Job Discussion Forums

funkystuff · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 62

I recently stumbled across this very interesting thread at www.forumosa.com entilted "appallingly low salaries":

http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?t=69907

I suggest anyone who is planning to take up work in Taiwan, especially at a university, should take a look. Unfortunately, the thread is now locked, which is unfortunate since it was a very healthy discussion.

You might also wanna check out this thread too:

http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?t=70000

romanworld · Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 388

God, after reading these threads, I'll definitely be giving Taiwan a wide berth. Seems that the already low salaries haven't changed in yonks! I worked there years ago and I was getting more back then than tefl teachers are getting now . . . and things were much cheaper back in the good ole days. Sad

funkystuff · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 62

Actually I was thinking about looking for a job in Taiwan because I'd heard that the pay was good, but at my age the money is what counts. I think I'll just stay on here in Thailand, where the job pays a little more than the $550 in Taiwan, but living costs appear to be way cheaper.

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

550NT/US$18 hour is appalling low. Sorry, what is the minimum wage in your state back home?

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

Taiwan EFL salaries suck!

University salaries are low also.

If you want money better to go teach in Korea or Japan. Even China is more competitive these days than Taiwan.

MOD EDIT

BJ · Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 173

Wages are low here thats for sure. They have changed little in 15 years. BAck then 500 NT an hour was the pay, these days 550 - 600 seems the norm.
Universotoes havnt had a pay increase in years as well, whilst priices have been going up steadily,
In ENgland I think minimum wage is near 6 pounds - 12 dollars, whilst 18 dosnt suck it is not that good either.
15 years ago 500 NT was worth around 12 pounds - 600 NT now is worth 10 pounds - thats the reality unfortunately.

funkystuff · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 62

I have a friend in Taiwan who works at a university and he tells me that it's hard to make ends meet these days. Sure, he says, $NT550 was OK 5 years ago, but now inflation is outta control and the money goes in a jiffy. As far as I know, Taipei is one of the most expensive cities in the world and rents in some areas are astronomical. So when you say that $NT550 is fine, think again. Not sure how long my friend will last. Says he wants to quit because he's so fed up with being unable to save anything.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

MomCat · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 297

I don't get this complaining. Wages here aren't a secret. Any level of research before coming over would let a potential teacher know what to expect. You get over here, make what you should have expected to make and then complain? Please!

pest2 · Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 170

773 · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 213

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

I was in Korea at a university making equivalent to US$3,000/month before housing. (Just so people don't think that is typical - typical in Korea is US$2,000+ WITH housing for uni jobs).

I applied to a university in Taipei. They offer their new teachers US$1,200/month WITHOUT housing.

BJ · Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 173

A full time post at a UNi Tiger? no way the mimimum is 56,000 a month nearly 2,000 US. PHd starting is 67,000. Overtime is at around 600 an hour upwards over 12 contract hours.
AS you say most Korean pay similar.

My problem with it is very little increases over the years and the increase worloads they are now asking for in terms of papers, admin, extra curricular.

Momcat I half agree with you, a lot of moaning going on - 18 dollars isnt bad for someone straight out of college, and with the cost of living most people can save 1000 plus US a month out of their wages. Try saving that in the US or Europe these days.

Miyazaki · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 635 Location: My Father's Yacht

BJ · Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 173

Your figures are about right M, sorry was looking at my wages basic + 4 hours extra works out around 68k a month for 16 hours work
Tax is around 13 percent + 20k for overtime etc at the end of the year,
2 months New year bonus? 8k for my apartment, 2k for bills.
basically I make around a million a year after tax from my college work.
30k a month in a savings account and still have around 10k a month spare after food etc

Of course if I wanted to work at other places I could do so.

How much is your accommodation, tax etc in Japan M? Wonder what the deductions housing costs etc cost in say the US and UK for a uni lecturer?

I am not saying the pay is good, but it isn't as bad as some would paint. 4 month PAID vacation is why I do it besides my love of teaching. If I wanted money I would not be a TEFL teacher.