Job Discussion Forums

freebeacher · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 76

On July 8, 2008 The Great Wall of Whiner posted a list of comparative teacher salaries in Asia. The thread in the China forum is titled "Real Bottom of the Barrel: ESL Teacher Wages" It stated in Hong Kong the salary per month is HK25,000, which is over 3,000 Australian dollars. I emailed a resume and photo to a school which ran an ad recently in the South China Morning Post. The director replied and asked me what I expected for a compensation package. In all my years of work in various industries no interviewer ever asked me what I wanted to earn. So, naturally enough I replied and said HK25,000 and a flight, paid by the school or deducted from my salary. She replied and said her husband with three university degrees has never made more than HK20,000 per month. She pays HK15,000 and never arranges flights and does not provide an apartment. She said rent in Central would be HK15,000 per month. In the New Territories where the school is, rent was around HK4,000 per month. She also said something I do not understand. She said only 17% of visas for English teachers going to mainland China were getting through now, resulting in the Hong Kong market being flooded with teachers. She said what I read in Dave's ESL Cafe was pure rubbish.

So, what is the going monthly wage for a private English school in Hong Kong? Do schools in Central and Kowloon pay much more? Is she right about the rent numbers for each area?

Do private schools or recruiters arrange flights to fly teachers in, either as part of compensation or deducted from the pay?

Is this a good time to find a job in Hong Kong or is she right that it is not? Thanks.

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

oxi · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 347 Location: elsewhere

>her husband with three university degrees has never made more than HK20,000 per month.

He should try looking for better jobs then

>She pays HK15,000 and never arranges flights and does not provide an apartment.

Sounds about right for Mickey Mouse schools, not for someone such as her 3 degree husband

>She said rent in Central would be HK15,000 per month.

How long is a piece of string? It's correct depending what you want.
I looked at decent (for me) flats in Soho and North Point - 5-600sq.ft, 2 bed, semi furnished for 8-10K

>In the New Territories where the school is, rent was around HK4,000 per month.

How long.. string, etc.. I had really nice flat in Gold Coast for 8.5K - 700sqft, 2 bed, fully furnished

>what is the going monthly wage for a private English school in Hong Kong? Do schools in Central and Kowloon pay much more?

I don't really know what the Mickey Mouse schools pay. British Council (semi Mickey Mouse) pay min 29K, NET pays min 24K + 13K accom allowance.

Hope that helps a bit.

puiwaihin · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 91

There's a huge difference between the NET scheme through the EDB and what private after-school programs pay. You can make a little more than you likely can in most places in China, but rent and cost of living expenses will cut into it or make it less profitable, depending on your lifestyle.

20k is the top price that most of those schools will pay. Most of these places can find a teacher locally, it just takes them more time. So, they won't pay for your flight over. You might find a place that will give you a small housing allowance. It will be in the 3k-5k range at best. They will not pay for your housing.

If you have a teaching certificate from your home country you can do much, much better. But not at an after school program. Look for private schools or apply for a position through the EDB's NET scheme.

The manager you talked with was giving you a fairly low salary quote, but was not unreasonable for the market.

I would only suggest taking a job like that to get yourself in a position for a better job the next year. Otherwise, you're better off working in another country. You might want to consider Taiwan or getting a post graduate degree in education.

freebeacher · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 76

Thank you serious_fun, oxi, and puiwaihin.

Since I only have a B.A. and some teaching experience from 1991 and 1992 (Taiwan 6 months, Spain 3 months, Greece 3 months) it looks like schools in Hong Kong will not be interested in me. I do not have any TEFL certificates or education qualifications.

Am I unable to be considered for the NET program mentioned with my lone B.A.?

Is a teaching qualification or TEFL certificate required for Hong Kong Immigration?

The problem with Korea is at least twofold. It is very cold there which I do not like and I am now in Australia. I also hear a lot of teachers complaining about bad treatment and broken contracts there. The US embassy in Seoul even has a page about problems teaching in Korea. A few Korean schools and recruiters told me the visa rules changed since I arrived in Australia in October and all new teachers must be interviewed by a Korean consul in their home country before being issued a visa. So, I would have to return to the USA from Australia at my own expense before being able to go to Korea.

Honky Nick · Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Hong Kong

Freebeacher,

These days, you are able to apply for the NET scheme if you have a BA plus TEFL. If your only other option is slumming it at a 15K/month school/language centre, I'd consider putting all my efforts into NET scheme or British Council. Generally, the workload is much more reasonable and the money is much better.

Have a look at www.hkpnets.org for more info on the NET scheme.

Good luck,

Nick

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

I agree with Honky Nick, though I'm not sure you can work for NET or BC without at least a year or two's classroom experience. But certainly worth checking out - and to help figure out a longer term strategy for taking you beyond the sweat shops.

freebeacher · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 76

Thanks everyone.

Pelican_Wrath · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 490

Horizontal Hero

Pelican_Wrath · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 490

Yes, you're quite right there.

the NET scheme is relatively unique amongst non-western countries, isn't it? I mean if you're a qualified teacher, the only choice in most Asian countries is to work at an international school...

docgary · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Guangzhou China

There are a lot of agencies in HK. As I understand they are supposed
to report to the government that you are earning at least HKD 16000
which is about the minimum you need to survive comfortably.

Here are some tips:
1. Get on with an agency, if nothing else. They usually pay between
300-1000 HKD per day depending upon the number of hours you get.
Most of the 1000 HKD per day gigs will only be two days a week.
2. Try to get a flexible schedule and teach for more than one agency.
Strictly speaking it isn't legal, but neither is working under the table,
and a lot of it goes on.
3. Consider an L visa and living in Shenzhen and commuting. You can
still make enough in HK to live and work comfortably. It gets to be a long journey, but it is efficient and you can be in town in no time.
4. There are still rent (month to month) places availabe esp in New terrirories
for around 2500 HKD a month with no deposit.
Gary