Job Discussion Forums

mapraopenrai · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Kyoto, Japan

I've been working in Japan for a number of years, and basically speaking the vast majority of well-paying, desirable positions can only be gained by know someone, and many are never even posted.
I'm wondering if anyone knows if the situation is mostly the same in Thailand. I assume it is, but the main point of my question is whether the salaries that I've seen posted over the net are the limits for foreign teachers, or whether they get higher. The highest I've seen have been 50 - 60,000 baht a month. I know this is an extremely high salary from a Thai point of view, but it's difficult for most westerners who must take care of responsibilities and visit family occasionally.

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

Unless you're qualified for an international school, 60k is the most you could dream of, but very few places go that high. Half that is more likely.

Christoforos · Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject: Salaries-qualifications

Hi,
it was mentioned that 'unless you have qualifications for international school'...etc. What does that mean? What are these specific qualifications of an international school in particular? A CELTA fo example, or something more? How much would that affect the salary of an English teacher?

Thank you very much in advance.

mongrelcat · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 232

so is it safe to say that 30-35K Baht is an average salary? Can one live decently on it, figuring on having to pay rent etc.?

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

To work at an international school, essentially you need to be a qualified teacher in your home country (some schools lower down the food chain might take less, especially for EFL-only teaching, but it's unlikely anywhere decent).

30-35 would be an average salary in Bangkok. You can certainly live fairly comfortably, but you won't save much unless you're very frugal.

mapraopenrai · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Kyoto, Japan

Even though I've never had a job in Thailand, I've been checking it out for awhile, so I know the basics. But I'm kindof wondering how high the Masters in TESOL that I'm taking will take me. I figure I need to work a few more years in Japan to put some money away, then I maybe I will go to Thailand where I can enjoy life a little more. But I will still need to get as much as I can there.

mongrelcat · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 232

since i have only worked in Turkey thus far, what would anyone say the major difference is between working in China, versus Japan or Thailand.
Monetarily speaking.

It's not that I'm after being a fat cat...duh...that's not gonna happen in TEFL. But at the present which country has the best ratio of salary to quality of lıfe?

Opinions?

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Teaching mate.

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

Ah, you're as witty as ever. Crying or Very sad

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

LoL...not witty mate I'm just a bit dense sometimes (I thought you were asking if they worked in sectors other than teaching...sorry mate???) What did you mean then???

isanity · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 179

I was thinking in terms of which sector of education: you don't get that kind of money teaching in universities, state high schools, or any of the main language schools, and we're excluding the international schools and privates.

Maybe I've just spent too much time with the dregs of the EFL world.