Job Discussion Forums

[jenn.d.4]

Hello, I have a contract that I am reviewing right now for Shanghai. I am a first-time ESL teacher with a TESOL cert and Bachelor's Degree (non-education related). I will need about $200 to send home each month for student loans, and I need to have a few dollars saved up to set up a life in the U.S. again afterward. I'm willing to live modestly, and am not entirely opposed to roommates but will be traveling alone, so it's a matter of the right roommate falling into place. Here will be the money situation:

10,000 rmb salary before taxes
10,500 rmb salary after 2 month probation period
5,000 rmb travel expenses at the end of contract
1,000 rmb relocating expense for beginning moving costs
800 rmb reimbursement for physical
400 rmb for visa application

-36 hours per week (getting in writing office hours vs teaching, believe conversation was about 15-20 teaching hours if i remember correct)
-1week paid vacation and national holidays off

What do you think?? Survivable? Not survivable? Fair?

[kev7161]

A decent school will pay for the conversion of your Z visa into a residence permit, a foreign expert's certificate, your health exam, 10,000 airfare reimbursement for a year's contract, and probably a couple other things I'm not remembering right now. I think standard is also 1100 rmb per semester for "travel allowance". Hopefully those reimbursements will come through in a timely manner. What about housing? A school should offer you housing, some or all utilities paid, and full furnishings. If not, then a generous (esp. for Shanghai) housing allowance: 2000 or more if you can get it. 36 hours for what you are describing seems like a lot, but then again, I am contracted for up to 35 work hours per week, but I also get all of what I mentioned above plus a higher after-tax salary. A one week paid vacation? I would hope your Chinese New Year/Spring Festival time off is not that. What about summer holiday? I'm guessing this is a language school and not a government institution or private school?

[Mikeylikesit114]

200 dollars per week? or per month?

If it's per week, that will be eating up over half of your paycheck. Will you receive free accomodation from your employer? Is your salary net (post-tax)?

If the answer to both of these questions is no, you will be getting close to unsurvivable, or at least damned unpleasant.

[jenn.d.4]

Clarifying

That should be per month $200 per month for student loan fee to send back to the United States

There would be 1 week paid vacation in addition to national holidays

The pay after 2 months would be 10,500 RMB which will then be taxed

The housing is not included, housing would come directly out of my paycheck

[CJD]

[happigur1]

[nickpellatt]

That is pretty terrible, and doesnt seem to offer any redeeming feature. It is probably one of the worst job offers I have ever seen in China, and I would suggest avoiding it like the plague.

The hours are at the upper level of the type of hours any teaching in China has to work.

Shanghai is probably the most expensive place to live in China.

The contract doesnt offer any accomodation included.

The contract doesnt offer much in the way of holidays.

It works out at something like 65 rmb per hour, without accom, in Shanghai? Without long holidays? Accom would need to be included for this to be viable and fair IMO.

Yes, you may see posts where people insist that taking a job for 5000 rmb per month is too low, and so you think the salary looks good, BUT .... many of the jobs in China with 'low' wages are jobs with low working hours ... I would guess the average FT in China works about 15-18 hours a week...less than half of the hours of this contract.

Many people also enjoy holidays more generous than this contract. My last job had 10 weeks summer and 7 weeks winter hols...all paid.

Add to this the fact most jobs in China do include accom, removing the need to pay rent, deposits, and sometimes utilities, illustrates how this job offers little to make it worthy of consideration.

[Mister Al]

I had a mate who was on a similar contract with less hours back in 2003.

[jenn.d.4]

thank you everyone, your feedback has been very helpful

[Songbird]

This sounds very much like Pearson's offer to me. After 4 years in China and an (almost) completed MA, I told them where to stick it.

[waxwing]

There are some very extreme comments here, particularly this one:

[jenn.d.4]

Thank you again to everyone thus far! It's been really helpful to get everyone's input on Shanghai. Looking strictly at charts and pay scales online doesn't paint a picture near as well as first-hand accounts of what life would be like for real people making this wage. Any more input is always welcome

[happigur1]

[waxwing]

It doesn't take most people long to realize that Pizza Hut is a way-overpriced option in China. (It's also pretty appalling to my mind - way off track here but when is anybody going to tell them that a pizza has tomato paste - if you want good pizza go to Papa John's. And bring your wallet ...)

And going out in Shanghai's expat nightlife is super expensive, easily comparable with London (maybe pricier), again it doesn't take long to realize it and that you'll have to find cheaper options.

That's my way of thinking, I still think what you wrote was extreme, but granted one can spend 10K+ a month on living expenses. I'm sure some expats do ...

[kev7161]

There's more than just eating out. Even simply buying groceries can be challenging to keep at a low end of the scale. Just like back home, buying fresh fruits and vegetables are going to help a lot. But when I see avocados (for example), I am overjoyed. Blueberries too. Anything out of the "norm" that I've enjoyed as a matter of course before, gets me a little giddy and I have to buy it, regardless of cost. Simple day to day expenses can add up quickly. From meals out to shopping for food to taking taxis to buying medicine or even health supplements. Shopping for clothes or having them specially made. The list can be endless. It doesn't matter if you eat at Pizza Hut or Papa John's. That's not the gist of this thread. Just like back home, savvy spenders can find bargains most anywhere and can budget their money. There's nothing wrong with divvying up your money into a monthly expense list. If you only have 500 yuan for eating out, then you may have to be prudent on where you go or how often you go. If you force yourself to live on a budget, then you can be okay. However, it can still be a struggle.