Job Discussion Forums

[mattdsoares]

Hello all,

I have been interviewing for a couple of positions in Beijing, and am expecting a contract offer soon.

The pay would likely be about 7,000 RMB a month, with the normal perks of includes apartment and whatnot.

The specific job in question is in the Shijingshan district of Beijing, which from my understanding is more "local" and thus cheaper to live in in terms of food and such.

From searching around this form I think that 7,000 RMB would be sufficient to live a moderate live for a Westerner like me. I have no desire to go out drinking every night, and Western meals would be a treat once every week or two...not every night. Thus, I think that 7000 RMB would be sufficient for me.

My issue is that when in China, I will still have a few months debts back home in the US...in US dollars. I will have $200 a month in a car lease I can't get out of, and $150 a month car insurance on it. I will also have about $100 more in student loans. So I'm looking at about $450 a month in US debts/expenses.

Taking this out of my 7000 RMB salary, That leaves about 3850 RMB a month for utilities, food, entertainment, travel, etc.

Is this really enough to live a decent slightly Western comfortable live in Shijingshan?

[jiangsu]

I would have thought 7000RMB in the capital would be 'challenging' itself, before the loan repayments.

There are plenty of jobs in cheaper cities that pay that sort of money. Why Beijing specifically (apart from the obvious appeal of being in the capital)?

What about Nanjing? Lots of education jobs there that pay similarly, but much cheaper to live and a great city with lots of interesting history and Western stuff.

[RonHex]

3850 would be pushing it in any city in China.. depending on lifestyle. u mention entertainment, travel, western food, ect... i would say foget about those things.. atleast until ur debt is gooooonnnnneee

[sharpe88]

My girlfriend and I have about 3000 in expenses (not including rent).

Your situation would not be that bad, but spend wisely...

[Hansen]

I hear few people planning to go to America say thay intend to live on or off Wilshire Blvd., in Beverly Hills. Or in Benedict Canyon, or Bel Air, San Marino, etc.

From what I gather, Beijing is relatively expensive. I live in central China. I could get by easily on 3000RMB/monthly. I don't make a big issue about salary because my hours are reduced.

If I was planning on moving to France, I might be willing to consider places other than Paris.

Those coming to China, be reasonable. English teaching is a crap job. If you are a legitimate foreign expert, such as a mining engineer, software engineer, neurosurgeon, etc., you might expect things to be different.

Few people would attempt brain surgery with out having prepared for it through a rigorous educational process; however, numerous individuals, some successfully, teach English in China without specialized training.

Be realistic.

[Laurence]

[mat chen]

Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore would enable you to pay your dept. If you want to run from your depts China is a good place to hide. There is no way they can garnish your wages here. Actually they couldn't do it because like everyone has said it is a pittance for Beijing. Lets put it this way would you move to LA to get paid 20,ooo smackers a month to work fifty hours a week without a lunch break?

[Hansen]

Laurence, I'm glad you pointed that out. It's a matter of viewpoint. I enjoy my actual worktime. My students are very nice, respectful, most try hard to do well.

On the other hand, as one poster recently outlined, he must work several jobs to earn the kind of money necessary to attain his goals. Most of the benefits which make teaching a good career for locals are withheld from FTs. The steep discounts available when purchasing a house, for instance.

My salary is ~ ten times less than what a person with my experience and qualifications could be making in the States.

Hair stylists in this low paying city, in a good salon, are making ~3000 and up a month. An exceptional "star" in the field can make significantly more than that.

Foreign business people living in large Chinese cities are making $10,000 a month, that I know of. Certainly many make more, others, such as FTs, make considerably less.

My salary has been frozen, while my Chinese colleagues are receiving raises. The gap between our salaries is not what it used to be.

Opportunities for black/graymoney are virtually unavailable to foreigners , yet this is what fuels the economy, in many respects. People with the right guanxi from time to time, can earn 3, 4 [edit: Not 30,40] years salary in a single opportunity. Sure, these things don't happen all the time, but think what earning an extra 3 or4 years of salary once or twice a year would do your household finances.

I enjoy my students, friends, and my hobby, which make staying here worthwhile, for now. As for the "job," relative to prosperity, see my above post.

[Renegade_o_Funk]

...

[Beyond1984]

"I will have $200 a month in a car lease I can't get out of, and $150 a month car insurance on it." -mattdsoares

I have an idea ... drive your leased car back to where you got it and tell them in a firm tone that you no longer require the vehicle. A friend should follow you and give you a ride back home.

Tell the insurance company that you are going to a better place, where you will be driven by professional bus and taxi drivers, and cancel your insurance policy. Sheesh ... you're paying at the rate of $1,800 year!

Get your friend to drive you to the international airport.

You can easily spare 10% of your salary to keep up with your student loan payments.

Welcome to China!

-HDT

"How does it become a man to behave toward this American government today? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it."
-Henry David Thoreau, "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience," 1849

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I wouldn't work for less than 10,000 outside of Beijing, I'm sure I wouldn't work for less than that IN Beijing.

Millions of jobs that pay more both inside and outside of Beijing.

At 7000, you will find yourself unhappy after a few months because all your friends around you are making so much more. I just turned down a job offering 19,000 a month in Beijing, so take that with a grain of salt.