Job Discussion Forums

[kdaca]

I have an MA TESOL and two years of full-time experience. I heard that ITESM pays the most in Mexico, but is 14,000 pesos/month a good deal for ITESM Estado de Mexico? I've seen an advert for ITESM Sinaloa, and they start in the low 30s/year.

Please advise.



Thanks,
K.

[thelmadatter]

Hey... I work at Tec in Toluca.... 14K is about the going rate around here, now. What kind of bennies are they offering, if any? If you get "vales" (food coupons) and "caja de ahorro" (a matched savings plan) that pushes the total up a bit.

The Culiacan Sinaloa campus has always offered a pretty high salary. Im guessing because either a) there isnt much there and/or b) Sinaloa has serious narcotraficante problems. Each campus is a little different. 30K is a really really high salary.

Even without any bennies... 14K is good for Campus EdoMex. Sam, (not Matzalan Sam), works at that campus. Hopefully, she will pipe in. If you take the job, get in touch!

[kdaca]

Thanks, thelmadatter. Could you tell me about rental rates (2BD, 1 BA)? Do you know about local American/British/International schools? I have a 9 year old.

[samizinha]

CEM pays teachers with a bachelors degree 12 000 a month, and teachers with a masters 14 000 a month. You work 9 hours a day, from 7am-4pm, or 8am-5pm. Knock off around 2 000 for taxes... this is assuming that they give you a 2 year foreigner contract, which isn't a sure thing. Often, if you find the Tec and they don't find you, they will give you at part time contract, where they pay $150 an hour, per 3 hour class per week... then you see how many classes you can get (usually 4).
There are really no benefits that are added on to this salary. After haggling, I was able to get onto the health plan, which is available to full time workers, for approximately $640 a month (GNP). No vales, or matching program. We can use all of the athletic facilities, take free culture courses, and have administrative fees paid for. I love free palates and swimming! This is only for employees and not their children or spouses.
The rent around the area can be pretty expensive, considering that it's a little rough and very unattractive. My friends call it "Atizapunk". The average 2 bedroom place with no furniture in a half decent apartment usually starts at $3000- $7000 a month, $5000 for a small house. I have a small one bedroom with furniture and high speed internet, above a student house, for $3400 a month. It's one of the three nice streets in the area. Other alternatives are to live in the nicer areas of Arboledas (more expensive) or Satelite, which are about 15 minutes and 40 minutes away respectively.
I personally wouldn't want to raise my children in this area, because there is nothing to do. There is a Comercial Mexicana and tiny plaza, but it's not safe to walk around at night. On Saturdays and Sundays, there is a fruit and pirated goods market. I don't mind this because I'm single and work a bit in the evenings, but during the weekend I go to Mexico City in order to do something interesting- the trip by transit is about 1- 1.5 hours.
I really don't know about private schools in the area, but I'm sure there would be some bilingual ones in Satelite.
In general, I love the students that I teach and the facilities that I've have to use at the school, but the area is too isolated for me and I will not be renewing my contract because of this.
Money isn't everything, and in this case, it's not even enough to save significantly. It all depends on what you're looking for, how you want to live, how you want your daughter to live, and your values.

[samizinha]

[kdaca]

Thanks, samizinha.

I've got a few more questions for you or anyone who's able to help.

1) How much is private internet service per month?

2) What are my cell phone payment options (monthly plan, prepaid calling cards), and how much is that?

3) How much would gas, water and electric cost (I lived with a family of five in San Juan del Rio, Queretaro last summer who was paying almost 500/month for one of these bills. . .I think it was the electric bill.).

4) How much is laundry?


Thanks, everyone.

- K.

[samizinha]

Internet- depends on the service you choose. Try going to the Hi-Speed Internet Topic http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=46368&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Cell phone- You can get prepaid cards and pay about 3 pesos a minute for regular calls, and 1 peso for people on your "friends" list. Cell phones are cheap to buy. I have a plan, where I recieved a free phone and pay about $300 a month, because I don't have a land line and found it was a cheaper deal for me. I had to put down a deposit because they wouldn't accept my Canadian credit card for a credit check

I've completely forgotten utlity prices, but remember that water costs a fortune here. Most of the time utilities are included in rent.

Laundry- a machine was included in most places I've lived in or looked at. Costs about $10 for washing and $10 for drying if you go to a lavanderia. About $70 to get somebody to wash, dry and iron two big loads for you.

Check old threads or do a search, there are experts who have posted much better information than me! Cheers, Sami