Job Discussion Forums

[mdoor]

In other places in Asia such as Japan, Korea or Thailand a low to mid level teaching job generally falls into a similar pay scale. A teacher at a public middle school can expect a similar salary as a private academy teacher.

When I review the China job board, there are a wide range of salaries for similar positions. I see many offers of 5,000 to 6,000RMB on the same list with similar positions offering 10K, 12K to 15K RMB.

Why such a big difference in salaries?

[ryanwhistler]

Because it's a business. Businesses pay what they can, not only what someone demands.

I'm confused why you don't understand this.

[mdoor]

[thessy]

The first position posted here on Dave's for China is a position with EF. The salary listed is 12,350RMB/month. This base pay for this position on the surface is more than twice what you'll see offered from most public schools or universities. But you need to break down what all is included and for what work...

I believe a 40 hour work week is required to make that salary with EF. A public school will usually have you working 12-16 teaching hours (40-50 minutes) a week.

The salary does not include housing, which in Shenzhen would surely run you 2-3k/month at least.

"Paid annual leave (10 days + Chinese National Holidays)" for the EF position. For the holidays, generally the actual date of the holiday is the only day off, plus you get another 10 days to use at other times. This compared to a university position where you can expect a month paid holiday (minimum, I had two months this past year) for Chinese New Year alone.

A private school is going to have you work evenings and weekends, a public school is generally just weekdays, and usually just mornings and/or afternoons.

One big reason for the discrepancy is just cost of living in various Chinese cities, but another is that the hours you are expected to work and possible benefits are far from standardized.

My University position, which I will admit results in me being handed less than half of the 12k+/month the EF ad offers, breaks down to actually pay more than twice (probably closer to 3-4x if I stopped to do the math) the EF gig when you look at it from a pay/hour worked standpoint.

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

Mdoor, The adoring masses of FTs who want to be your coworker are diminishing rapidly after your response. Feel free to PM me, as you probably should have done with another individual. ( It's called manners. Use them.)

On a more helpful note than you use on your ill-worded reply, businesses in China are highly interested in paying the least for the most: if you will accept a job at the lower end of an advertised scale, great! If you won't, well, now they have to wait and see if they can find someone who can... A lot of offers in China were dependent on "experience," while a lot of HK offers asked for your "expectations" upfront. In other words, if they can get an amazing teacher for cheap, great. If they can get a crappy teacher who will work for cheap, great. The sooner you can grasp this, the easier, or at least, more clear-eyed your experience will be.

[mdoor]

Thanks Xiao for helping me to be �clear-eyed� and understanding that Chinese business look to �pay the least for the most�. So places like Japan, Korea or Thailand just must be looking to pay the most for the least and that explains the difference. Thanks for your post.

Thank you Thessy for the reasonable answer to my question.

[Miles Smiles]

Public universities= lower pay than private universities (sometimes)

Undeveloped provinces and undeveloped areas in developed provinces = lower pay than developed areas

large, well-known franchise private schools= higher pay than small, fly-by nights and start-up businesses (usually)

Sometimes, upper-tier colleges and universities pay less than mid-to-lower tier colleges and universities because more FTs apply to those unis

Shanghai may advertise higher salaries than other areas because the cost of living is higher and because more FTs apply for positions there. Same for HK.

International schools (generally) pay more because they are private schools, usually demand better training of their FTs, and their clients are more affluent.

These are the basics.

Mileage may vary. Don't try this at home. Others may have differing opinions due to different experiences, prejudices, and altered states of consciousness. Etc., etc., etc..

[A'Moo]

[mdoor]

[nickpellatt]

[cormac]

[JZer]

The other key to making money seems to be living in a large city. In a large city you can earn 150RMB to 400RMB an hour doing part time jobs. That can boast your income nicely.

[colonel]