Job Discussion Forums

sidneymorris · Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 8

What does that JET salary come to after tax, medical insurance and other standard deductions?? JET salary is a little higher than standard conversation schools right? For anyone who has worked both is the difference in income significantly noticeable? Do you feel you are able to save or spend a lot more? Was it enough to change your 'Japanese' experience?

Thanks.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Deductions fro JET will differ dependoing on where you are placed. Some apartments will be paid for completely and others will be subsidized. Also utilities will also be different for each household.
Generally, JETs get paid 300,000/month and conversation schools (eikaiwas) get 250-270,000/month. However, JETs get other benefits that many eikaiwas don't receive: return airfare, furnished and subsidized apt, more generous holidays. JET is a much better deal than standard eikaiwa pickings. However, if you haven't already applied, the deadline has passed so you would have to wait until Aug. 2006 before you could go to Japan as a JET.

dtomchek · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 135

Hello:

Yeah, I am a JET and I get 300,000 a month and 40,000 is taken out for various things...my apt is free though I do have some bills like Sky Perfect TV etc...I am getting a better deal than most though...

sidneymorris · Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 8

Actually I have applied for JET and am really excited about the prospect of living and working in Japan. I have been working in Korea for the past 3 years and as much as I enjoy it here I definitely feel ready for something new. However, yesterday my boss here gave me a very generous offer which is really tempting. The amount I could save by working one more year at my current school would be significant and allow me a lot more options in the future. But... I really want to live in Japan!

My original question was to help me work out how much I might be able to save if i worked on JET. The thing is over here in Korea I can live really well and go out a lot while still saving good cash. Not really possible in Japan on a JET salary I'm guessing - especially if you're having to pay for your accomodation as well.

Anyway, I'd value any input or suggestions. By the way I'm 23 (24 next month) if that makes any difference. If any older-hands with life experience have suggestions as to whether I stick around in Korea (which I enjoy) for the money or continue with the JET process and sacrifice a bit of cash for the opportunity of a new experience I'll listen with open ears.

Thanks heaps.

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

Sidney:

I'm not the older hand you were looking for, but It all comes down to priorities. Where do yours lie? Are you in it for the money, or the experience? If both, which one is higher on your priority list?

I gurantee you will not be living as luxuriously in Japan as you might in Korea. I can also gurantee that you won't have a shabby life in Japan. It all depends on how much you intend to go out drinking at izakaya, or how often you like to see movies in the theatre, or how likely you are to travel often. There are so many factors involved that everyone teaching in Japan would have an entirely different life on the same wage.

stretch · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 59

My situation was not the norm, but my JET salary was the same as all others at 300,000/mth plus my BOE set me up with eikaiwa one night a week for 2 hours and paid my about another 50,000 a month for that. That with a free apartment, free fully loaded Subaru, I was able to save a tonne of money and live like a king. My only expenses were food, phone bill and utilities.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Sidney, I'm a bit of an old hand and I've taught in Korea and am now in Japan, still young in my opinion though. Savings is better in Korea, but I think you'll have a better quality of life in Japan. If you feel like Japan, then go, Korea isn't going anywhere.

sidneymorris · Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 8

thanks for your opinions and information. i was so set on coming to japan but the offer laid down is really good and i feel if i work this for another year i can go to japan in 2006 (geez that seems a long way off) without having to fret over savings. nismo, i saw in an earlier post you calculated living expenses around 157,500 yen, then the dtomchek said standard deductions (not counting rent) from his JET salary were around 40,000 per month. I'm sure whats remaining is enough to live really nicely but I do also need to be doing some saving.

anyway, not sure why i'm telling you guys this. guess i'm thinking out loud and hoping someones gonna tell me i'm making the right decision! (yes i'm that insecure in my judgement!)

anyway, unless i change my mind again i guess i will see out this new contract and move on to japan in 2006.

really, thanks for the input. pm me if you're coming to korea and want a brew. i'm always keen to hear about life in japan. churchur.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Are you in Seoul? I lived in Chungno samga in a love hotel.

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

I'm going to jump in with some of the other posters and say that expenses with JET vary from prefecture to prefecture. Because you are a government worker, you have to pay into the national pension plan and health insurance as well as local taxes. I can tell you that my deductions leave me with Y263,000 a month after.
My rent is subsidized (I pay Y27000 + 7000 for my parking spot)...I probably pay an additional Y30,000 in utilities, internet, etc.
One big thing to consider with JET if you are coming from a 3rd country...you will have to interview AND fly from your home country, which can be a big initial expense. You will also probably have to pay the key money on your apartment (as much as $3000USD). It's also standard practice for the outgoing JET to sell their furniture and stuff...probably around Y40,000 on average.
Don't worry too much about not having the key money up front though...most schools have a contingency fund they can use to pay for their JET's start up expenses.
Time off also varies for JETs...for example, in my prefecture, Fukui, we only get 12 days of vacation. But...we're not expected to go to school during the August, December, or March vacations (nearly 3 months of vacation time!!).
I worked for Aeon for nearly 2 years. I'm a lot happier with JET. I'm someone who likes to have a bit of free time to pursue other interests like studying Japanese or writing, and JET provides a good environment for that.

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

Oh yeah, one thing I forgot about savings...your pension payments are refunded at the end of your JET contract. This works out to about Y300,000 per year you work for them, which means if you stay 2-3 years, you get handed almost $6000-9000USD when you leave! Not bad...