Job Discussion Forums

[Atari Charles]

I am curious to know what the regular salary is on an English teacher in China. Most of the contracts that I have come across pay aprroximately 4000-4500 RMB, but I have heard of higher.

Most schools would claim that 4000 RMB is quite good compaired to what Chinese people usually make, but they don't take into consideration that many teachers plan to retunr to their homecountry and also have current financial obligations in their home country.

Why do schools pay such low rates when they can pay a better salary?

Why do teachers continue to accept these low rates of pay?

[talker69]

I don't have an answer for you, but I hope other people answer your query, because I also want to know how far my salary would get me. I assume that it's easy to transfer the RMB into other currency and send it out of the country, is that correct?

[Starry Night]

[vikdk]

why doesn't doesn't one come to China to earn money?

Im just going into my third year here - but soon realised that the companies earned a stack of it out of my sweat. I now earn 12,000 a month for 16 hours/week - and this isn't in Beijing or Shanghai - but in the wild west.

The bigest problem here isn't the low wages - but the loa wai morons who suck in the companies propoganda about low living costs and accept them! [/quote]

[brsmith15]

There are a lot of variables to consider. When I first came in 1999, my monthly salary was 1,500 rmb and I was in Shanghai! I got by on it, but just. So much depends on

1. Your lifestyle. Are you one who's satisfied with a book at night, or do you prefer the clubs and cafes?
2. Your location. Urumqi is cheaper than Beijing.
3. The integrity of your employer. Do they pay you a.) the correct amount, and b.) on time? Or are they constantly holding something back?
4. Does your employer supply an apartment or give you a living allowance?

Four grand a month isn't great and seems to be at the lower end of the scale, but it's livable nonetheless.

[kev7161]

Oh yeah, I love many posters' philosophies when it comes to salaries here in China. I especially love the tired, old "if-you-like-to-stay-in-and-read-or-watch-DVDs-and-eat-cheap-noodles-all-the-time-then-you-can-live-quite-well-with-what-they-pay-you" commnets.

Yes, yes public schools in China probably don't have much of a budget to pay foreign teachers (as well as provide decent housing) but (in my opinion, okay?) these private schools and language mills that "probably" bring in a lot of money can certainly afford to pay their teachers and staff (Chinese and foreign alike) more than they do. I am now making a decent salary working five days a week about 6 hours a day. In addition, I get a nice apartment with all utilities paid. I can send half my salary home evey month and still have plenty left over to eat what I want and do what I want without feeling guilty (because I've already sent money home to save and pay bills).

The jobs are there - - maybe not right now, but start looking again around December or so when schools may be advertising for the next semester after Spring Festival. Also, if you're only working 16 hours a week and making 4000 rmb, then you should have plenty of time to find a second job somewhere, work another *gasp!* 10 hours a week and make another 2 or 3000 a month - - and still have plenty of free time.

[Roger]

[anthyp]

Oh, great, another one of these "why are the salaries so low?" threads.

OK, let's start with some numbers. First of all, you are whining about 4000 RMB being too low, but it's 4X the salary of your averge Chinese urbanite. Do teachers make relatively that much anywhere? More importantly, over 90% of the Chinese make at or under 10,000 RMB a year, so why on God' earth do you expect them to pay some foreign monkey all this cash just to sit in a classroom and chat with students? Sorry, you're not going to get much sympathy from me.

4000 RMB is an adequate salary anywhere, though I wouldn't want to live on it in Shanghai or Beijing. As we have pointed out MANY, MANY times before, if you are only working 16 hours a week you will have plenty of time left over for privates. 16 hours a week is nowhere near "full - time" in the West so what are you crying about? Go out and supplement it if you feel it's not enough. 1.5 billion Chinese people will disagree with you, though.

Oh, because I like to be thorough and back up what I say, here are a few links:

http://www.china.org.cn/english/BAT/34316.htm
http://www.iwep.org.cn/wec/English/articles/2001_04/4suhainan.htm

[tw]

[vikdk]

wise roger...how I wish I was as wise as you

[Volodiya]

No matter what you earn, you could always live on less, so what's the point of talking about whether we should be paid 4,000 RMB/month- or 40,000? The fact is, for most people, more money means more freedom of choice in life. Want to build a retirement fund, help your family, travel more, give to charity? The more you earn, the more you'll be able to do, and having money feels a lot better than not having it.

A job, which doesn't devour all your time and energy, will provide you a base from which you can build. Lots of people, by working more, have an income that would just be "average" in the west, but allows for all the things I mentioned above, when living expenses are as they are, in China.

What does it matter if others do not want to earn more, and are satisfied with less? Your time, and skills, are worth what people are willing to pay for them. If you want it, go for it. In China, there's more than enough opportunity, you'll just need time to see where those opportunities are, and how best to arrange your life to maximize them.

