Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I would love to go to Taiwan, but the thing that's keeping me away is the salaries. What happened? It seems like most places that advertise, and lots of them are recruiters, are now offering about 60,000NT a month. Which makes moving from Korea to Taiwan more difficult. Although I suppose you could argue that in Taiwan you can legally teach privates.

Any signs of the EFL salaries increasing in taiwan?

[BigWally]

Um....I don't think that privates are actually "legal" persay, just basically impossible to stop...nor is teaching in most Kindergartens, also hard to deter....the money train in Taiwan has pulled out of the station, excessive numbers of bushibans, and many teachers accepting wages as is keeps the salary down.

Typically starting salary, regardless of experience elsewhere (only Taiwan experience counts) is about $580-$600/hr in Kaohsiung. In Taipei living expenses are higher, so salary is a bit higher there.

I have some friends who were working here when it was $27NT to the $1CDN...now its at some ridiculous $34NT.

Ah well, I complain now, but I'll go back to the "real world" and end up making less, having a longer work week, and higher living expenses...d'oh

[773]

Privates are illegal in Taiwan, but most teachers do them, like in Korea.

Yeah, Taiwan can't really compete with Korean employment packages...employers offer so few benefits that they just can't compare to Korea where you get flights housing, and higher paid privates to boot.

[naturegirl321]

But it's got Chinese, mandarin)

[pest2]

I just got here to TW a little while ago. There is no doubt the job situation here is far far worse. Fewer schools, lower pay, fewer benefits, higher tax... all for more work! (and its not surprising that alot more people in Korea can speak at least a little English).

Still,... after spending a few years in Korea, there are some things about Taiwan that seem quite nice. To me, living in Taiwan seems like a breath of fresh air.. well, ONLY figuratively! Someone else said it on here before, but there are things about Korea that only living in Korea can make you understand and despise. You think you're going to that place to work less and save more, but you actually earn every bit of that added savings merely by being a foreigner living in Korea.

I think the real problem is that teaching English just is a very good job for making money... call it the obvious answer, here.

[SanChong]

[SanChong]

[demaratus]

The highest starting wages (for teaching in a Buxiban) I saw in Taiwan were in Pingtung ($700 nt for a newbie and more for an experienced teacher), but it was an isolated school that was very well managed by an American and his Taiwanese wife. Not near any other schools. Markets with less Buxiban saturation make for better conditions, unfortunately for most people that means living in smaller, less westernized places. This was my experience. I'm sure there are better opportunities in Taipei because of size.

I would want any person considering moving to Taiwan to know that it isn't the best place for making money. Heck for savings, it may not even be top 5 in Asia anymore. But, it affords a quality of life that would be hard to match in many countries, and you can save some money (not what it used to be for sure). People should come to Taiwan for the lifestyle and experience, if money is your motivation, or the strongest motivation you should go to Korea or the gulf. If you want to live in a warm climate, with friendly people/interesting culture and save a little money Taiwan is right for you. Taiwan isn't as fascinating a place as say China, but it is interesting nonetheless. It certainly doesn't have the pristine beaches of Thailand, but it has a respectable beach. It isn't a place to make a tonne of cash like the Middle east, or even pay off debts fast like Korea, but you can save some and enjoy yourself at the same time.

[SanChong]

[BigWally]

[773]