Job Discussion Forums

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

My last school took in 1,200,000 RMB per year in extra tuition for my classes.
My current school is collecting 1,620,000 RMB in extra tuition this year.

The school probably spends about 200,000 RMB a year for my salary and all other expenses.

I am working at a high school, so I do not know the situation in language centers or universities, but I am sure that those schools are making a profit also.

Why is anyone accepting salaries of 4 or 5,000 a month ?

Just ask your students how much their parents are paying for your classes.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Irrelevant.

Price/profitability of the product/service doesn't have a direct relationship with wages, even if it seems like it should. An assembly line worker making a Lexus does not necessarily make more than one making a Kia. Wages are, instead, set by the market -- basic supply and demand, actually. You either pay what the market demands, or you choose not to get involved in the industry. Anything that you pay above market standard is akin to charity: nice to do, but not necessarily supportive of your business goals.

eslteach · Joined: 28 Sep 2010 Posts: 94

it is a high school and they are collecting extra tuition for your classes?

forgive me if that is a stupid question. im still new here.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

west2east · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 120 Location: China

Higher salary does not generally mean higher productivity. Also the cost of living varies more widely in China more than most countries in the world. Shanghai is about 30% more than Beijing and Beijing is about 50% more than in second tier cities. So earning 12,000RMB/month in Shanghai isn't really going to leave a teacher any better off that a 5000RMB teacher in Harbin.

Also consider how many hours a teacher might be contracted to. Some language centers can be as low as 15 hours/week. Some high schools can be around 25-30 hours.

And what about the support of the school? How well are FTs looked after between different schools varies so much. Money alone is seldom a single factor in any job.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

Very small city in Jiangsu.
9000 a month for 16 classes a week. 12 month contract, 8000 airfare.
Standard benefits plus full medical and 3 free meals a day.

COL is such that I save 6-7000 a month.

School leaves me alone to do whatever I want as long as I follow the curriculum.

The point of this thread is not for me to complain about my salary, because I am not complaining about mine.
The point of the thread is to inform others that they can, and possibly should be doing better than a few thousand RMB a month.

Salaries do not seem to have increased at all in years, and I do believe that salaries should be increasing.

Silent Shadow · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:42 pm Post subject:

How much profit my employer makes, becomes a relevant factor, when I, for example ask the school leaders, of a certain school, why they will not cover the cost of a basic legal requirement like my Z visa, or medical exam cost. They claim they can't afford it when most of their 10,000 students are paying between 25,000-30,000 RMB a year for their tuition.

Maybe they don't HAVE to pay certain costs, but they shouldn't plead poverty when the evidence doesn't support their claims.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

Rather than curse at the darkness, why not light a candle instead?

Open your own business in whatever field you think you compete at in China.

There are several posters on this forum who have started or joined a businesses that (presumably) pays what will satisfy them.

Cheers.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

Why is anyone accepting salaries of 4 or 5,000 a month ?

If one works for a public school, the tuition collected and the operating costs of the school pretty much dictate teacher salary. It's simple economics.

I don't know why this question keeps coming up.

Are we all bots?

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

It doesn't matter what you think you are worth, if universities are only prepared to pay 5,XXX RMB per month, then that is about all they will pay. Sure, you may be able to squeeze a little more out of it, but there is a huge supply of "teachers" who will take what universities are offering without asking for more. How can you ask for more when there is someone else behind you who won't? Also, I am not talking about any kind of position that the average university graduate can't do.

Paul D. · Joined: 19 Aug 2010 Posts: 55

I don't take pleasure in harping, but, certain folk on this board claim 20k one day, 12 to 14k the next and now 16.5k a month. Which is it?

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTgwODYzMTI=.html

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing