Job Discussion Forums

gabeltron · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 21

My Girlfriend and I are planning to move to Beijing next year to teach. We both have 3 years of teaching experience in NYC. Also, we'll both have our certification and masters in TESOL.....finally finished!

We've received an offer from a pretty nice international kindergarten, but I'm a little concerned with the salary, 10, 500 each without housing. I'm just wondering if I would be able to save money each month with that kind of salary. We're planning on paying about 1,500 each for an apartment...I'm assuming that's enough?

In terms of negotiating, should I attempt to negotiate the salary? Is this sort of how it works in China? A few years ago when I taught in Korea I know that negotiating was not frowned upon.

Finally, I have American bills to pay each month. Yes, credit cards, they never go away. That will run me about $200 a month. Does anyone have experience with paying American debt from China?

If Anyone has questions or wants advice about teaching in nyc (public schools) please let me know, but I wouldn't recommend it.

SocratesSon2 · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 134

I did some research and recent studies have named Beijing as being more expensive to live in then Shanghai as far as cost of living.

10,500 salary without a place to live. That is not very good. Rent will run you three to four thousand at least. Then factor in utilities, food, miscellaneous expenses. If you don't do anything or have any fun you might be able to save seven thousand a piece. You would have to live like the natives and have a very frugal existence for the most part.

One of the things most people forget about these big big cities in china is the housing. I have been talking to some schools now that don't even offer it, schools paying as little as 5,500. Standards as far as pay and benefits are getting lower and lower as more riff raff make their way here, many of them likely coming for the Olympics. For those of us who will remain afterwards the outlook is pretty grim.

I would look elsewhere, your experience alone and the fact your a couple, which appeal greatly to schools with more then one position opening, make you much more marketable. Your both worth more then 10,500. Look at the amount of classes you will have to teach as well. Do some research. Coming here for answers is easy, but in the end your going to have t do some major leg work. However there are better jobs out there, and you should qualify for one with little problem. You just have to find those jobs.

redpiston · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 338

You would need to double that paycheck to live a halfway decent life.

johnchina · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 816

I usually agree with a lot of what SocratesSon2 and redpiston have to say, but not this time.

10,500 is easily enough for one person to live on. I live on about 8,000 a month in BJ, including 3,000 rent for 100m2+ flat. I don't go out every night or eat at a fancy Western restaurant every night, (simply because I don't want to) but I can easily do so if I choose. I largely buy Western food at Western-ish prices at Jenny Lou's (go online and look up expat mags like City Weekend Beijing or That's Beijing to find out more).

There are plenty of FTs living in BJ on 4-5,000 a month (with flat paid for by their unis).

2 of you means a total salary of 21,000, minus 3-4 rent. You're talking over 2,000 USD for spends!

The surveys mentioned by SocratesSon2 are aimed at multi-national companies. They use these guides to decide how much to pay their expat managers and the size of benefits like housing allowances. They bear little relation to the cost of living you'll experience here - unless you are champagne and caviar types and want to live in a big house rather than a medium-sized flat. (NB Flat size might depend on your opinion, but I'm guessing NYC flats are generally not too large.)

There are a few people here who can advise you about paying off your credit cards. I know its possible, but I've never needed to do it.

Salaries are usually negotiable, but most international schools (or kindergartens) are less flexible - at least in the experience of my half-dozen friends who've taught at them. You might find them more flexible on benefits than salary. Just a suggestion.

peepertice · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 63

i'm surprised by those first two responses.

living as a couple and pulling in 21,000 sounds good to me, assuming you're not working excessive hours.

i'll bow out here as i don't live in beijing but i know a few who do who would leap at the chance to earn 10,500 per month.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

I'm from Australia but with credit cards from home I used to be able to pay directly by TT (telegraphic transfer). Currently I have to pay into a saving's account that in turn pays into the credit card account.

You can TT from main branches of the Bank of China here for about 200 RMB a transfer.

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

With the qualifications you mentioned, are you sure you want to come to China? If money is a real major factor then I would strongly advise you to consider if China is really for you.

SocratesSon2 · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 134

I have to agree, you can make a lot more money elsewhere, like in Korea for example.

redpiston · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 338

I recently met some guys from Delta Tel fort ( I think it is called), and they made 8k per month and complained that they didn't have enough money to even date more than a few times a month.

kungfucowboy83 · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 479

you mentioned you had masters degrees 3 years teaching expericence and "certification" if you mean you are certified teachers in your own state try to find a job in an international school as it will pay 4 or more times what other teaching jobs in china do.

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

10.5 is great, even without rent. I wonder why the kindergarten schools pay so much?!

The REAL question is how you are going to send money home. It is not always the easiest thing to do. If you are actually working on a working visa then the process becomes easier.

10.5 x 2 = 21K
A nice apartment might run 3-4 so thats 16 left over- Per month! you two will be loaded!

gabeltron · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 21

cj750s · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:13 am Post subject:

A biz school near Lido.... the instructors are required to wear suits and I think that they pay rent to company chosen apartments....true I have met a few who complained that their salary wasn't enough.