Job Discussion Forums

amberandonyx · Joined: 18 Aug 2015 Posts: 21

Hello all,

I am currently teaching at a university in an unknown tier city, and I am going to be making the move to teach at a university in Beijing for next semester. I am very excited about the position for professional and personal reasons, but I would like some insight on the financial situation.

In short, I will be making 77760 RMB or 97,200 RMB for the semester, depending on if I teach 4 or 5 sections of the class, or 4320 RMB/5400 RMB per week. This is before tax.

The school provides housing and has eating facilities on its campus. I live rather simply. For context, I make 6500/month after tax at my current job and save about 4500/month.

Do you think this salary is sufficient to be able to save some significant kuai while living in Beijing? Any insights will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Osiry · Joined: 19 Mar 2015 Posts: 84 Location: Nanjing

Need a little more info about the actual job: hours etc, but that seems very low, especially for Beijing.

amberandonyx · Joined: 18 Aug 2015 Posts: 21

Hours are 16-20, depending how many sections they need me to teach. Only one class, so only need to really prepare a core lesson once per week, supplementing for individual classes. The various perks are good, free housing, cheap food for the faculty, international travel pay, full benefits.

For context, it is also only my second year teaching, but I am finishing my Master's, so the reason I like it so much is largely for professional reasons, and because it is a subject I really want to teach. I hope that in Beijing having no rent payment with roughly 15000 per month is enough.

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

As I see the numbers, you will be doing very well, especially for a university.

A private chain like Wall Street pays about 17K a month in Beijing, and that is without an apartment and before tax. They would require 31 contact hours a week and being a corporate cog.

Did they inform you of what you would need to do to meet Beijing's current work requirements? That may cost you up front in terms of time and expense even if you are transferring from within China.

I would assume you will not be paid for the summer?

Osiry · Joined: 19 Mar 2015 Posts: 84 Location: Nanjing

Oh sorry I misread. I didn't realise that was per week. That's an excellent salary for the hours! What subject are you teaching?

slaqdog · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 211

This is the highest paying University job in Beijing I have ever heard of.
I was paid 12,000pm for a Uni job there and that was very high compared to most jobs which were paying half that.
Good luck because if it sounds too good it may be but perhaps you have lucked out. You can save oodles of cash from your description of the job.

amberandonyx · Joined: 18 Aug 2015 Posts: 21

Yeah, I will not be paid for the summer, and don't think I will be for the winter break either. Only the teaching weeks, so I think that is why the pay looks high. I did the math and it works out to about 13,000/month before tax, so that probably is a better way to look at it.

I will be teaching an academic subject, not ESL, so that also may be a factor.

Thanks for the insight! I have no concept of the COL in Beijing, that's why I asked.