Job Discussion Forums

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

Don't forget though that China uni jobs provide accommodation. So while you may work 14 hours a week and only get paid 25k NT or so, the accommodation actually brings it up to 30k - 35k (plus, you are teaching "adults", and I don't care how immature they are, they have to be better than screaming kids). Anyway, regardless of where you go, except maybe for the Middle East, there's very little chance you'll ever make decent money teaching, unless you do it for yourself and find a niche that you like. The best thing about teaching in Taiwan is that if you can find something else more lucrative that you can do on the side, it is an easy way to get a stable income that pays the bills while you work on doing your own thing. Good luck to us all Smile

markcmc · Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 262 Location: Taiwan

Shimokitazawa · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 458 Location: Saigon, Vietnam

Yeah, it is possible to earn 80, 000 - 100, 000 a month here if you get a few things going on for yourself on the side in addition to your main income.

That's a lot of money in Taiwan, even in Taipei City, considering the lower cost of living here.

Looking at the higher salaries of Japan and Korea, it needs to be said that the cost of living here is a lot cheaper than either Japan or Korea so that needs to be considered.

So, I think the savings potential is here since it's cheaper to live here. Which of the 3 would be best, I don't know. It all depends on the kind of job, daily expenses and other factors. I mean, I don't want to live in one of those crappy isolated little towns mentioned earlier but one could save money probably in one of these places. I couldn't do it though. Those who are shut ins and like to stay at home all the time could though I guess.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

Rooster, I think you have just had a lot of bad luck with regards to finding employment in Taiwan. However, I also agree that 80k - 100k in Taiwan is NOT the norm, or even anywhere close to the norm. When I first came to Taiwan in 2002 or so, I met a guy who worked full-time kindy and then full-time cram school at HESS. He was earning over 100k a month, but he was pulling something like 45 hours of teaching a week. The problem I have with 80k - 100k figures is that people ignore the obvious; you are working an enormous amount of hours, and for me that is not worth it. Again, I am not saying it isn't impossible, but people leave out or gloss over the finer points, mainly how many hours are you doing to make that kind of money. As I mentioned above, if you really want to make money, get a job teaching that gives minimum hours/money you can survive on and then focus your energies into something else. Rooster, if you plan to move across the pond to the "other" China, then I strongly suggest you do that. You are still young and good money can be made in Asia, albeit just not from teaching. You'll never get rich teaching.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

123Loto · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 160

Sorry Rooster - I have to butt in here:

About 30% of Hess teachers have over 3 years experience. Many have more (I worked at a branch with 5 teachers where the average experience was over 6 years).

If you are on the Hess ceiling pay of $750NTD/hour and you teach a hard working but not unreasonable 35 hours per week (say roughly 140 per month... but often more) then you will be making $105,000NTD per month. This is before return rate bonuses (which, admittedly, I've heard have been tightened up), clock in bonus, re-signing bonus, Open House hours and/or HNST pay.

This is achieved by far more than 5% of teachers with Hess.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

123Loto · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 160

Shimokitazawa · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 458 Location: Saigon, Vietnam

Shimokitazawa · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 458 Location: Saigon, Vietnam

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Dear Readers,

I think the biggest factor is time.

Anyone who is making $80K NT/mo in Taiwan nowadays must be very stable regarding where he/she lives and works.

I doubt that many 1st year teachers are making this much nowadays.

Of course, if someone has lived in Taiwan for 3+ years and hasn't jumped from city to city and job to job, this amount of earnings seems reasonable.

The only trick is not to blow the money on junk that you don't really need!

Taylor

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

If you're on 80K then it's not to be sniffed at in the present context.

Yet compare this with the situation 3-4 years ago, and that sort of salary was easilywithin reach.

Think 10 years ago and money was rolling about, plus with the exchange rate, people were $s in. Times were good!

However, from my own experience someone can still easily get 75,000-80,000 with a bit of ingenuity and a determination to go out and do private classes. But, it the ease at which private work can be obtained, and the readiness of people to pay good money, is diminishing. Even for university teachers, whom I mix with, times are not what they once were. Simply saying you were a professor to get NT800 an hour doesnt work anymore.

Some really interesting thread. Keep it going!