Job Discussion Forums

[PBirm123]

I recently started dating a girl who works at a Chinese kindergarten, and she makes 1,500 RMB per month. I guess that confirms that on the Chinese pay scale, Chinese ESL teachers are still compensated as having a specialized skill.

[Miajiayou]

I have nothing to contribute regarding training centers, but I do know that Chinese teachers at my university make a lot more than I do.

I also know that I wouldn't trade places with them in a million billion years.

[Bud Powell]

In public Chinese universities, you'll hear moaning about pay from the younger teachers--- ones who are 23-24 years old and have almost no teaching experience. If you get to know--- really know--- some older teachers who have 10-25 years under their belts, you'll find that they are doing quite well for themselves. I knew a woman who was supporting her mother and child who had worked for the university for over fifteen years. She was living in a very nice apartment and owned a new small car. Her husband was dead, and I am sure she wasn't collecting any of his pension.

I was friends with two other teachers at a university; one had been there for twenty years, the other for about eight years. Both were married. The older teacher was quite candid with me. She told me that the younger teachers who teach at the BA level don't make much, but they receive perks such as utilities subsidies. When I obliquely inquired about the older teacher's salary, she demurred but let me know that she knew how much I made and that she made more. I had no reason to doubt her.

CTs with masters degrees make more money, and CTs with Ph.Ds make even more. It makes sense.

What I have observed is not much different from the U.S. systems. In the U.S., full-time college MA level lecturers make a lot more than associate teachers, even though the associates may work almost as many hours (20 hours vs 25 hours).

Most of the b*tching about salary comes from the young CTs who don't know better than to discuss salary, are ill-informed, bitter for no reason, immature, and jealous.

If one must suffer with a young, inexperienced FAO, blame the good ol' boy system. That FAO probably got the position through connections, not necessarily by buying it (though you'll hear that sort of speculation frequently). I believe that one young FAO at one of the universities where I worked got her position because her English was good and because she was quite beautiful. She was generally clueless, though, and she's probably gone from the position by now after only a few years, just like her predecessor.

Credit must be given to those who actually work to attain the better positions, though. One young guy I know who works for a public U was second-in command before the school FAO retired. Bureaucracy placed someone more experienced in administration ahead of him, but I believe that in time he'll be the FAO. Six years ago, he lived with his parents and rode an e-bike. Today, he's married and drives a new car. Surely, he is being compensated fairly well.

[LarssonCrew]

At university level I genuinely think that their 'base pay' is small, but like most well paying Chinese jobs, it's not in raw cash but other's[still cash in the end I guess] that adds up.

In a UK university I cannot imagine that, say a Chinese professor came to work as a Chinese history teacher[oh the lies!], that he would be denied the same basic things as everyone else.

If the university offered say health insurance and a large bonus, I would imagine that he would be offered the same as an English counter part for the same job[infact it's illegal not to]

And yet anyone working at a university here can never feasibly afford a car[remember you're not Chinese, no credit], whereas Chinese university teachers can.

[kev7161]

My problem is (if I even really wanted one) is that I can afford a car, just not in one lump sum. I've never had 100,000 rmb (or whatever) just sitting around in a bank. So, yeah, a lot of our Chinese colleagues that do have cars, probably are making monthly payments after saving maybe 20% of the cost as a down payment. Now those that drive around the Mercedes or BMWs, I couldn't say what their situation is.

[NoBillyNO]

[thatsforsure]

The extensive benefits do exist, but often the cars may be paid for through other sources. Goverment payouts for takeover of family property and such.