Job Discussion Forums

guruengerish · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 424 Location: Australia

So, having read all this discussion on hourly rates, how does that compare with a job offer of around RMB4000 per month?

Accommodation will be supplied, but is the above figure reasonable for one who has taught in other countries, but never China?

Super Mario · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:11 am Post subject:

Its at the low end for short hours at a university.
If you've got experience, a degree and a TESOL you can do better.
Having said that, you'll live very comfortably in all but a few cities on that. If your hours are short, you'll have time to make extra.
BTW, I'd work on 80-100 rmb per teaching hour [40 mins really] as a base for university work.

stil · Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 259 Location: Hunan

As a low-end, short-hours salary you should really not take less than 4800 now. That's the tax exemption for foreigners. It used to be 4000. It is always hard to say if a salary is ok or not when the city is unknown. Cost of living can vary as William Wallace said. I don't put much stock into lifestyle though because that is the use of the salary not whether it is good or not. One thing about cost of living is that in places with a high cost of living it is usually easier to find higher paying privates to supplement your income.

That said chasing the higher number is not always the best thing for everyone. There are other things to factor into your salary. Quality of the accommodations is always very important to me if it's included. Small things like air-con in the main room not just the bedroom or hot water from all faucets are not always easy to come by. Is it a 10, 11 or 12 month contract? Who pays the electricity and water? How far are you from the main city or even a city? What is the transportation situation (Are there late buses or will you have to take a 50 Yuan cab back to your flat at night) Are all the classes on one campus or do you have to travel around? Airfare and/or travel bonus. Are your days off in a row? Is it a 'key' school? (I prefer non-key schools because I find the students better behaved) Are you allowed to have guests stay with you? How many other foreigners are there in the school, the city? Must you advertise for the school? What's the main industry of the city (coal cities are quite dirty and usually very polluted)

These things and many more factor in and their relative importance is different for everyone.

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

For the extra lessons our school offers us on Sundays, the pay is 200 RMB for an hour and a half (40 plus 40 with a 10 minute break). Because it is right on campus, this is just about acceptable.

Yet recently I have had offers of jobs outside campus paying 100 RMB for a FULL 60 minute hour, 150 RMB for an hour and a half, and outside campus so involving lots of travel too. Way too low.

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between