Job Discussion Forums

thatsforsure · Joined: 11 Sep 2012 Posts: 146

How is $20 to $30 an hour considered low pay?

johnslat · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject:

Dear thatsforsure,

Um, have you ever tried living on about $1,600 a month in the US? Oh, and that's NOT for 52 weeks a year - usually there are only two sessions of 12 weeks each. So, the max would be about $12,000 a year - BEFORE taxes.

Regards,
John

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

johnslat · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:05 pm Post subject:

Dear Henry_Cowell,

YIKES - $60 - $70 an hour? I'm packing Very Happy

How many (average) hours can one get a week?

Regards,
John

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

I've succeeded in side-stepping out of TEFL and into editing and writing - but not in returning home to the UK. I'd say it's probably more realistic to think in terms of changing your line of work while still abroad. And then, with a bit of luck and an improving economy at home, you might be able to return and find a job in your new area of work.

However, even though I now have over 10 years of journalistic/writing/editing work behind me in HK, I know that in the UK I have very little chance of finding such work - certainly not at a similar level of pay.

I also don't rule out a return to teaching, which is one reason why I still hang out on the forum.