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SENTINEL33
Joined: 19 Jan 2014
Posts: 112
Location: Bahrain
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 Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 11:47 am Post subject: |
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| cnthaiksarok wrote: |
| SENTINEL33 wrote: |
| I don't think any ESL teacher in KSA gets anywhere close to that. |
They do exist as a matter of fact, but I agree - they're saying 8,000/mo. total - after incentives are added on. |
Yes, that’s what I thought. A “GRAND TOTAL” of approx. $8000/month.
But, if a large part of that includes “housing” “transportation”, “tickets” etc etc, then the shine of that seemingly high $8000, quickly wears off and the total package has to be seen in a different light. (at least for me).
No one’s mentioned health insurance. Does that also have to come out of your $8000? Because costs for that vital product have skyrocketed recently.
The minute I have to do the “running around”, particularly as far as housing, I’m really not interested.
If an employer isn’t willing to provide housing (including furnishings, a/c, H2O, electricity, phone connection and maintenance), especially in such a hostile environment as KSA, then that’s a totally different ball game, as far as I’m concerned.
Right away you have to start thinking about a car, the daily commute and on and on. Bottom line – it ain’t worth it.
(Yes, cnthaiksarok, I’m sure there are ESLers who make over US$10,000/month…in fact, I know a couple. But you gotta admit they’re rare) |
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wailing_imam
Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 580
Location: Malaya
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed. US$8k including allowances is not at all enticing.
I was under the impression direct hires start at US$7.5k base with all the extras tacked on top of that base.
The mystery deepens... |
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SENTINEL33
Joined: 19 Jan 2014
Posts: 112
Location: Bahrain
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| wailing_imam wrote: |
Agreed. US$8k including allowances is not at all enticing.
I was under the impression direct hires start at US$7.5k base with all the extras tacked on top of that base.
The mystery deepens... |
W-Imam - you might be interested in reading the related comments under my recent posting called "KSA and Social Security". |
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cnthaiksarok
Joined: 29 Jun 2012
Posts: 288
Location: between a rock and a sandy place
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| SENTINEL33 wrote: |
| (Yes, cnthaiksarok, I’m sure there are ESLers who make over US$10,000/month…in fact, I know a couple. But you gotta admit they’re rare) |
Rare indeed and admittedly more often than not attached to....how shall I say...."royal uncertainties."  |
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SENTINEL33
Joined: 19 Jan 2014
Posts: 112
Location: Bahrain
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| cnthaiksarok wrote: |
| SENTINEL33 wrote: |
| (Yes, cnthaiksarok, I’m sure there are ESLers who make over US$10,000/month…in fact, I know a couple. But you gotta admit they’re rare) |
Rare indeed and admittedly more often than not attached to....how shall I say...."royal uncertainties." |
---------> لا تعليق = No comment <-----------
Last edited by SENTINEL33 on Tue Feb 04, 2014 3:08 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Allizwell
Joined: 04 Nov 2010
Posts: 54
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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| The amount of $8,000 I mentioned earlier, which includes the 65% allowance on top of your base salary, is meant for you to pay for your own housing, transportation, etc. There are no compounds for EFLers at ARAMCO (or most other places for that matter) as most teachers work for contractors. You could pay for a compound out of your own pocket, but that would negate all of your savings and defeat the purpose of coming here altogether. This is all you get each month, which is the top salary package any EFL teacher could think of getting (by far, in fact, as uni jobs on average pay about half of this amount in KSA, UAE, Qatar, etc.). The only other benefits you get at ARAMCO are a health insurance plan and money for your flights when you travel on leave and end of contract holidays. As the others have said, $10,000 US is virtually unheard of in the world of EFL. If you feel this is not "worth" coming to KSA for, then you need to get re-trained as an engineer, or something, because the oil business and some defense contractors in this region are as good as it gets moneywise for EFLers anywhere in the world. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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15,000 SR a month (ir US$4000) plus housing, family status, tickets, education allowance and health insurance begins to look good. Particularly whgen the employer gives 60+ days annal leavce.
The tonguetwisting Baja complains that he should get more. Good luck on that one. People in Hell want iced water.
