Job Discussion Forums

[darkmarsh77]

I have been offered a position in Wuhan for 5000 RMB per month, minus utilities, but including accommodations. Taking into consideration cost of living, is this a reasonable salary or should I try to negotiate for more?

[7969]

someone will be along soon telling you all about the multitude of RMB10000-14000/mo jobs that are available to you by doing a simple google search. what they wont tell you is that those salaries are usually the top end of a SALARY RANGE that will be extremely difficult for anyone FOB and with few qualifications to get, and that you'll work a lot more than 14-16 hours per week (which is probably what this wuhan job requires) to get that money.

you don't say much about yourself in your post, but 5000 is normal for a university esl job for those with minimum qualifications and little experience. i've never been to wuhan but i know how much it costs to live in cities like shenzhen and if you utilize some common sense with respect to your spending you can live well enough on that money and still have some left over. in any case negotiate for more money, if they refuse, then either accept what they offer or move on.

finally, salaries offered will generally go higher the longer you stay in one place (pay increase, if you prove to be competent and responsible) and the more you learn to negotiate your way around the esl system in China. if this is your first time out, then like most of us, you have to start somewhere.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[AnotherExpat]

I agree with the poster above me.
Been teaching there on 4000元. Taught for 12 hrs / week only, but the salary was way too low. It's like - You either save or you have fun.
Or you do a little of both, which feels like a warm glass of coke in summer, though. It gets you where you wanna be, but it isn't the real deal.
One of my mates is teaching in Wuhan with his wife and they're on 10000元. It's a private language center in Hankou. That's what you could aim for.
If you're want it now and like the school / the working hours / the pictures of the campus they sent you (don't trust those, by the way) - You can go for the offer you have without being concerned.

I mean, if you are the simple life kind of guy, you'll be more than fine with 5000元, because after all... We're talking about China.
If you don't eat too expensive and / or cook a third of your meals at home and don't party like "Yaaaowww, you all are wonderful, wonderful people and I love you and the next round is on me" you should do alright and be able to buy a scooter, laptop, digicam and travel to the coolest places before the year is over.
If you don't intend to get involved in some bigger things here, but just want some post-university fun, hell go for it.

But as The Great Wall of Whiner already pointed out. There are jobs that pay 10000元+ out there. Most likely gonna be more work, but hey...
Doubling the cash in yer pocket is a factor of motivation, I guess.
Do the research or read blogs of foreigners, etc... and think about if you can settle for 5000元. I wasn't happy with my salary, but hey it was 4000 kuai, and THAT really is the BOTTOM. I've heard of teachers working for 3500, but frankly I think that's a myth, or there really are some desperate teachers around.

Be prepared, though. Streets of Wuhan are a rough patch.
In my opinion the Wuhanese have their own, unique flavor.
Wonderful, wonderful food, though. Their chao-fan and zha-jiang-mian have been the best I've ever eaten in all of China...

Oh, and don't forget, that's just my opinion and we're different people. Still hope I could help you a little bit at least. Have fun!

[cb400]

Hey GWOW,

You mentioned your school is looking for teachers? I tried to PM you but I cannot.

Back to the salary topic, I have been looking for work and refusing the 5000 RMB jobs. I have 6 years of experience and though they are not in China they are in Asia. I have been aiming higher and I have had employers come back with higher offers, so it is worth trying.

Naturally I am guessing that the newbies in China do start at the bottom of the pay scale and have to work their way up, I am not accepting anything below 8000 for a smaller city (not Beijing or Shanghai) and the workload is quite light.

One point to help others searching, I did teach in China in 2004 up north in Fushun..near Shanyang and I was getting 5500 a a month 6 years ago.. making it more that fair to ask for more in todays China.

Just my 2 cents.

[Dinah606]

5000 Yuan is pretty basic for a brand new teacher starting out in Wuhan. Some new teachers get more, and some get less, but the amount of money is more or less standard forpeople starting out here.

I've been in Wuhan for nearly three years now. Even making no particular attempt to save money, I still spent far less than 5000 a month. I tend to go out for Western food at least a couple times a week, take taxis everywhere, and am too fond of shopping for my own good, and still find that I don't have any money problems here. Wuhan is cheaper than any of the other cities I've been to.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[cb400]

sorry not enough posts yet

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[dharma86]

Depends on the hours...

I do think that would be quite livable though, unless your addicted to everything western!

[darkmarsh77]

Hey everyone, first off, thanks for all the replies, its nice to get different opinions and thoughts.

I will provide a few more details; if I were to take this position, I would leave sometime next month and sign a 8 month contract with a public school, 2 months of which (Jan and Feb) I would be on holidays (one month paid). Also, I would give only 20 lessons per week, 40 minutes each. And apparently there is plenty of opportunity for private tutoring, etc.

Having the two months appeals to me greatly, gives me the chance to explore the country, travel around.

I don't think I am the kind of person who craves Western luxuries on a regular basis, maybe a good beer every now and then. I find my biggest problem would be food, I do tend to overspend on that.

[darkmarsh77]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention my qualifications. No formal teaching experience (just tutoring), but I have a university degree and a TEFL certification.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Well, if your priority is 'seeing and exploring China' then I suppose go for it. If your priority is 'paying off debt', then it is not the job you want. But I am biased because my school offers 11 hours a week at the same salary you will be making, with lots of holidays and housing, utilities, all paid. So, maybe I just 'got lucky', but I always forget that your is a public school whereas mine is a private school.

from what I can see, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan are all potentials for you.

Good luck on whatever you choose.

[Zero]

I would not ask for too much salary, though. China is still a developing country and they cannot afford to pay high prices. If you manipulate them into too much money, it may come out of the pockets of local Chinese staff who make less and are barely getting by.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]