Want to work in Pattaya? See it the way an employer does.
I found my first job here managing a bar in Soi 13. Now I hire foreigners across seven businesses. Answer six quick questions and I'll tell you what I'd think if your CV landed on my desk, then send it to me for real.
By Shane RuddleEmployer in Pattaya for 20 yearsWhat kind of work are you after?
Your CV tells me what you did elsewhere. Your life here tells me whether you'll last.
Finding good foreign staff in Pattaya is easy. Keeping them isn't. So these are the six things I weigh, and I've stopped putting much weight on experience back home.
What they pay, and how people get in
Many occupations are reserved for Thai nationals. These are the roles I see foreigners do most, with the pay I see.
฿30,000–40,000 a month at the lower end, up to a few hundred thousand at the top international schools
Without the right qualifications you won't get a work permit, and schools do get investigated. Teachers have their own permit rules, so the usual ฿50,000 minimum doesn't always apply.
฿50,000–150,000 a month, and a profit share is the main way to grow it
Late finishes and a drink with the regulars are part of the job. I've lost good managers who never got out of holiday mode.
Inside the usual ฿50,000–150,000 range for employed foreigners
General rangeA great CV from home isn't enough on its own. You'll be running a Thai kitchen team, and how you speak to people matters more than anywhere I know.
Uncapped: maybe ฿50,000 one month and ฿200,000–400,000 in a really good one
Good months and bad months. Have savings behind you for the slow ones.
Inside the usual ฿50,000–150,000 range; the top Bangkok hotels can pay more
General rangeThere are only so many of these roles, and they suit the languages a hotel's guests speak.
I haven't written pay figures for this. ฿50,000 is the work-permit minimum for many Western nationalities
General rangeYou need a work permit like anyone else. Teaching the odd course for cash isn't legal.
Around ฿20,000–25,000 basic plus 25% commission. A rental agent earns ฿60,000–100,000; a good sales agent upwards of ฿150,000
Agent and broker work itself is reserved for Thais, so make sure the role and the paperwork are set up properly from the start.
Whatever you earn online, with a far lower cost of living than most places
The DTV is essentially a long-term tourist visa, so things like opening a bank account can be harder, depending on the bank.
Check it before you say yes
Three things tell me most of what I need to know about a job offer here: what kind of role it is, the monthly pay, and who sorts out the work permit.
Your verdict appears here
Pick the role, add the pay and say who handles the work permit.
My experience as an employer, not legal advice. The work-permit minimum salary depends on your nationality and whether you're married to a Thai.
Your 90-day networking plan
Don't walk in and ask if they've got any jobs. Do this for a few months and you'll know enough of the right people. If you're the type of person they'd hire, I can assure you the phone will ring.
Five places jobs actually come from
Occasionally you'll see an advert saying foreigners can apply. But most jobs here never get advertised at all.
- 1
People you meet
By far the best way. It's how I found most of my staff, and how I found work when I arrived.
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Owners who know owners
Send me your CV. I know a lot of business owners here who are often hiring, and a recommendation goes a long way.
- 3
Big hotels and international schools
Here a CV and a proper application work. Networking with big hotels is very hard.
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My property companies
Alan Bolton Property Consultants and East Coast Real Estate hire Thai and foreign staff for the roles foreigners can legally do.
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Pattaya Job Centre
I started it over 20 years ago, when there was no central place for Thais looking for work, and handed it over long ago. It's still going, but it's mainly for Thai nationals.
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I'm always looking for good people
I employ foreigners across my restaurants, pubs and property companies, and after 20 years here I know a lot of other owners who are often hiring. Most hiring in Pattaya happens through recommendations. If you come recommended, your chances go up a lot.
- I read every CV myself.
- If I don't have the right role, I may know someone who does.
- Settled here? Say so. It's the first thing I look for.
Working in Pattaya as a foreigner
Running your own business instead? That's a different set of rules.
Try my business reality check Find the right visa Plan your moveCan a foreigner get a job in Pattaya?
Yes, but it's difficult. Many occupations are reserved for Thai nationals. Be here: applying from abroad rarely gets a response.
MoreWhat jobs do foreigners do in Pattaya?
The ones I see most are diving instructors, teachers, restaurant and bar managers, chefs, condo sales staff, hotel translators and marketing, and roles in property companies.
MoreHow much can a foreigner earn in Pattaya?
If you're employed, expect ฿50,000 to ฿150,000 a month. I don't know many people in Pattaya earning more. Commission-based sales can pay ฿200,000 to ฿400,000 in a really good month.
MoreWhat jobs can foreigners do in Thailand?
Many occupations are reserved for Thai nationals, so it's narrower than at home. Teaching, diving, hospitality management, chefs, sales and roles in property companies are the usual ones, always with a work permit.
MoreHow do I get a work visa for Thailand?
The usual route is a Non-Immigrant B visa, the business visa, which runs alongside your work permit. Your employer's company has to qualify, and a proper employer will help with the paperwork.
MoreDo I need a work permit?
Yes. A proper employer will sort it out, though some charge for it. The visa is often your responsibility. You can work on a marriage visa, as long as you have a work permit too.
MoreCan I teach English in Pattaya without a degree?
A TEFL certificate is the minimum, and for a work permit you'll generally need a degree as well. It doesn't have to be in teaching.
MoreCan foreigners work as property agents in Thailand?
Agent and broker work is reserved for Thais. Foreigners do work in property companies, but the role and the paperwork must be set up properly.
MoreWhat's the best way to find a job in Pattaya?
Networking, by far. Get to know owners as a customer, mention you're looking, and leave your number. Do that for a few months and the phone will ring.
MoreIs there a job centre in Pattaya?
Pattaya Job Centre, which I started over 20 years ago and handed over long since, is still going. It's mainly for Thai nationals, so as a foreigner your best route is networking.
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