Last edited by scot47 on Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
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SENTINEL33
Joined: 19 Jan 2014
Posts: 112
Location: Bahrain
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Allizwell wrote: |
| The amount of $8,000 I mentioned earlier, which includes the 65% allowance on top of your base salary, is meant for you to pay for your own housing, transportation, etc. There are no compounds for EFLers at ARAMCO (or most other places for that matter) as most teachers work for contractors. This is all you get each month, which is the top salary package any EFL teacher could think of getting (by far, in fact, as uni jobs on average pay about half of this amount in KSA, UAE, Qatar, etc.). |
Sorry, this is just not correct or rather, it misrepresents the realities.
Most other employers in KSA employing ESLers do indeed provide "housing" in general. I mean the actual bricks and mortar housing, not just "renumeration". All the military do.....Raytheon, Vinnell, Booz Allen etc. As far as unis, I know that at least KFUPM in Dhahran provides housing -I've been there on several occasions and their housing is quite impressive....it's certainly more than "adequate". And by housing, I mean running water, electricity, phone, basic furnishings and so on.
As I previously said, having housing "provided" has (to me) a huge monetary value in that I can avoid endless hassles of all kinds - a value I place at nearly the same level as my salary, particularly when that housing is within walking distance to my work site. (I know a couple of Aramcons who work in Dhahran BUT LIVE IN BAHRAIN. Talk about a "commute". I personally think they're nuts, but to each his own).
I would never dream of accepting a job offer in the Gulf - or most likely any Arab city - in which housing wasn't provided, furnished, up front and immediately available upon my arrival. Absolutely no way. I've seen too many horror stories.
PS...I keep thinking about (hsm) who recently posted a plea regarding housing in Hofuf. His posting is entitled: "I'm looking for a furnished apartment in Hasa". Can you imagine what he's going through? A westerner walking around the streets of Al-Hasa looking for an apartment? Having to go onto this Forum for advice? Where is his employer? Why isn't he in the picture? Can you imagine how he's going to be taken advantage of? Can you imagine how bitter he's going to be sooner or later? You can already get a sense of his frustration reading his post. No thanks, baby. Maybe you, but not me. |
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BajaLaJaula
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 267
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 7:06 pm Post subject: not all that tongue twisted |
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Not tongue twisted...just have to agree that 4,000 a month is hardly worth putting up with life in KSA. Even when housing, medical, and 60+ days leave are part of the package it is not as sweet a deal in comparison with SALTS, and Aramco.
Aramco (direct hire especially) are highly sought after and not easy to land...as many has attested to in other posts. SALTS is only hiring singles, no families due to housing shortage.
Sometimes, more money is not the answer. The higher paying jobs have a faster burn-out rate. Slow and steady wins the race. This is hard to come to grips with when everything about KSA is about making your money and getting out.
Last edited by BajaLaJaula on Sat Feb 01, 2014 11:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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The boom years were in the 1980s. You want that - get a time machine. There was a time when you could save enough in a two-year Saudi EFLing contract to buy a substantial property back home. Past. History. Gone. Forever.
There are still stories to be heard on the fabulous riches made in far-off Arabee in the "Last Chance Saloon".. Try to adjust to today's reality ! And remember that winners do not come to KSA ! And remember too that KSA will not transform a loser into a winner !
Last edited by scot47 on Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| remember that winners do not come to KSA ! |
how many times did you come? Thrice was it? |
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Dejvice
Joined: 22 May 2013
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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I dunno, but I just couldn't be bothered to be in KSA for $4k /mth, 6O plus days holidays does not do it for me either.
Put it this way, for every 5 years you spend in a University....being here. With Aramco it is half the time....with overtime and pay rises, annuity of half months salary for each year completed you can cut that down to around 2 years. Slow burn is fine, but a bit of waste to twiddle your thumbs for more than half a day. Some might say that slow burn is the way to go, but then people hardly come here for the sights, tourism etc. They come here for one thing.....$$$$$.....and if your are going to be here, may as well make the most of the opportunity to earn as much you can with Aramco....and when finished move on from it all.....including bulletin boards. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 5:35 am Post subject: |
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| sicklyman wrote: |
| scot47 wrote: |
| remember that winners do not come to KSA ! |
how many times did you come? Thrice was it? |
Well in all fairness that was more during the boom years, but still he likes to hang with the losers on the forum.  |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| I have no illusions about being a winner. I am happy to be alive ! One of the nice things about a uni job at the right place in KSA is that you do not actually have to do very much. |
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Paul in Saudi
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Posts: 404
Location: Doha, Qatar
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| Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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Please excuse me if I am unclear. I get $7 per month. From that I must feed and house myself. I do get an airfare to London (paid in cash) twice a year for vacations.
I am sorry if I am unclear. |
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