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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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 Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:03 am Post subject: First Job Offer- the Big Basic Questions |
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I was offered (well, the woman said she would give me the job if I wanted it, so I guess that's an offer!) a position teaching middle school classes in Guangzhou from mid-Feb. (that's when I want to start). I applied for government jobs so assume it is that. Pay is 6000 RMB BEFORE taxes, all accommodation provided (including pensions in China), a computer with internet and full kitchen, full medical, and 15 hours of teaching a week. However, you are in charge of curriculum and lesson planning so make that 25 hours a week of work I'm certain. I'm experienced in syllabus creation so it's no problem, but I'm not used to middle school.
Are all government jobs like that? It's one thing to say, 'we won't pay you much but you won't have to teach much' and another to saddle you up with the whole year's curriculum. Is it the case then would working for the private sector would give you far more free time for the same amount of money?
Anyway, 6000 RMB is not much money. How much is tax? Over time, would private lessons become possible? Is Guangzhou expensive these days? I'm frugal, so could I buy bok choy and chicken feet at the markets and get by on a shoestring? It sounds like that if I just continue being the tightwad that I always am I could be in a position after tax to save only 400 USD a month on that salary in that city. But if I worked private lessons (are they even legal?), I could save several hundred more (?).
Sorry for rambling- just want to know basic living and breathing costs in Guangzhou and tax rates. Oh- and one more thing- I see a lot of jobs offering 10000 RMB and over on the board. Before tax right? And what's the deal? Do they you work you to death? In that case you're better off with a lower paying government job, aren't you?
Thanks as always! |
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xjgirl
Joined: 02 Feb 2010
Posts: 242
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| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 6:19 am Post subject: |
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| including pensions in China??? yeah right |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 6:25 am Post subject: |
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| xjgirl wrote: |
| including pensions in China??? yeah right |
No, my mistake. government Guest houses in China (for traveling). ha |
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Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
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| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 6:29 am Post subject: Re: First Job Offer- the Big Basic Questions |
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| bluetortilla wrote: |
I was offered (well, the woman said she would give me the job if I wanted it, so I guess that's an offer!) a position teaching middle school classes in Guangzhou from mid-Feb. (that's when I want to start). I applied for government jobs so assume it is that. Pay is 6000 RMB BEFORE taxes, all accommodation provided (including pensions in China), a computer with internet and full kitchen, full medical, and 15 hours of teaching a week. However, you are in charge of curriculum and lesson planning so make that 25 hours a week of work I'm certain. I'm experienced in syllabus creation so it's no problem, but I'm not used to middle school.
Are all government jobs like that? It's one thing to say, 'we won't pay you much but you won't have to teach much' and another to saddle you up with the whole year's curriculum. Is it the case then would working for the private sector would give you far more free time for the same amount of money?
Anyway, 6000 RMB is not much money. How much is tax? Over time, would private lessons become possible? Is Guangzhou expensive these days? I'm frugal, so could I buy bok choy and chicken feet at the markets and get by on a shoestring? It sounds like that if I just continue being the tightwad that I always am I could be in a position after tax to save only 400 USD a month on that salary in that city. But if I worked private lessons (are they even legal?), I could save several hundred more (?).
Sorry for rambling- just want to know basic living and breathing costs in Guangzhou and tax rates. Oh- and one more thing- I see a lot of jobs offering 10000 RMB and over on the board. Before tax right? And what's the deal? Do they you work you to death? In that case you're better off with a lower paying government job, aren't you?
Thanks as always! |
A lot of those will be for big cities like Beijing or Shanghai, where the cost of living is higher. Accommodation may not be provided and other 'perks' of lower paying jobs not included. Also the hours will probably be longer.
That said, it's not what you know but who you know (more so in China), the best jobs aren't advertised and go by word of mouth or connections. |
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zactherat
Joined: 24 Aug 2011
Posts: 295
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| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 10:48 am Post subject: |
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tax on that salary will be less than 400 yuan.
re: frugality
It's one thing being tight with your money, but another doing so in a city like Guangzhou, one of the richest cities of the second largest economy in the world, where temptations abound.
Many, many newly rich in the big cities are busy creating a middle class lifestyle - you won't be part of it on 6000 yuan per month. Not really an appealing prospect. |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 10:57 am Post subject: |
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| zactherat wrote: |
tax on that salary will be less than 400 yuan.
re: frugality
It's one thing being tight with your money, but another doing so in a city like Guangzhou, one of the richest cities of the second largest economy in the world, where temptations abound.
Many, many newly rich in the big cities are busy creating a middle class lifestyle - you won't be part of it on 6000 yuan per month. Not really an appealing prospect. |
Thanks for the tax info (around 8%?). I don't think the wealth part will bother me much- I've other motives. It's the urban sprawl that will annoy me most. But wouldn't a growing middle class mean more private lessons? |
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JoelTeacher
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 3:21 am Post subject: |
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| great opportunities for private tutoring i would think! |
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Neon5
Joined: 04 Jul 2011
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:52 am Post subject: |
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I have a question in relation to pre-tax and working outside the school.
I've been offered 5500rmb/month to work at a cram school in a fair sized city near Guangzhou. I was surprised to find that the 6000 they offered was actually this plus a 500rmb allowance. And it is pre-taxed. I thought the majority of job offers were after tax or did I get the wrong idea? And it is fairly low for a private cram school is it not?
Secondly, the school has stipulated that I cannot work outside the school. Does this leave me in a position to demand more and a better contract? I thought restrictions like this was majorly confined to public schools?
I'm actually starting to get cold feet! |
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Opiate
Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 630
Location: Qingdao
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| Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:14 am Post subject: |
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| Neon5 wrote: |
I have a question in relation to pre-tax and working outside the school.
I've been offered 5500rmb/month to work at a cram school in a fair sized city near Guangzhou. I was surprised to find that the 6000 they offered was actually this plus a 500rmb allowance. And it is pre-taxed. I thought the majority of job offers were after tax or did I get the wrong idea? And it is fairly low for a private cram school is it not?
Secondly, the school has stipulated that I cannot work outside the school. Does this leave me in a position to demand more and a better contract? I thought restrictions like this was majorly confined to public schools?
I'm actually starting to get cold feet! |
If you are trying to secure a position from abroad you can certainly ask for more money or to have that part of the contract removed. Just understand you are in a rather weak bargaining position unless you have special skills or the school is very desperate. Or...you can do what many FT's do and simply ignore the stipulation entirely while accepting the potential risks.
That stipulation is certainly not limited to public schools and I know for a fact that some private schools in my area go so far as to send workers to other schools looking for teachers who are moonlighting. Not sure many public schools would bother. |
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