Job Discussion Forums

kevincollege · Joined: 09 Dec 2015 Posts: 9 Location: Las Vegas, NV

I just recently recieve a contract for march 1 to start in 2016.

But the salary is only 12k rmb a month with no housing allowance. Is this enough to live on? I am an American with a master in education with three years of teaching in the USA.

hdeth · Joined: 20 Jan 2015 Posts: 583

What kind of job? Many are lower hours but higher pay. 12k should be enough to live on but with no housing you probably won't save a ton. Is part of the 12k at least a non-taxable housing allowance? Hopefully this is a low hour university gig or some such?

In the heat of the moment · Joined: 22 May 2015 Posts: 393 Location: Italy

12k is enough to survive on in Guangzhou but I would be aiming for at least that plus free accommodation, with a Master's and previous experience.

Also it isn't a good deal for Guangzhou, which has many wealthy expats and locals catered for in high-end bars and restaurants. This wealth drives up the price of almost everything and your Yuan won't go as far as it would in a third tier city. If you're thinking you can supplement your income with privates then good luck; Guangzhou is already host to tens of thousands of native speakers who are available to do the same.

Jmbf · Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663

kevincollege · Joined: 09 Dec 2015 Posts: 9 Location: Las Vegas, NV

Thanks guy for the advice,

Did you guys enjoy living in Guangzhou?

JB140767 · Joined: 09 Aug 2015 Posts: 135

mrenglish2nd · Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 45

I lived in Guangzhou for over five years, 2009 to 2014, mostly worked solo with my own private tutoring business though also did some side jobs with employers. There is good demand for private tutors. 12,000 is skinny unless you are getting free housing and some other benefits along with it.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

RiverMystic · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 1986

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Seems to be an emerging need to include in 'what do you think of XY or Z city/employer?' posts a comment about quals.
The salary expectations across (a) standard FT jobs for people with a bachelors in something, through (b) home-country hires for joint-venture schools and finally (c) international schools requiring home country registration and likely classroom experience, are very wide.
Could be 20k pm difference, but with the same accomm, travel perks.

kungfu · Joined: 06 Mar 2016 Posts: 21

I just have a bachelors and celta and there are jobs going for 15000 AND free apartment. The OP must be mad to take on such a low offer without housing with a masters. Why do you want to move to China for a lower wage than you are probably earning in the US?

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Spent 6 weeks in Guangzhou last summer, in the Tianhe area, not far from the famous football stadium and team - Guangzhou Evergrande (Asian club champions).

Cheapest rents, for foreigners, are around 4000 yuan per month, and those places are not very luxurious - just a basic studio. On top of that you would have to find furnishings and pay bills. 4000 yuan is around $616 at today's exchange rate.

Guangzhou is a nice city, but it is one of the more expensive major cities in China. You can get cheaper rents way out in the suburbs, but you will be far away from everything, and have to use a combination of bus and subway to get to the center of town.

Ghost in China

mrenglish2nd · Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 45

I had business visas the entire time, made runs to Hong Kong as necessary. There are now 10-year business visas available if you are American. In any event, no hassles at all working on business visas. Not at the border and not at PSB.

mrenglish2nd · Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 45

And this:
Guangzhou is old, dark, overcrowded, not friendly, with few social options, at least for someone with my interests

Don't know what this writer is talking about. Yes, Guangzhou is old, the central city part, which is a small part indeed of the city. Dark? What does this mean? Overcrowded? Shenzhen is better? Is any major Chinese city not crowded? Few social options? Anything you want to find is in Guangzhou.

mrenglish2nd · Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 45

I had business visas the entire time, made runs to Hong Kong as necessary. There are now 10-year business visas available if you are American. In any event, no hassles at all working on business visas. Not at the border and not at PSB.