Job Discussion Forums

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

For those of you that are long term, regularly employed...what kind of pay raises are typical where you work year to year?

Inflation is around 4% or so...are raises following inflation?

Enchilada Potosina · Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 344 Location: Mexico

Payrises?!!! Don't think they exist in SLP. If you want a payrise here, get a better paying job. If not you'll find your quality of life in slow-motion free-fall.

mejms · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390

I've worked at universities and language institutes and never heard any mention of possibilities of a raise for teachers. The institutes were nothing serious. The unis were even worse because they take themselves seriously.

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject:

doublethinker · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 57

At my workplace they offered a 1% raise. Woo hoo...

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Looks like a good case for being self-employed in Mexico, then it's in our hands. I think most of us know and enjoy something other than teaching... as I think the general consensus is that that isn't a good route to go for self-employment.

Enchilada Potosina · Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 344 Location: Mexico

doublethinker · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 57

I disagree. My Mexican coworkers are full-time teachers and it's their main gig. They do very well at my school salary-wise. (Of course, they have to put up with a huge workload and crazy work environment, but they put up with it for the pay.)

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Yes, Doublethinker, but we're talking about pay raises here, and it looks like they just ain't getting them. I was talking about a way of improving ones standard of living. Of course, if someone is happy to continue working for the same pay year on year (effectively losing due to inflation), then fair enough...

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

doublethinker · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 57

Well, we do in theory... but... you know.

You're right, our salaries don't keep up with inflation. However, I disagree with the idea that teaching can't be a viable career here.

However I work in a bilingual colegio, not in ESL per se.

Enchilada Potosina · Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 344 Location: Mexico

Apart from a very small minority of jobs, teaching is only a viable career for bumming around Mexico under the pretense of learning Spanish while having some kind of cultural zeitgeist experience. On the other hand, if you're a good teacher, you can do well. Charge what you think you're worth and you might be surprised who's willing to pay.

MotherF · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 2:20 pm Post subject:

Isn't the Quinqenio one of the "prestaciones de la ley"?

We get cost of living increment each year, accounding to the rise in the minimum wage because what we get paid is technically in minimum wages. For example you might get paid two minimum wages, 200 minimum wages, or anywhere in between depending on your job in the institution. So whenever the minimum wage is adjusted for inflation, so is everyone's salary.

And the Quiquenio is a longevity bonus. After completing 5 years with the organization your quigueno is equal to 1% of your base pay. It goes up 1% each year after that--so in that first year you are kind of like. Whoopie 1%! Rolling Eyes

But after 10 years you are getting 10% more, which is pretty nice.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

amaranto · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 133 Location: M�xico, D.F.

I can't speak for teacher raises, but as an in-house legal translator at a law firm in Mexico City, my salary is adjusted for inflation each year, and I've always gotten some kind of performance bonus.

On the freelance side, I tend to adjust my rates for new clients and negotiate better rates with new agencies that hire me.