Job Discussion Forums

XiongNu · Joined: 21 Mar 2012 Posts: 5

I've noticed in these forums that a lot of people have unrealistically high expectations for salary in China...and I'm basing that on having gone through about a bajillion job advertisements in the last month. I saw someone on here say that no one should work for less than 150RMB an hour......that's all well and good but as I see it, that's not exactly common. Even the people on this forum who go on about how awesome their university job is because they only work 15 hours a week or whatever and endlessly bash "language mills" don't get paid that much.

Guerciotti · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:51 pm Post subject:

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

I partly agree with XiongNu - 150 per hour at 15 hours per week works out at roughly 9000 per month. I dont believe too many Uni jobs are going to pay that type of salary, especially for newcomers.

I earn one of the lower salaries in China, which I am comfortable and happy with. I did recently look at a job which was going to increase my salary five-fold, and decided it wasnt actually worth it financially.

With the inclusion of office hours...workload in the new job would double. So that accounts for twice my current salary.

There was also no housing or utilities included. That could be another multiple of my salary gone.

I would have to swap my working hours from weekdays/daytimes to evenings and weekends, which is worth another multiple of my current salary IMO. I dont want to work weekends and evenings.

Added to all of this - It was in a location that wouldnt be my first choice, Id have to factor in travel time to and from work which I currently dont have, and the cost of living would be significantly higher than my current location. Theres another multiple of my salary right there too IMO.

Salary and hourly rate is just a small part of a bigger picture for me. If I can teach small classes of adults, for just a few hours per week, in my preferred location, without working evenings or weekends than all those factors are more important for me.

Lobster · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:50 am Post subject:

That hit the nail on the head. To each his own. If making money is your prime reason for working here, you accept the office hours, evening/weekend work, travel time and other difficulties. If money isn't the object, you look at a cushier position. Everyone can decide what they want. Personally, I want no office hours, half-time work hours and short travel times. I am willing to work weekends and evenings with short holidays but want a high hourly rate. The whole package must be considered.

RED

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

check your package? are you simply looking at the hours?

monthly salary: 5000 (average uni 16 hours)
housing provided: 1000 (low end in a generic 3rd tier city)
utilities+net: 325 (assuming you're not heating in harbin)
insurance: 150 (prorated over 10 months)
airfare: 1000 (10k rmb at end of contract)
travel money: 250 (2500 at end of contract)
serving your new
chinese overlords: priceless

so that's 7725 for 64 hours, which comes out to......about 120/hour.

add in a couple office hours and an engrish corner......110/hour.

lesson planning and grading.........100/hour.

you may want to factor in 4-6 weeks paid winter vacation, some of
us get paid summer vacation, teach freshmen? no class first 3 weeks
for military drills, paid/unpaid speech competitions, subsidized meals,