Job Discussion Forums

[akolsky1]

I was offered salary info for a school position I am interested in at a private lang. school. I do not want to disclose the name of the school, but I would really like to see if there is some wiggle room since i have a masters in communications and a state teaching cert w/ teaching experience in a US public school and abroad--but I do not want to offend since I do not know what is customary in the ME culture. The salary is "1,500.- $" a month--I assume that is US dollars? Is that a fairly good/standard salary for Eygpt? I would love to try to get it up to 2,000/month, but maybe that is pushing it for Eygpt. Any advice/insight for asking for more $ for teaching in ME or even other countries would be so helpful.

Also what does "L.E" mean--I tried to Google it, but came up with nothing.

Many thanks,
Amy

[veiledsentiments]

L.E. means Egyptian Pound. (1 L.E. = US$.17)

If it has a "$" it must mean dollars... but one shouldn't assume. I would confirm that you are paid in dollars because LE are hard to change to dollars and can't be spent outside the country. I am assuming that you have done a search on the place here to see if there are any horror stories. I would try moving them up some... the worst thing that can happen is that they say no.

This is a horrible salary for someone with your credentials, but I see from your posts that you have tried various countries... and I suppose that you are looking at this as a foot in the door.

VS

[akolsky1]

Thanks for your info. The thing is I don't have much ESL/TEFL experience and am trying to get my foot in the door after a hiatus from teaching. I don't have a TEFL cert, but a state teaching cert, so not sure if that makes a diff. when it comes to salary. I tried to PM you, but I it said had to post more than 50 times which is strange b/c I had replied to other PM's so I thought I could do the same. I wanted to tell you the name of the school which i did a search on in order to research. I don't know--I will try to ask for more, knowing that it is standard to negotiate these things. I just don't want to offend them and then have them not interested in me/take back their offer if I accept on the original salary. I am not sure if they take these things personally or if itis understood standard business practice to negotiate. I really appreeciate all the info you have been giving me thoughtout this process. I really want to go to the ME to teach, but also need to save some money for grad sch loan and travel, otherwise if I was in my 20's I would settle on any salary just for the experience.
Take care,
Amy

[veiledsentiments]

OK... thanks for reminding me of your particulars. I have heard that the PM rules have been pushed back up to 50 now. (there is a problem with spammers and trolls who join and then spam by PM of all things... ) But, knowing the school name probably wouldn't help me as I am not familiar with the schools. And our person who does know many of them is traveling for the next week. I presume that you didn't find anything ghastly about them here. Be sure to read the sticky above on the situation at the typical International school in Cairo.

I'd say to open negotiations with them. You do need to confirm the package. I assume that you are getting the usual paid ticket and free furnished housing. You need to confirm that they do pay in US$ otherwise you will have great difficulty sending dollars home to pay bills. Once you confirm the above, politely point out that you have financial responsibilities back home and their offer will cause you problems. Suggest that you understood that a *certified* *native speaker* teacher is normally paid US$2000 a month.

Now... if they pay in LE... and are not providing housing in addition to the $1500... I don't think you can even consider it.

VS

[akolsky1]

Thanks as always for your advice. I will try it and see what happens. I should confirm if payment is in US $. I guess I assumed it was in the currency of the country, but hopefully it is in dollars. Also though I think also that I will try to ask for the 2,000/month regardless. I just did not know if administrators/schools get offended if we ask for more--it is free to ask. I guess it is all in the way it is worded as long as I am respectful of them. I appreciate all your advice.
Take care,
Amy

[veiledsentiments]

Because LE can't be spent outside of Egypt - and you are not even take it out of the country - many schools try to pay expat teachers fully or partially in dollars. There can be stretches of months that not even the banks or money changers will sell you US$ so it is impossible to send money home if you need to.

I think you've got the general idea on negotiating. Do come back and tell us how it goes.

VS

[nstick13]

This is good to know, so that I can leave some dollar dollar bills (song reference, not poor grammar) here in the states to pay student loans. Another expense to file away.

[nstick13]

and since that was 49.... I now have my PMing features, and I think avatar!

Yessssss....

[veiledsentiments]

Mabruk!! Remember that with avatars, size matters.

VS

[eclectic]

$2000 US dollars a month in Egypt???!!!!!!!!!!

Doesn't seem too common to me. I have received an offer from a Cairo Uni and it was $920 US per month/free housing, and I thought that was quite good for Egypt.

[juliagirl]

Does this mean 2000$ for Egypt is good??

[santi84]

[justcolleen]

$2,000 USD is about 11,200 LE (Egyptian pounds) at the current exchange rate.

That is A LOT of money.

To put that kind of money in perspective, here are some tidbits that I've read (I can dig up sources if anyone would like to see them):

The average Egyptian salary is 450 LE/month.

Twenty percent of Egyptians live on less than 164 LE/month.

Doctors that work in the Egyptian public health care system (hospitals, pharmacies) earn 120 LE/month.

Yeah, a salary of 11,000+ LE would be mad cash. Mad cash.

[veiledsentiments]

True Colleen, but, as you know, it is nearly impossible for a Westerner to live on anywhere near what the average Egyptian makes. There are two parallel price structures and although I could live on $2000 a month in Cairo, it would be tight... and I know the system and how to game it after many years there.

Hawaga rental costs alone would eat up much of it, but if housing had been provided, I could live very well on even $1500 a month... as long as one doesn't want to do much (or any) travel outside of Egypt. Another factor is if people have to pay bills back home, like education loans.

VS

[justcolleen]