TEFL, for those who want to earn more, can be a lot more than just getting by. Low salaries are just that. You don't have to be satisfied with them, if you don't want to be. In the end, it becomes irrelevant what Chinese people are paid, what other TEFLers are paid, what the average salaries in the country are, etc. It's also irrelevant that some people think TEFLers making real money is immoral. (Have you heard that, somewhere around here? Amazing, just amazing.)

Be reliable, do a good job, build a reputation- you'll find your marketability, confidence and value going up, year by year, and your income along with it.

(By the way, I spend 2,500 RMB/month in out-of-pocket, daily expenses, for food, meals out, booze, taxis, etc., to answer a question or two that was asked on this thread.)

[Don McChesney]

If you come from a country where your social status is measured by your salary, you don't come to China.
However, even if you do, work out how much an hour you are getting for your 12 or 16 hours a WEEK, and compare that to what you would get at home. Factor in the free housing, gas, electricity, water, air-con, and central heating, and of course the fact that you don't have to buy any furniture or household items, add airfares and travel benefits too, and the pay is good.
This is true even if you are a 'how much do I earn' type.
If you are interested in China as a country and an experience, think what 12 months of hotel accommodation would cost. Teach, and you get all the travel and sightseeing and cultural experience you want, and get paid for it, losing out only 12 hours odd a week.
Get past the money as the be-all, and China becomes a life-changing experience for anyone who can see past their wallet.

[cj750]

Wheither the king of misinformation question anyone philosophy or not doenst change the fact that here are good paying jobs in china that you can save some coin...maybe the reason that you encounter such resistence here from folks telling you that your wage is so many times higher than the Chinese is pure envy...a job is a job and t the end of the day..all foreigners are treated about the same...the same could be said for those who just teach ESL (at a low payin Uni) and strive for no better position than that..if they are satisfied to be in that wage bracket..the more high flying jobs abound for those who want to do the reasearch..but any job high or low wage comes with a certain amount of hassel.. better to be paid well for the pain than to sit upon the throne of mis fit FTs and gripe about the money grubbing westerners...
Do the "look see"..international schools pay pretty good as do IELTS based programs...also any school connected with a western school will up the bets..but then again this is china and all can come to an end ,at any time....be prepaired and alwys know the limit of your place of employment ..keeping a look out for the next job...




I dont know why folks keep saying that no one come to china to make money..if you can acheive a good job..with an outfit that hired licenced teachers..you can make a good bit of coin here in china..last year in Dalian..we saved a bundel..better than I could ahve done in the states....

[mmm... pancakes]

I agree, Cujo, with the bit about the money being ok. As a recent university graduate, coming to China was a reasonable choice. The money here isn't as much as I'd make in an entry-level job back home, but without tax, rent and with minimal other costs, I save a bit more that I would've at home. Add in the experience that comes with teaching here, and I think it was a good choice. The money ain't so bad if you (want to) look for it.

[amandabarrick]

Yeah, most contracts I see are for 4500 RMB, depending on location, accomodations, airfare reimbursement, and other benefits. But looking at it from the schools point of view, of course they are going to advertise the lowest salary they think a qualified FT will accept, not the highest salary they are willing to pay.
Many teachers may come to China and be happy with 4500 RMB a month. These reasons are varied including teachers who are not interested in making lots of money but are satisfied with enough to live comfortably in China. (4500 RMB would allow you to live comfortably in most cities.) Other teachers may be backpackers who are here to travel and experience China and the culture for a year or two, who are happy to get paid 4500 RMB a month. Other teachers I have met are actually in their golden years and have already saved a nest egg, teaching in China for 4500 RMB makes them more than happy.

Others teachers may look at the school first, the salary second. If the school is one they will enjoy teaching at and fits their lifestyle, if the students are ones they are eager to teach, if it is their 'perfect' school, then the salary is not as important, as long as it is enough to live on.
Other teachers may look at the other benefits including the school providing free comfortable living accomodations, all amenities, airfare reimbursement, travel benefits, etc... Then 4500 RMB enough to cover food, clothing, entertainment, etc...

I also feel that if you desire to make a high salary the jobs are here. I am not sure how much the highest potential income would be in China for a foreign teacher, but i could see how it would be possible to make 9000 or 10,000 RMB each month if one worked enough hours. If 4500 RMB is not acceptable, find a contract that has the salary you are looking for or negotiate with the school for a higher salary. Supplement your income with privates, teach a second job part-time, moonlighting, etc...

On my salary back home after paying basic living expenses that are paid by my school here in China, I make more per hour in China. Take into account the cost of living here in China compared to that of the States, and I am able to save 80% of my income.

AB