Job Discussion Forums

sr · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 62

The higher paid jobs are not within the government system as they are set salaries, so even if you had a PhD you would get the same as a rookie teacher. Yes you get the medical and housing allowance, but the higher paying jobs are within the private sector. You could stay at the government schools and never move up, because you are not Thai. And the big factor is you are not a Thai citizen. Even if you got Thai citizenship you would still not be recognized as Thai, so your pay scale is going to remain the same. If you retired from the government job you would not receive a pension unlike the Thai teachers who would as, as you are not a Thai citizen. Most of the Thai teachers who move up within the system to department heads, and then onto the professorships receive extra money. An assistant professor receives an extra 10,000 baht a month (roughly), and this is also added to their pension. If they retire as a professor they would receive around 90,000 baht a month plus medical etc. This would also depend on the length of service, and as point out they usually stay at the same location until they retire for that reason to build up their pension and to move up the promotion list. The universities also pay for the Thai teachers to further their education, but the catch is that they have to remain at the university for a long period of time. If they don�t then they have to pay back the amount that it cost for the education course that they took.

The best places for foreign teachers to work are within the private sector, as it usually pays twice as much as the government sector plus you get the medical etc. Some of my friends make 80,000 a month, and that is good. Recently a university that is affiliated with the one that I used to work at was paying their western teachers 10,000 bath more a month plus they paid for their work permits and visas. I had to pay for mine which is a big chunk out of the monthly salary.

southern blue-fin · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

I'm a newbie to Thailand . I actually came here on my brother's recommendation to get my teeth done in Bangkok. I was on the BTS one day and saw and advert for a uni - so I went online and contacted them.

I recently started - it's on the outskirts of Bangkok - I was shocked initially that they offered me 22,000 as a starting salary (I have a Master's and about 1.5 years equiv. teaching exp. in tertiary education in my home country) - the reason was they are employing me to teach business English and not my subject specialty, communication arts (even though obviously this is a related discipline). They increased the offer to 32,000 , with a 6 month contract. I teach 6 hours per week, and live on campus. I can save most of my salary, because all I buy is food @ about 100 baht per day .

I am under the impression I could earn a lot more in Bangkok in the uni sector.

sr · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 62

You are correct, but you can not make a lot of money at government locations as they are on the one level, so you would have to go private. The only way to make extra when you work at a government location is to do extra teaching outside. If you only teaching 6 hours a week I would stay there for that is good money for the hours that you are working.
If you are only working six hours can you leave after your teaching periods have finished?

southern blue-fin · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

Thanks for that.
There is a swipe-in system (in at 8am and out at 4.30pm) for everyone here (from Asst. Dean down).
However within that you can pretty much do what you like , but if it isn't related to your job you have to keep it under the radar. I went and got a haircut the other day with another Ajarn.
The other thing I do during the day is a bit of trading (share derivatives), as I have my laptop set up on my desk at work. and a small account with www.cmcmarkets.co.nz

I just asked about private tuition - I know some 4th year students who are taking the proficiency exam had approached one of the other Ajarns here. She tells me the rule is: it's OK as long as they are not my regular students. However she is going to confirm that and get back to me.
Cheers

sr · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 62

I am not too bad I work for a government institution, and if I have a private teaching job to go to and my other stuff is completed there is know problem. The other good thing is I teach some of the kids that belong to the high brass, and of course it is extra pay.

The government jobs are not too bad in that they are not very strict, and they give you a lot of free time, but you just have to inform them what you are doing. They understand that it is not great pay, so they don�t hassle you to much if you have something else to do

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

None of the above are 100% typical or universal.

I work at one of the Big 3 gvmt unis (let's call them C, M, T). At C, in the middle of town, and M and T also, the basic is indeed 19k for newbs plus a housing allowance of about 8k. BUT (huge BUT) the non-public-student courses ( known as International Courses--the parents pay good money and the faculties want this) at C pay you 2500b (!) an hour. M and T cannot match this, but one or both of them, I forget, pay more than 1200b an hour. These tend to be specialised courses, like International Econ in English (you teach the econ-english NOT the demand curve maths)--so most of those who teach this have MBAs plus TEFL or similar (but not all). This is all EXTRA to yr basic salary of 29-35k ish.

I know people at C who take home 100,000 or 140,000b in a month sometimes. They work butts off, tho'.

