Job Discussion Forums

[tarzaninchina]

I actually did a fair bit of business math concerning various things. Consider the following.

For public institutions, money is ear-marked and is often based on a quota. More foreigners means more dough for the FAO. They can also get more dough directly from the English or Foreign Languages Department (whichever it's called) to cover for you teaching however many more classes beyond a certain amount. If you don't appear polite, kiss that chance good bye. I'm making almost 8k for 22 teaching hours per week at a public instution. Mind you, I've got qualifications and Chinese-appealing personality up the ying-yang.

Chinese also have to pay a little for public school entrance fees. The better the school, the higher the fee. Foreigners mean higher fees. Higher fees means they can afford you and a decent place if they give a hoot.

For private schools, consider this. Each students will pay anywhere from 80 to 200 RMB per in-class hour. Times 15+ students. Minus your hourly rate, minus your airfare divided out evenly, minus housing and anything else, minus the Chinese teacher's fee (which will never be more than half of your hourly rate at most places), minus rent and stuff for the school itself. It only takes 5 kids to pay for that. Mucho profit and it's non-taxable here in China (or at least in Shanxi province). Bosses want to make a hefty profit, hence them screwing over foreigners on occassion to save a lot.

Unfortunately, I've had to change my outlook where I simply choose not to care about the other person's financial situation when negotiating with them. I was dragged kicking and screaming into that position, but there's so much that you don't know that it actually works out better for all concerned (if you're worried about losing altruism).

Anyway....

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Thanks for the math work!

It just goes to show that if you work for a private outfit, you can stand to earn more money. However, if money is your ONLY concern and all else is secondary, go to a smaller, backwater place where finding people is hard to come by.

If the school is desperate enough, you can negotaite a high salary.