions are long-term lecturer or associate professor roles, and some are one- to two-year visiting professor programs.
A master’s degree is the minimum requirement for most positions, and a doctorate is standard at top universities and for positions with research responsibilities. A Chinese teaching license is not required. University lecturers follow the higher education track, not the primary and secondary school teacher qualification system. Research output is a performance indicator in some positions, but not all. Pure teaching positions have much less pressure than combined teaching and research roles.
Monthly salaries range from 18,000 to 35,000 RMB. Benefits usually include an on-campus apartment or housing allowance, medical insurance, and an annual round-trip flight. Some schools also offer research start-up funds. The teaching load is usually lighter than at Western universities, typically six to ten class hours per week.
In addition to academic courses, Chinese universities also offer elective courses in sports, art, and music, and some hire foreign teachers to teach these. Tennis, yoga, Western art history, and classical music appreciation are examples of courses that exist but are not core majors. Academic English teachers are also a common type of university position, sitting between English teaching and academic skills training, and usually requiring EAP teaching experience.
Online Teaching Positions
Not all teaching jobs in China require you to move to China. Online teaching has become a permanent track after the pandemic, and it is not limited to English.
International schools and training centers have demand for remote teaching, especially in STEM, art, and music. Online teaching jobs and remote teaching jobs are usually posted on specialized platforms. You need a stable internet connection, a quiet workspace, and basic familiarity with online teaching tools. Pay is calculated per class hour and is generally lower than full-time in-person positions, but flexibility is higher. Coding, robotics, and science experiment courses in the STEM category have stable online demand.
Art and music online teaching also has a market, but requires stronger interaction design skills. Spanish and history also have online demand, but the number of positions is smaller than for STEM and art. Some online platforms also offer business English, academic writing, and test preparation courses, which sit between English teaching and professional skills training.
Short-Term and Summer Programs
Summer vacation is another overlooked window. International schools and training centers run summer camps and short-term courses during the summer break and need foreign teachers to lead programs. Summer teaching jobs usually last four to eight weeks and are concentrated in July and August. Job types include sports coaches, art workshop instructors, STEM camp teachers, and drama directors. The main advantage of short-term positions is high flexibility.
You have the rest of the year free and only need to work intensively for two months in the summer. The downside is that you usually do not receive the housing allowance and medical insurance that come with full-year contracts. For visa purposes, most schools arrange business visas or short-term work permits for these programs.
In addition to summer programs, winter camps also have demand around the Chinese New Year period, though on a smaller scale. Ski instructors and ice sports coaches have seasonal demand in northern cities. Some international schools also run short courses during spring and autumn breaks, but hiring is limited.
Vocational Education Teachers
Vocational education is a seriously underestimated direction. Some vocational schools need foreign teachers to teach practical skills such as hotel management, culinary arts, auto repair, and beauty and hairdressing. The core requirement for these positions is industry work experience, not a traditional teaching license. If you have worked as a head chef for ten years, you may be more qualified to teach cooking than someone with an education degree.
Beyond practical skills, vocational schools also have programs in aviation services, cruise ship services, and luxury brand management, and some hire foreign teachers to teach these courses in English. These positions usually do not require a teaching license but do need industry certifications and relevant work experience. Salaries are lower than at international schools but are still competitive in the local city.
Final Thoughts
Teaching jobs in China are far from limited to English. International schools have positions in math, physics, history, geography, Spanish, art, music, dance, drama, and physical education. Universities need lecturers who can teach specialist subjects entirely in English. Bilingual schools need subject teachers in every field. Online platforms need remote instructors. Summer programs need short-term coaches and workshop leaders. Vocational schools need experienced professionals who can teach practical skills. If you have a teaching license and a subject background, teaching English is not your only option. This information simply has not reached enough people yet.