Korean Job Discussion Forums

diablo3 · Joined: 11 Sep 2004

I do not see much difference about salaries between now and a few years ago.

Am I wrong?

It seems that bad salaries are offered yet people (especially newcomers) just take them like they have never seen a job before.

marlow · Joined: 06 Feb 2005

Yeah, matching inflation would be nice.

For pay raises, not starting base salaries, I'd like to see 5% per year.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I definately hear of teachers getting offers of 2.4 or higher for typical hagwan jobs.... I guess that is an increase over 2.1. I haven't seen these higher salaries advertised though, teachers have to negotiate for them.

If you walk in and just take what you're offered....you will never see a raise.

Paji eh Wong · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

Intuitively, I think not. However none of us have any real idea if things have changed or not. I would love to see a systematic study of salaries in Korea.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Our uni salaries went up to a base of 2.4 for 15 hours. They were tired of losing good candidates to higher-paying unis. We're not the highest-paid, but they pay us well for OT, and 1 1/2 pay for anything after 5pm.

Just three years ago, base pay here was 1.9.

sojourner1 · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:37 pm Post subject:

One year ago, it was typical to find 2 million a month for 30 teaching hours a week hagwon jobs and many of us are working the last part of those contracts today.

Now, the same jobs are going for 2.1 to 2.4 million a month. Yes, I think pay is going up in some schools, but many jobs are still offering only 2 million a month.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Its mainly tied to experience. 2 million is typical for 1st timers. 2.1 with 1 year, 2.2 with 2 years, and on up.

Problem is that we peak at around 2.5-2.6 million (base salary) regardless of experience or certifications.

Masta_Don · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul

Dome Vans · Guest

EPIK have had a restructuring of salaries from Sep 07.

Before Sep 07.

Level 1 used to get 2.0 basic with a 200 000 rural bonus.
Level 2 used to get 2.2 + 200 000.
Level 3 used to get 2.4 + 200 000.
Level 3* got 2.6 + 200 000.
Level 3** got 2.8 + 200 000.

This has now changed to

Level 1 now gets 1.8 basic with 300 000 rural bonus.
Level 2 now gets 2.0 with a 300 000 extra.
etc
But 3** has been scrapped.

Also the settlement allowance has changed to 300 000 from 400 000.

This is to bring all provinces into line. Bit of a bummer. But salaries seem to be dropping everywhere.

marlow · Joined: 06 Feb 2005

hugo_danner · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Location: korea

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

A school's advisor or recruiter can tell you anything they want. Case-in-point, my previous school (public) wouldn't give me a raise to 2.2 for my 3rd year unless I agreed to extend my workday by two hours each day. They also cut my vacation back to two weeks. I found another job making more money. Now, after going through two teachers in two years (one of which was trying to date the hs students), they continue to call and ask me to come back. Actually, I would, but my pay here is just too high. I told them I was making 2.5 plus here, and guess what? This public school, who was under so much strain about giving me 2.2 before, suddenly offered to MATCH the 2.5 I am making here.

I think they can bend the rules when they want to. I also think that they create some rules on their own, in order to keep your salary lower.

Dome Vans · Guest

Marlow, Hugo Danner, I'll try and find it.

I signed as a level 2 in June 2007 and am getting 2.4.

Recently my friend was given some EPIK paperwork showing the new scales. This was as he was re-signing. Although I think I got it the wrong way up. Level 3 is the lowest scale, then 2, then 1 then 1*. The 1** is being scrapped that was the one that gave 'pre sep '07' 3 million.

Payscale for 2007

diablo3 · Joined: 11 Sep 2004

Good feedback and comments.

Sounds like anything and everything occurs with no real benchmark.

People obviously have to negotiate what they want/deserve. Maybe I should come back to Korea and push for what I want.

From the epik website, I got a little disappointed with their salaries offered before. Despite teaching for about 20 hours per week, you are in the office for 40 hours per week. I suppose thebenefits outweigh the negatives, making it obvious that people take the offers.

Peace

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

90% of people do one year stints and move on. And then they are shocked that they are getting paid entry level wages. Ive been at my school 3 years now, Ill be signing a 4th contract. I am now clearing 3 million a month and Im not doing any overtime or after classes teaching. The way to get good money is to stay at a good school for a longer time than one or 2 years.