Job Discussion Forums

[Zero]

Those 2,000-yuan-a-month doctors are probably either not telling the truth, or they're giving you their monthly figure without accounting for bonuses, or they're profiting from some sort of arrangement on the pharmaceutical sales beyond their salaries. Or any combination of the three.

[hiptoclip]

I have heard the same thing, in my town, a doctor that my friend knows makes 2,000 rmb a month.

[arioch36]

Depends where the doctor is. Certainly country doctors don't get much.

In the past (and still) doctors got extra income vis "hong bao" red envelopes you put money is and give on New Years or at weddings. In fact, when you go to a modern hospital you may see the signs for "please don't give hong bao"
A friend, former student, her father gave her a car, so so car, nothing greta. Bought it with his hong bao money. We went to a beijing "quality" hospital last year. Want that operation before you actually die? Hong bao!

Agreed that whenever we hear what a Chinese salary is, we need to take it with a grain of salt. Could be true, often many extra incomes added to their "salary"

[Surfdude18]

[SpedEd]

OP:

This post is so conceited. If it's wealth you seek go somewhere more westernized, i.e., where there isn't an oppressive regime in power. China pays by *far* the least amount of money of the other four countries I've been to and the lifestyle is better elsewhere too.
For a couple, 15,000 RMB isn't much money to get by on by Western standards. However, in China it's quite good, imo.

[vikuk]

[Zero]

Not sure how my post is conceited. My wife is Chinese, so it's not wealth we seek, it's just a question of whether we would/could return to her home. In order to do so, we feel there's a certain amount of income our household would need -- an amount that I think would be enough, but not one that I think would make us exactly wealthy. It's less than we make where we are now.

[Anda]

Well lets see I am told that local doctors get 2,000 RMB a month. But lets take the doctor that I go too.

I go to a small clinic very near to where I live. He is open from about 8 in the morning to about 7 of later in the evening. He doubles as a dentist and his wife is a trained nurse. For me to make a visit and get three of four drip bottles stuck in me plus occupy a bed for two to three hours will cost me about 50 to 60 RMB all up. Tell where the big money is where I live?

I did a trip to a main hospital in Nanjing when I first go there and had test galore. I stayed overnight in a private room and all up it cost a bit over 500 RMB. The local hospital but is a real take as they are hungry for money. I get a much better deal at the clinic.

[johnchina]

I would have thought it was more like "My wife is Chinese so it IS wealth we seek ..." Or is my experience of Chinese women (and men!) so different to that of everyone else?

[KidfromBrooklyn]

If you want wealth China in the 21st century is the place to be. Shanghai, jiangsu, Suzhou are definatly good places.

The economy is booming all over the place its the industrial revolution time of the east and the interesting thing about all of our lives is that we are PART OF IT!!!

Come to China and hustle it up see what you can do and don't be afraid to try. Most of us have secured our education some are still pursueing there dreams. Some of the newbies are nieve when it comes to life. Therefore are taken advantage of by the savy loabans who have no idea of any sort of christian princple. However that is a topic of another discussion.

Anywhere in China is good to go. Wheel and deal. Why should they have all of the good stuff and leaf us the stems and seeds. There's gold in them thar hills boys and girls just come and get it. Be carful though the locals are some of the best businessmen and women in the world. Why else do you think times are so good.

As I said before Make as much as you can. Life is short. May everyone have a safe and PROSPEROUS second semester at school.

Tune out the negative vibes and turn on the money machine.

[vikuk]

[arioch36]

i think there is a pretty big difference beywen a "doctor" running a small clinic in a small city, and a doctor in a hospital. two outside sources are the "hong Bao" which is usually only spent when a patient is more seriously ill and in need of an operation. Go to any modern hospital, and the will have signs "do not give hong bao"

Also drugs. it has been well reported that doctors can make substantial bonuses from the drug companies by prescribing the drugs, by how much of the drug is purchased. I thing I recall a goor thread about the drug comapnies' payoffs here at Dave's?

[bearcanada]

On the subject of Chinese doctors and their incomes (as with teachers, actually), it should be assumed that their salary is a small part of their total income.

I have a good friend in Shanghai who is a medical doctor, an anaesthesia specialist. Her salary at the hospital is less than 40,000 RMB per year, but she takes home more than 100,000 after tax. And that doesn't include the value of non-cash gifts she receives.

A big part of her income is 'commissions' on pharmaceuticals. She (and her boss - the department head) get a huge part of the price of all medications sold to patients. And generally they will prescribe the most expensive ones.

Also, patients will virtually always give cash to the doctors (and to her) on admission (for prompt and good treatment), prior to an operation (in the hope that they live or that you don't remove the wrong organ), and afterward (in gratitude, if you did indeed live and still have your organs).

And then she receives non-cash gifts. Comforters, espresso machines, brand-name handbags, expensive cosmetics, all kinds of stuff that adds up over the course of a year.

She says that's just the way it is, and she might as well be part of it. I'm told by many parents that school teachers are cut from the same cloth and that the situation is similar. Too many children in a class so you want someone to actually pay attention to your dear xiao huangdi. So you give money and gifts. It's not our way, and these people didn't willingly choose the system, but it's there.

.

[kev7161]

Listen, this debate is as old as Dave's website (maybe older!). I say if a person is happy earning 4 - 5K a month and working 15 hours to do so, then good for them. We higher-waged earners should not chastise them for their jobs and the incomes they've accepted. However, to "newbies" wanting to enter the job field here, you have three choices basically:

1. Accept a low wage, but make sure the total work hours reflect properly what you are earning. If you want to live simply along the lines of the common Chinese worker, travel locally, and enjoy life's simple pleasures such as mah-jong and morning tai-chi with the ladies, then I think the lower salary will suit you jut fine.

2. Accept a middling wage (say around 8k) and maybe work a few more hours a week. Still enjoy the simple life and be able to sock away a bit of savings for your future life: marriage, baby, new car, new apartment, etc. Splurge from time to time and be at peace with the salary you've accepted.

3. Accept a high wage (let's say 10k and upwards): Save money, pay bills, eat what you want, travel where you want to, save more money, shop without worrying about the "haggle" factor all the time (but still look out for the lower prices!), enjoy your life and plan for the future.

Yesterday I went to buy a pair of Nikes. The cost was 640rmb. Overpriced in my opinion and I asked for a discount. None was to be given but I liked the shoes, they fit me well and they were comfortable. I didn't have to sweat it out on whether or not I could afford them based on how 640 could be more than 10% of my monthly salary! (it's not) I'm not here bragging about my salary and not throwing money around like it was toilet paper. I'm just saying that a higher wage (which CAN be found here in China) gives me the opportunity to do more than a lower salary. I bought the Nikes.

[bdawg]