Job Discussion Forums

[JZer]

Some people in the Taiwan forum have been disagreeing about how much can be earned in China. People are saying you can earn only 6000 a month.

It seems that many jobs are offered for only 6000 a month but on some sites for Hangzhou and Shanghai 150 an hour is common and that some people are earning 200RMB to 250RMB an hour.

I have found many part time jobs paying 150 an hour in large cities. What is the best way to get a visa in China without accepting someone schools 5000RMB a month plus housing?

If people do not want to post here please pm me with any suggestions.

[Sugar & Spice]

It's easy. Get a F/business visa, preferably 1 year, multiple-entry.

Most likely, if you're from the US, you'll have to exit China every 2 or 3 months and then re-enter. I know someone who works a few "part-time" jobs in Shanghai who does that. Look at it this way, you can visit your friends in Taiwan or go sightseeing in HK, Macau, Thailand, Korea etc....

Doing it this way is more expensive and "illegal", but it is being done as I type.

Good Luck!

[JZer]

But which way comes out better?

Working for 6000RMB a month is not much either.

Are there schools that will sponsor a visa just for a few hours a week or maybe just for 12 hours on Saturday and Sunday?

[Jayray]

If you come to China and get a job, talk to your FAO/waiban.

There's always somebody bugging the FAO for lessons for his kid. The pay is better that way (I think) and you won't have problems if you are discovered working an unauthorized job. If you prove to be a good teacher in your school, it's possible that the work will come to you. Just clear it with your FAO first.

I could have doubled my pay a few times had I accepted all of the jobs that came to me via the FAO. I didn't. I preferred to have time to explore my new environment.

[JZer]

The point is not to waste too much time working in a school for less than optimal pay.

If one is paid 6000 RMB for 20 hours a week. That is around 90 hours a month, then you are only earn 66.6 RMB an hour. That is what I want to avoid.

[thefuzz]

I never work for 150 RMB per hour.

My usual fee starts at 200 RMB all the way to 500 RMB per hour for specialized English (my average is about 300 RMB per hour). Prices quoted are for 1-on-1 teaching (I also do group classes for a bit less). I'm based in Shenzhen, do freelance work ONLY and earn quite a nice sum of cash...plus I set my own schedule, work less than your average FT at a language mill (I'm pulling in university type hours with 2 days off per week) and generally live a financially stable life. But I've been here for 10 years, have many contacts (both with Chinese and foreign folks in China) and worked for much less before...so I guess it takes time to find the right gig for the right cash, but if you stick it out, work hard and promote yourself you could be making lots of money here...but be your own boss. My freelance teaching is going so well I am thinking of starting up a company and getting an office with a couple of classrooms and hiring another teacher...so possibilities are out there.

[JZer]

Could you provide me with some insight on how you get a visa for yourself?

Maybe one can make more than 150 an hour but I would rather start out at 150 an hour than 66RMB an hour.

I know I could take a university job and teach business classes are language school classes but then I would still have to spend 15 hours at the university a week.

I think the best is to find a language school that will hire me for weekends only and give me a visa. Then I have the rest of the week free.

[Sugar & Spice]

JZ,

If you work part-time on the weekends or any day for that matter, the school will not sponsor your visa. Schools only sponsor visas/Residence Permits for full-time teachers.

As I stated above, if you want to work several different part-time jobs or teach privately, you would be responsible for getting your own visa. Although it is "illegal" to teach with a F/Business visa, a lot of people do it.

The easiest and cheapest way to get a F visa is to go to Hong Kong, but, there are visa services in cities like Shanghai and Beijing. They charge more, but you don't have to travel to HK.

Personally, I think the best option for you NOW is to find a full-time job at a university or regular school that will get you a visa and give you a place to stay. Even though a lot of contracts "forbid" outside employment, most schools don't care and might even "offer" you side jobs.

The reason why I empasized NOW is because although your idea of making 150+ per hour teaching privately is wonderful, I doubt you could just show up in any city and start teaching privately regularly. The guy above has been in SZ 10 years!

[Sugar & Spice]

JZ,

I recently discovered from my friend in Shanghai that a visa agent there could get a 1 year F/business visa that doesn't require you to leave the country every 90 days for 6250 rmb.

6 months, no leaving = 4250 rmb.

A 1 year F visa, leaving every 90 days = $300 USD/around 2000 rmb in the US.

So, if you live near HK a visa bought in the US is better financially, but, if you aren't near HK or Macau, you'd probably be better off with a visa agent's 6250 rmb F visa.

[thessy]

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[JZer]

Thanks for the advice. How difficult is it to pick up 15 hours a week on top of a university job if you are a presentable, American?

Could one pick up 15 hours of language school work within the first two months?

[thefuzz]

[Lipps]

The problem with getting a business visa and working in China it seems, is that a competing school that finds out about it is likely to report you. Especially in a well developed market like Hangzhou.

Source: Z-Visa.com

[JZer]

So how much should a newbie to China, not a new English teacher, expect to make working at a university and picking up part time language school work and privates?