Job Discussion Forums

[mateacher]

Im now in Korea,
would 5 million yen per year be enough to live in kyushu with a non working spouse? theres no other perks no housing , but there is a travel allowance. 12 hours teaching a week.

[mitsui]

Where exactly?
Probably yeah.
Lot cheaper than Tokyo, especially housing.

[Solar Strength]

[Rooster.]

Since housing costs wont double just because there are two of you, and because it is a cheaper city, I would say that you can live there quite comfortably with that amount.

[Solar Strength]

Is five million Yen a year including summer / winter bonuses?

A lot of schools aren't clear on this, but often even the contract instructors are eligible for the two bonuses, and that can be as much as an extra US $20,000 a year, depending on your salary.

This would bump you up to 7 Million Yen a year, which is commensurate to an Associate Professor rank position, although on the lower end of the pay scale.

Five Million Yen a year is fine, especially in Fukuoka where rents will be much lower. However, it's a bottom line salary for a university lecturer / prof, even on a contract.

Does it include an annual research budget? That's always nice to get and spices up the terms of a contract, considering you mentioned that you won't be receiving any rent subsidies or other living allowances, etc.

At any rate, you're better off pursuing a university TEFL career in Japan than you are in the Middle East. 25 hours a week vs. 12 hours a week for the same, or higher salary, is a no brainer (man I hate that phrase), isn't it?

And you're wife will appreciate the comfortable Fukuoka - Busan ferry service that takes only 2 or 3 hours, so she can get back home and brag to her sister how great her professor husband is in Japan.

And look at all the freedom you'll have in Japan compared to the UAE or Qatar, etc. A move to the Middle East just doesn't make any sense when you can get it all, and more, in Japan.

[Pitarou]

You won't save up much for your retirement but, if you can live as the locals do and you don't have any special expenses, you'll certainly get by.

[rtm]

[hivans]

I do live in Kyushu, but I don't know how easy it is to generalize from my personal experience. Anyway, for what's it worth, that is the sort of salary level at which I (currently single) can put a bit by every month I curb my drinking habit. Thinking back to a time here with a non-working significant other, we pretty much got by (in slightly cramped accommodation) with the odd squeeze in the week before pay day whenever there had been some extra big expense. I think things might get a bit tight if children (or elderly relatives or other dependants) were in the picture. Hope this might be of some use!

[Pitarou]

Just a thought.

Inflation is going up. The target is 2%. In April, VAT will rise from 5% to 8%.

5,000,000 might not look so good in a few years time.

[rxk22]

[mitsui]

I am sure bonuses are included.
I had looked for work in Kyushu but my problem was
that my spouse would have no job.
There is less stress living there, and it is cheaper than the big cities.

[rxk22]