Job Discussion Forums

MrCAPiTUL · Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 232 Location: Taipei, Taiwan

I've seen a lot of people recently chatting about how that is a decent starting salary. I'm just curious as to why you feel that way?

That is US$2137 gross, per month; $25,641 annually. You can't really live on that in America, so I'm thinking that must be a bitch of a time in Japan. Quite honestly, unless I find a good job at a real school, I think Japan might have to wait. I have a hard enough time staying above water here in the States as a teacher. To break even in Japan, I'd have to earn at LEAST 325,000 en a month. And that would be IF costs-of-living were equal.

You know, when my friend's mother was visiting from Nagoya and talking with me about Japan, something she said stuck out. She said, "The people who come to Japan are the people who have problems making it in their own country. The poor people. So, to them, Japan is great." She also said that, if you REALLY want a good job in Japan, you have to learn the language well, and then you'll have a much easier time and make more money. Perhaps that is why she was trying to get me to go on a student visa to learn the language.

Note to people: don't be bottom feeders. The ball is in your court. Japan wants English teachers and doesn't have the native population or the trained population to do the job. It is disappointing to see people think so little of themselves. My advice, get a job in your home country using your degree and go to Japan when you get a worthwhile offer. *Note, i was nearly lured into the web, as well. Be strong.

angrysoba · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 446 Location: Kansai, Japan

Mr Capitul:

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

I'm always curious as to this 250,000 yen salary. What does that mean exactly? Because the starting salary of a new NOVA teacher (at least the ones who were hired before NOVA changed the hours offered) is 210,000 a month. But once you add in all the extra perks each month, it comes out to about 275,000-280,000 per month. So am I making 40,000 less than the average or am I making 40,000 more?

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

MrCAPiTUL · Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 232 Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Well, I expected to see some criticism from this post. Welcome.

I used to live in NY (the Bronx) and I am currently living in FL, Tampa Metro area. The cost of a decent 1BR apt is around the $600 mark, no utlities included. Average housing price, about $170,000.

The average teaching salary in FL is around $34,000 annually for new hires, $38,000 for the entire teaching workforce.

As for time off: I get every federal holiday off, teacher planning day 4 times a year, 2 week winter break, 1 week spring break, and a little over 2 months for summer break. Yes, that is one of the good perks about teaching in the US.

Not too mention, I have free health care, low cost dental care insurance and vision care. Guaranteed pension plan and mandatory life insurance (which is free for the first $75,000).

Taxes are definitely more expensive here, I will say that much.

Having said that: $34,000 per year is NOT a lot of money! After taxes and bills, you'll have maybe $500 per month for yourself. If you take out for 401k or investments, you are easily breaking even and not having much of a life. If you have kids on a single income, you are in an increasingly delicate situation.

Compare that to Japan. Unless you take a tremendous lifestyle hit, I don't see how it can work in "the most expensive country in the world." I notice most people say they supplement their work with privates. This varifies my point. If 250,000 en is so great, why do you need extra work?

325,000 en at 118 exchange rate yields: 2754 per month, gross, or 33,050 per year. Ask anybody here in America if that is a good salary for a college graduate, most will tell you - no. not really.

Here is something to consider: the average bank will grant 3 times your salary for the price of a house. 3 x 33050 = (ROUGHLY) 100,000. Now, with great credit you may get slightly more. If the average house is 170,000 in this area (again, this is a fairly inexpensive metro area), how do you do it on a single, 33,050 salary? Factually - YOU DONT!

Canuck - I did not say people can't make it in their country. Matter-of-fact, I said that people should work in their own country until they get better offeres. Regarding people not making it, That is what my friend's mother said about MOST people who go to Japan (and SHE herself is Japanese). Of course that doesn't apply to everybody from the ENTIRE population. There are always exceptions. Come on now. . .

This kind of stemmed from an earlier post, where I asked what most people do for their future retirement. Scarily, not too many people responded. Those that did, all kind of said the same thing - people AREN'T preparing for their future retirement. This is disturbing, to me.

. . . . I should become a Worker's Advocate. . . Very Happy