At the place where I work, u don't clock in. as long as u show the face and do your whack, and don't hide, and help out a bit-- you can come and go. In the long holidays, some people vanish. Having to skulk around to get a haircut is ludicrous. At my place you just go out and get it.

Eddy

sr · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 62

Well Eddy I have not had the pleasure of working for a big C university, so I can�t comment on the salary that they pay. I am aware that the private sector universities pay a lot. I am one of those people who didn�t start teaching until later on in life as I felt that it was boring, and I wanted excitement in my life. It is nice to know that there are government universities that have the higher pay scale. I am not new to teaching in Thailand, but the pay scale of 19,000 plus 8,000 for housing is typical for most universities that are not in the upper level. Some universities that are slightly higher than the regular government universities pay maybe 2,000 more a month. Maybe you are not aware of that as you only work at a big C. Anyway it is nice to hear that there are higher paid jobs within government based universities even if they are in the big C range.

One of my friends works at a big C, and he informs me that there is a lot of a-- kissing to keep the jobs that they have.

Thank you for the information, and I will contact my friend again, and ask him what his pay scale is as he has a PhD.

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

Some of the gvmt unis are acquiring semi/autonomous status and will be able to pay a bit more. Some of these now pay an annual bonus or top-up.

Thai teachers who "quit" the old system and started the next day at the same uni with a new contract are well-off now. A senior prof can get 90,000b in a gvmt uni.

The above poster is correct. All gvmt unis, even the rajabhats in the boonies and the "big Cs", seem to pay the same basic wage, which is about 28-30k (19 plus accom). Senior foreign teachers go up to about 35k total (28 plus accom). The extra for "Intl courses" is what makes a difference, and can lift the salary. Some places allow overtime, but the place that pays 2500 for certain courses is known to be unique. The gvmt unis also get march-april-may and october (4 mths) as salaried non-teaching time. Some places are not strict, and you can go away.

Private unis can pay more and do (Assumption is an example). International schools can pay much more, even 120,000b plus, but u have to be a high school qual teacher.

I don't have any axes to grind. Just pointing out a few things. Some posters have unusual ideas, not based on experience, about working at gvmt universities. I have a lot of experience of "top" gvmt unis, having worked in several.

I have never needed to kiss anatomy to get any extra courses. I have turned them down frequently.

There is a lot of misunderstanding about clocking in over here. At gvmt schools (grade and high) u normally HAVE TO clock in. At many gvmt unis you don't clock in, but you show yr face and look busy.

Anybody is entitled to any opinions. Speaking for myself, I would not give an opinion on, say, working for the Thai navy, because I have no experience of that work, and it would only be hearsay on my part.

Eddy

sr · Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 62

When I worked at the university you had to sign in, and out at the same time and once this was done if you didn�t have a class then it was up to you. Yes they paid a bonus, but it was not paid until you left and then you have to fight for it. During the 3 months when there weren�t any classes you still had to show up as you had to sign in, and out even the Thai teachers were required to do this. I suppose different strokes for different folks (referring to the universities).

KnockoutNed · Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 87

I'm making 22,000 a month at a private school in Chiang Mai. 22 contact hours a week. Sucks I know but I need the money. I spent nearly 3 months working about 10-15 hours a week at language schools and finally found a full-time position.

perfectweapon · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:16 am Post subject:

Chiang Mai is a low paying area as there are a lot of foreigners living in that area, and most of the schools know that they can get a foreign teacher anytime, so they don�t pay to high. If you get more experience teaching in Thailand then you should get a higher salary, but you might have to move away from Chiang Mai.

BazilBizkit · Joined: 23 Nov 2009 Posts: 1

I'm going to be coming over mid-march to do the TESOL course and then will be placed. I've been told that I am allowed to voice my preferences but haven't been told exactly what they mean. Of course I want to be paid the 35000 - 40000 baht thats been told to me but surely that depends on where you work... or in my case, what my preferences are. Should I be saying that I want housing included, or a medical contribution? This is all quite foreign to me as I'm from South Africa and "preferences" are quite straight forward here. What is better, schools or universities?

I have lots of experience and have a Hotel Management qualification. What are the options of part time work in hospitality establishments?

And yes, this is all quite daunting and I don't know what to expect so am very nervous Embarassed

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated Smile