Pattaya may not be as idyllic as some of Thailand's other beach destinations. However, it is still one of the most popular thanks to the wide variety of activities, accommodation, and pulsating nightlife options that it offers. Located a mere 150 km southeast of Bangkok, its easy access makes it a well-frequented beach resort, and many expats living in the capital head to Pattaya to windsurf, waterski, play golf, snorkel, or sail to nearby islands. Due to the large number of expatriates living in Pattaya, there is also an excellent selection of authentic foreign eateries.
The multicultural and hyper-touristy city boasts its tropical paradise and is also a great place to live and work, as it is family — and work-friendly.
Types of jobs available in Pattaya
Teaching
The main jobs for foreigners in Pattaya are in the education sector. Having a strong command of English and a working knowledge of Thai will benefit you. Many people choose to retire in Pattaya and teach on the side to earn a bit of money, and this does mean there's some competition for younger foreigners.
To teach in Pattaya, as well as the rest of Thailand, you will need either a teaching degree or a TEFL certificate. Note that the average teaching salary in Pattaya is lower than in Bangkok, around THB 30,000 per month. If you are looking to make more, consider applying to an international school in Pattaya. Here, you would be able to make up to $3,000 as an English teacher — but the competition will be tougher, and you will need a teaching degree.
If you can't find a part-time position, consider having several teaching jobs to increase your income. If you plan to stay in Pattaya for the long term, it's also a good idea to start building a network of private students.
Hospitality
Pattaya is known as a tropical paradise, so it is quite easy to find a job in hospitality management. If you have experience in public relations and hospitality management, then Pattaya is the best place to be. There are many work options in the hospitality industry, from front desk attendants to hotel managers. Knowledge of one or more foreign languages will come in handy when applying for any of these positions, as a lot of hotel stayers in Pattaya are foreigners.
Food and beverage
Pattaya is a holiday destination, home to many restaurants, bars, and cafes geared to foreign tastes. If you are a chef or barista or have experience in F&B management, you may find your skills in demand in several establishments. Note, however, that this is a very competitive industry, and you will need to have sufficient experience and land a high-level position to make good money.
Freelancing
Pattaya is also a good place to work on a freelance basis, as the cost of living there is likely to be quite low compared to your home country, and it is slightly cheaper than Bangkok. So, if you earn foreign currency to work remotely, this could provide you with a more comfortable standard of living than a teaching job.
Real estate
Pattaya continues to have a booming real estate market, and due to the abundance of properties such as condominiums and resorts, you may well be able to find work in the real estate sector if you have the knowledge and experience. Big companies employ foreigners to handle their business development and operations departments.
Starting a business in Pattaya
You might also consider running your own bar, restaurant, or guesthouse in Pattaya. So long as it is in the right location and purchased at the right price, this could be a way to earn enough living in Pattaya. Just be aware that you will probably not make a fortune this way, and most of your money will probably be earned in the high season. If you do wish to go down the route of starting your own business in Pattaya, then it is advisable to come with enough money to financially sustain yourself in the event of the business failing. It is also important to do thorough research and due diligence as to legalities and expenses before you make any decisions, as there are known to be scams.
Job-hunting in Pattaya
Meeting people and networking in Pattaya is probably one of the best ways to find job opportunities and get a feel for what's available. This is particularly the case if you are looking for work in the hospitality industry. The plethora of sports activities and nightlife options available in Pattaya will mean that you shouldn't have a problem making contacts easily.
It is also a good idea to browse through job websites and local newspapers to see what jobs are available. If you work in the hospitality industry and there are a few high-end hotels that pique your interest in Pattaya, then keep an eye on their websites for vacancies and send them your CV.
If you are a high-level professional, you may also consider going through a headhunting agency to find a new job in Pattaya.
Working hours and holidays in Thailand
A typical working week in Thailand is 48 hours. With most employers, you will be working 8 hours per day with a one-hour break after 5 hours of working.
Officially, your employer can't force you to work overtime. If you have to work overtime, however, by law, you have to be paid a higher rate for that time.
Thailand has a number of public holidays, which are also official days off. If a holiday falls close to the weekend, the days will usually be added up so that employees can get more time off.
Here's a list of ten of Thailand's major holidays:
- New Year's Day (Jan 1);
- Makha Bucha Day (dates vary);
- Chakri Day (April 6);
- Songkran Festival (April 13-15);
- Labor Day (May 1);
- H.M. King's Coronation (May 4);
- Visakha Bucha (dates vary);
- H.M. Queen's Birthday (June 3-5);
- Asahna Bucha (dates vary);
- King Vajiralongkorn's Birthday (July 28-29);
- The Queen Mother's Birthday (August 12-14);
- Chulalongkorn Day (October 23-24);
- King Bhumibol's Birthday (December 3-5);
- Constitution Day (December 10-12).
When working in Thailand, you are also entitled to annual leave, sick leave, and maternity leave. The number of days you get for your annual leave depends on your work contract — but with most companies, you will be entitled to up to 6 paid annual leave days per year. When it comes to sick days, you should be allowed to take as many sick leave days as you need (as long as the total number of days is under 30 days per year).
Maternity leave allows for up to 98 days of off time, 45 of which are paid leave.
Visa options for working in Thailand
To work in Thailand legally, you will need to apply for a work permit.
In most cases, if you plan to work full-time for a company in Thailand, you will need to first apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa Category B and then obtain a work permit. To do so, you will need to have a job offer from a company in Pattaya. From here on, your employer will guide you through the process of applying for a work permit and obtaining the necessary documents. Note that your work permit will be tied to the company you used when applying. This means that if you decide to change employers, you will need to apply for a new work permit.
If you plan to live in Pattaya while working remotely (your work should be outside of Thailand), you have a wider range of visa options for your stay (keep in mind that it is technically illegal to work in Thailand on one of the visas below):
- Tourist visa: These visas let you stay in the country for 60 days and can be further extended for 30 more days. You can then leave Thailand, renew your visa, and re-enter the country;
- Education visa: You can also apply for an education visa by enrolling in any educational program in Pattaya. It can be anything from a language course to a cooking class. Keep in mind, however, that you will need to attend a minimum number of classes for your visa to stay valid;
- Thailand Special Tourist Visa, or STV, is a relatively new option introduced by the Thai government during the COVID-19 pandemic. This visa program was meant for those who wanted to come to Thailand and stay longer than what a tourist visa would allow. With the STV visa, you can stay in Thailand for up to 9 months.
Note that the above visa options are only available to those who plan to work in Thailand remotely.
Important:
Working in Thailand without a work permit is illegal and punishable by deportation. If you want to work in the county legally, you must apply for a proper visa and work permit via your employer.
Good to know:
Here's some more good news for digital nomads: The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) was introduced in 2024 to promote tourism. It allows its holders to enter the country multiple times a year and stay for 180 days for a duration of 5 years.
Finally, if you have the means to invest in your stay in Thailand, you may want to consider applying for the Elite Visa Program. The Elite Visa lets you live and work in Thailand for 5 to 20 years. However, the cost of the visa is quite high, starting at around $15,000 for the five-year Elite Visa.
So, here are the key takeaways:
- Pattaya offers a variety of opportunities to those interested in working here, primarily in teaching, hospitality, and food and beverage;
- The easiest way to get your foot in Pattaya's job market is to get a language teaching job;
- The most efficient way to find a job in Pattaya is via networking;
- If you plan to work in Pattaya, you will need to apply for a work permit;
- You can also work remotely while living in Pattaya. In this case, you will have more visa options to consider.
Useful links:
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