| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
 Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:45 am Post subject: university salaries |
 |
|
Yeah, yeah. The answer to my question will undoubtedly be "it depends". I don't really care.
I posted a 1997 list (and so did Paul) of Kansai university professor salaries a few times. I am looking for a more recent list if anyone has one. If it is specific to regions (Kanto, Hokkaido, Kansai, etc.), so be it. If not, so be it.
If anyone here works in a university in Japan, and is willing to divulge their basic salary plus/minus any perks, I will respect privacy and gladly take any information in a PM. I'm particularly interested in Hokkaido, but anything is better than nothing. Oh, it would help to know your age and degree.
Thanks in advance to any and all who respond. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 6:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Just bumping this up a little. Only 2 replies so far. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
abufletcher
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Glenski, um...technically that would be zero "replies" from what shows up on my monitor. 
I think a lot of people, including myself, are now particularly keen on making public what we earn. Earnings are so subjective. It was I earn a lot or a little? That depends on about a billion things.
The only thing I will speculate on however is that salaries in more urban areas are probably higher than in outlying areas. But then so are the costs of living and the available living space. I doubt very much I'd be living in a 3-bedroom house provided free by the university is I was in Osaka instead of small town Kagawa. It may not be the snazziest of accommodations by free is free. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
abu,
Those 2 replies I referred to were in private.
I realize that people may not want to announce their salaries. Posting this was a long shot. I just didn't want the thread to get buried TOO deep before I gave up on it.
If anyone knows how to determine what is a fair (or at least the going) salary for a national university, please let me know. I'm looking at an Associate Professor position. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
abufletcher
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 2:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Glenski wrote: |
| If anyone knows how to determine what is a fair (or at least the going) salary for a national university, please let me know. I'm looking at an Associate Professor position. |
I can only speak from my experience at my university but I was treated extremely fairly be the bean-counters. They appear to have a very rigid system for calculating salaries based on years of university-level experience and dates of degrees (and I assume a few other things). A guy from the accounting office actually sat down with me to discuss how best to describe my past experience so that I'd get the highest possible salary. Based on my years of university level experience I was hired in at the Associate Professor level.
I guess what I'm saying here is that there may not be much room for negotiation -- if there is any discussion at all on salary. The topic was not mentioned a single time at any point in my hiring process (all that stuff at the finance office took place AFTER I was hired). I'm told it's considered very bad form to bring up salary questions at an interview. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
taikibansei
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 811
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| abufletcher wrote: |
| I guess what I'm saying here is that there may not be much room for negotiation -- if there is any discussion at all on salary. The topic was not mentioned a single time at any point in my hiring process (all that stuff at the finance office took place AFTER I was hired). I'm told it's considered very bad form to bring up salary questions at an interview. |
Let me strongly second this. Do not attempt to negotiate salary at a public university. Your salary will be decided according to a very bizarre and complicated scale, taking into account your age, your hiring rank, the type of university, the location of the university (e.g., you'll get a "bad climate bonus" for living in Hokkaido), etc. They can't change the amount you get...and neither can you. The only possible result of your attempt would be bad feelings.
With senior f/t positions at private universities, there is some minor wiggle room if you are either currently hired somewhere or have a competing offer in hand. They may attempt to sweeten the pot...though again, it will be a token increase and very bad form to demand more. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shuize
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Posts: 1270
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
The other thing which complicates the salary question is the matter of bonuses.
Sure there's a formula. But good luck trying to calculate it to any degree of accuracy. Especially since it usually involves the well known Japanese accounting device known as "plus alpha." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| When I tried to negotiate my salary, I was shot down in flames and was not in no uncertain terms that it was non-negotiable. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
abufletcher
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
Reminds me of when I worked in Kuwait and saw Kuwaitis trying to "bargain down" the total on the register at the new (at that time) Safeway supermarket.
The idea that any monetary amount could be "fixed" just wasn't part of their psyche. BTW, this mentality also applied to test scores!
Me: Abdullah, you got a 46% on the exam.
Student: No, Teacher. 75.
Me: Nooo. you got a 46.
Student: Ok, ok, 65... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Gordon wrote: |
| When I tried to negotiate my salary, I was shot down in flames and was not in no uncertain terms that it was non-negotiable. |
And nowadays, there is always a dispatch teacher from ECC who is willing to work for half your salary and your uni boss is more than happy to give your job to him and cut you adrift. Be careful what you wish for because you might actually get it and end up in the unemployment line. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
capper
Joined: 12 Feb 2004
Posts: 61
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
It makes total sense to farm out these university jobs to the ECCs and other low-salary companies in Japan. Why shouldn't they farm them out? (a) It ain't rocket science to teach English at universities, (b) a majority of the students don't give a rat's behind about learning English, and (c) based on the above, teaching with greater credentials and experience are unnecessary and redundant these days.
The way the education system is setup here (especially English-wise), the teacher's credentials are bascially of 0 importance.
Having said all that, I'm still happy making some nice $ at the schools I teach at for the time being... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 7:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| capper wrote: |
It makes total sense to farm out these university jobs to the ECCs and other low-salary companies in Japan. Why shouldn't they farm them out? (a) It ain't rocket science to teach English at universities, (b) a majority of the students don't give a rat's behind about learning English, and (c) based on the above, teaching with greater credentials and experience are unnecessary and redundant these days.
The way the education system is setup here (especially English-wise), the teacher's credentials are bascially of 0 importance.
Having said all that, I'm still happy making some nice $ at the schools I teach at for the time being... |
Maybe, but those who dont have a Masters and applying for jobs via the JRECIN job site and the JALT page may have some problems.
As Abufletcher and taikibansei, who both have university teaching experience overseas will tell you, higher qualifications are usually a minimum requirement if you want to teach in settings such as the US, Australia and the Middle East.
I for one don't plan on teaching in Japan till I collect my pension. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
abufletcher
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| capper wrote: |
| I'll give the Middle East a big pass thanks. Now there's a great place for those who want to go for one purpose -- earn as much money as possible and get out of there! That's about all it's good for. (Go ahead and debate this and say how great, interesting, and outstanding the culture is). |
I suppose it's all in what you like but if I could have my current job but be doing it in Oman, I'd be gone in a flash. Japan is absolutely the least interesting of the countries I've lived in (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Mexico). And trying to teach Japanese students just plain sucks. The 12 years I spent at universities in the Gulf was like Club Med compared to my time in Japan.
As far as the culture, we'll I'd much rather come back in the next life as an Omani than as Japanese.
But the Middle East is a bit of a "lotus eater" kind of place -- maybe that's why this Californian liked it! It would probably be living hell for the 40+ a week work ethics types always on the lookout for that fresh business opportunity. But it's a great place to just kick back and enjoy life and family.
Did I mention that Oman has something like 1500km of gorgeous coast line and you don't have to each "squishy" food all the time? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
abufletcher
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
You know, I've been slowly coming to the same conclusion over the last couple of weeks. It's been fun for a while but there are other things I'd rather be doing on a regular basis.
Working more hours isn't one of those things. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| abufletcher wrote: |
You know, I've been slowly coming to the same conclusion over the last couple of weeks. It's been fun for a while but there are other things I'd rather be doing on a regular basis.
Working more hours isn't one of those things. |
Things I do when Im not on here.
Walk the dog (twice a day)
Play with kids
Read a book or a magazine.
watch a DVD (am watching Sex and the City at the moment)
I now have no classes until early April so I can catch up on those things I have been putting off, like study. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
