The short answer
Some teachers in Thailand continue to receive pay during school breaks; others have unpaid breaks or shorter paid contracts. “School closed” does not by itself tell you whether you are paid, free from work, or expected to attend training, planning days, camps or other duties. Those details depend on the employment arrangement and should be confirmed in writing.
Ajarn’s teacher Q&A, updated 12 September 2026, describes both 12-month paid arrangements and 10- or 11-month contracts with unpaid breaks, and recommends comparing what you earn over the whole year. Recent listings also illustrate variation: one advertises paid school breaks within a 12-month contract; another describes paid holidays during a renewable school-year contract. Listings are snapshots, not a standard for every school or proof that a vacancy remains open.
For a broader look at salary ranges and what a monthly figure can mean, see our first-time teacher salary guide. For the other clauses to check before signing, use the Thailand teaching contract checklist.
School closure, time off and pay are separate questions
| Question | What it means | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Is the school closed? | Students may not have regular classes. Staff schedules can still include preparation, meetings, training, camps or other assigned work. | “Which dates is the campus closed, and what duties or attendance are required of me on those dates?” |
| Am I off work? | A school holiday is not automatically your individual leave. The calendar, contract and employer’s directions matter. | “Which dates are my non-working days or leave, and do I need approval to travel?” |
| Will I be paid? | Monthly salary may continue, stop after a stated paid period, or be affected by another written term. Confirm the actual pay schedule. | “How many salary payments will I receive in this contract year, including April, October and other breaks?” |
Thailand’s Labour Protection Act sets minimum protections for eligible employees, including at least 13 announced traditional holidays each year and, after one uninterrupted year, at least six working days of annual holiday. These statutory entitlements do not tell you that every school-closure day is automatically a paid holiday. How the law applies to a particular teacher, employer and contract can depend on the facts; ask the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare or a qualified adviser about your circumstances.
Keep the distinction clear: statutory public/traditional holidays, annual leave, school vacation and a contract’s paid months are related but not interchangeable categories.
Compare annual gross pay, not just the monthly headline
Use the following fictional offers to see the arithmetic. They are not real vacancies, typical salaries, take-home estimates or recommendations.
| Illustrative offer | Calculation | Gross pay across 12 months | 12-month average |
|---|---|---|---|
| ฿40,000 for 10 paid months | ฿40,000 × 10 | ฿400,000 | ฿33,333 per month |
| ฿36,000 for 12 paid months | ฿36,000 × 12 | ฿432,000 | ฿36,000 per month |
In this simplified comparison, the lower monthly rate pays ฿32,000 more over 12 months, before tax, deductions, bonuses, benefits, unpaid leave, start dates or any work-related costs. The 10-month offer could still suit someone if its duties, location, benefits or schedule are better; compare the full terms rather than treating this calculation as a verdict.
For any offer, calculate guaranteed gross salary payments during the exact contract period, then list bonuses and allowances separately. Do not count a discretionary or conditional bonus as guaranteed income.
What can you be asked to do during a break?
Ask for the school’s calendar and an explanation of staff duties, not just student term dates. Depending on the role and written arrangements, a break may include regular workdays, planning, training, meetings, camps, orientation, school events or no scheduled duties. Check whether these days are inside your stated salary and normal hours, and how extra work is handled.
Do not assume either that a school closure means paid leave or that every employer can require any work without regard to the contract and applicable law. If a proposed duty or schedule is unclear, ask the employer to identify the contract clause and clarify it in writing before accepting.
Questions to get answered before you sign
- How many months are paid? Ask for the total number of salary payments and the exact dates covered by the contract.
- What happens during each school break? Ask whether salary continues and whether any days are unpaid or deducted from leave.
- What are the dates? Request the academic calendar and confirm contract start/end dates, probation and any gap before renewal.
- Must I work while students are away? Ask about office attendance, lesson preparation, training, camps, meetings, events and weekend duties.
- Is any extra payment guaranteed? Check bonus conditions, payment dates, prorating and what happens if employment ends early.
- What will I actually receive and when? Confirm gross salary, pay dates, permitted deductions, benefits, reimbursements and first-pay timing.
- Can I keep a signed copy? Obtain the complete contract and referenced policies before agreeing, and keep your own copy.
If a key answer is verbal, ask for it in the contract or a signed written addendum. Compare the offer with the full contract checklist and stress-test the monthly budget using our Bangkok ฿35,000 budget guide.
A practical way to decide
Write down guaranteed gross pay for every month between the proposed start and end dates. Mark each school closure, your expected workdays, paid leave and any unpaid gap. Then divide the guaranteed total by 12 to get a simple annualized monthly comparison, and separately assess location, schedule, benefits, workload and renewal risk.
This is a comparison method, not a legal opinion or a prediction of what a school will offer. For legal questions about your status or entitlements, consult the relevant Thai labour authority or a qualified adviser; for employment terms, get the employer’s written answer before signing.
Sources and further reading
- Thailand Ministry of Labour, Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998) — Sections 29–30 on traditional holidays and annual holidays.
- Ajarn.com, Answers to your Thailand teaching questions — teacher-contract and paid-holiday guidance, updated 12 September 2026.
- Ajarn.com, Drama & Conversation Teacher in Pathum Thani — an example listing specifying a 12-month contract and paid school breaks after probation; terms are employer-specific.
- Ajarn.com, English Teachers in Phuket City — a dated listing example with its own contract period and stated paid public holidays.
We use these listings as examples of different written terms, not as proof of a national norm or continuing vacancy. Verify current conditions directly with the employer and relevant authority.