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Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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 Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Chris Kwon wrote: |
| IncognitoHFX wrote: |
| Chris Kwon wrote: |
| Ok then, thats like $37,000 .... that's still not even close to big bucks, not even in small american cities. Besides private tutoring, I don't see how "most" people out here are making big bucks teaching english. |
Umm, $37,000 a year is big bucks in most North American cities. Were you born to Harvard Law School overachievers with high expectations or are you just snoody?
$37,000 is way more money that I ever thought I could make and if I had an opportunity to make that much here without killing myself or doing anything ridiculous in the process, I would be on it like a fat woman at a buffet table. |
It's a decent amount, but not big bucks by any means. A decent college degree will easily put you over 37,000 as an entry level. If you can achieve that salary entry for a decent degree, that cannot be considered big bucks. Big bucks should at least be over 50k, but i consider more in the 60k-80k+ range (also depends on the city, that is not big bucks in say the Bay area).
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Again I agree with this. I think it's the words "Big bucks" that is causing confusion. For me, big bucks means well over 80000, but I guess for others it's different. Under 50000 is not big bucks in my opinion, but a decent wage depending on other things. I don't have a harvard degree, but I do have a Computer Science degree in Information Systems. Maybe that's a factor too. |
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suneV
Joined: 10 Jan 2008
Location: At the Flop
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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I teach 30 hrs a week (ft job 20 hrs, pt job 10 hrs) and can save around 2 million won or 2 thousand dollars us a month. That's a nice round 24,000 US a year.
What would you have to earn in the US BEFORE taxes and health care and other deductions to save that much for 30 hrs work, living in a ncie apt and having a very nice lifestyle?
Just curious as I'm from Uk not the US. |
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Chris Kwon
Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Location: North Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
I said relatively high income. There are many things to factor in as well that remunerate / compensate quite highly such as accommodation, airfare, bonus etc etc.
And sorry to break it to ya mate but i am on over 2500usd (and that is without factoring in my private classes or counting the airfare, bonus or accommodation) and this is just my first year. Many, many more are earning in excess of even this.
When you total all this up it is a damn good package to the average Korean. Compared to back home its a lot more difficult to judge I guess but im from the UK and I am doing better now even then when I was a business analyst (in marketting not IT) back in the UK. Compared to what it was like after I got made redundant I cant even compare. Now if you are at the right end of the IT market, a stock broker, investment banker, actuary accountant, hedge fund manager etc then it probably isnt high income.
What I like asking folks like you is that if you were earning super duper big bucks in your native country then why are you teaching ESL? You may have a legitimate answer but all the same the question begs asking.
At the end of the day I save anything in the region of 1500usd, many months it will be even more. For me that is a deal irrespective of whether it is or isnt a 'high income'. And I can pursue my hobbies and travel at the same time. Im sure many folks would concur.
Its a high standard of living overall which is what counts. And I definately didnt have that back in the UK compared to my life here.
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Thats good and congrats on making more than the average advertised salary I've been seeing, sounds like you're doing good. I wasn't saying it wasn't possible, I was saying that most people probably weren't making over 2,500 (if even that).
My degree personally gets me in the 40-60 k starting range, but i wanted to come to Korea and even turned down a job offer to do so. Unfortunetly
I don't speak Korean well enough to get a job in my field, but been hesitant to have a ESL job because of the typical lower income teaching English. Every job I see advertised seems to go no higher than about $2,500 and that seems to be made with experience teaching or a teaching degree, which mine isn't. My only thought was to do private tutoring as that can earn some 'big bucks' if done effectively. Any advice would be appreciated of course, either here or via pm  |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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hahaha well we are in opposite boats then because i can speak korean to a level 3 standard on the government exam but with liberal arts degree i havent found the skills / a way to go beyond esl. you have the skills but not the langauge.
fyi im with epik and got given a 700k won pay rise on my first day. thats what did the trick. and im in the boons (which i dont quite mind tbh) so i only spend a lot when im in seoul or shopping at costco (damn those chocolate blueberries lol). but im not here for the money.
the problem in the uk are the taxes and the cost of living. Because its so tremendously high, esp in london, you cant live well and claw your way out of student debt, you cant live well and save for travelling etc etc. thus while many peeps in the uk may be earning more than me on the surface my take home at the end of the month is way higher than theirs. Bottom line.
| Chris Kwon wrote: |
| stevieg4ever wrote: |
I said relatively high income. There are many things to factor in as well that remunerate / compensate quite highly such as accommodation, airfare, bonus etc etc.
And sorry to break it to ya mate but i am on over 2500usd (and that is without factoring in my private classes or counting the airfare, bonus or accommodation) and this is just my first year. Many, many more are earning in excess of even this.
When you total all this up it is a damn good package to the average Korean. Compared to back home its a lot more difficult to judge I guess but im from the UK and I am doing better now even then when I was a business analyst (in marketting not IT) back in the UK. Compared to what it was like after I got made redundant I cant even compare. Now if you are at the right end of the IT market, a stock broker, investment banker, actuary accountant, hedge fund manager etc then it probably isnt high income.
What I like asking folks like you is that if you were earning super duper big bucks in your native country then why are you teaching ESL? You may have a legitimate answer but all the same the question begs asking.
At the end of the day I save anything in the region of 1500usd, many months it will be even more. For me that is a deal irrespective of whether it is or isnt a 'high income'. And I can pursue my hobbies and travel at the same time. Im sure many folks would concur.
Its a high standard of living overall which is what counts. And I definately didnt have that back in the UK compared to my life here.
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Thats good and congrats on making more than the average advertised salary I've been seeing, sounds like you're doing good. I wasn't saying it wasn't possible, I was saying that most people probably weren't making over 2,500 (if even that).
My degree personally gets me in the 40-60 k starting range, but i wanted to come to Korea and even turned down a job offer to do so. Unfortunetly
I don't speak Korean well enough to get a job in my field, but been hesitant to have a ESL job because of the typical lower income teaching English. Every job I see advertised seems to go no higher than about $2,500 and that seems to be made with experience teaching or a teaching degree, which mine isn't. My only thought was to do private tutoring as that can earn some 'big bucks' if done effectively. Any advice would be appreciated of course, either here or via pm |
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Vlad Spinner
Joined: 09 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| junkmail wrote: |
Despite all the whining; particularly my own  I do consider Korea pretty friendly to English speaking white foreigners. Try West Africa if you want to see unfriendly and I don't mean that against the people there either.
Opening an account with an E2 is pretty straightforward. Subway stations are in English etc... |
Subway stations are in English?
This comes as news to me!
I've been lost, really badly lost, in Sadang station, trying to transfer to Line 2, four or five times now within the past couple of months.
The signs which indicate where you need to go (unless you want to spend an extra hour or so circling round Seoul on Line 2) are not just entirely in Korean, but are posted in such as out-of-the-way places (above your head, for instance) that even if you CAN read Korean, they won't do you much good, until you spot them.
Yeah, I finally spotted the sign, read it ("if wishing to go toward Jamshil, etc., take the escalator/stairs") or WHATEVER the heck it read--though again, it was ENTIRELY in Korean, and if I'd been fresh off the plane, I couldn't have read it . . . |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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in uk terms has to be around 25k, depending whether ur in the big smog or not that is.
| suneV wrote: |
I teach 30 hrs a week (ft job 20 hrs, pt job 10 hrs) and can save around 2 million won or 2 thousand dollars us a month. That's a nice round 24,000 US a year.
What would you have to earn in the US BEFORE taxes and health care and other deductions to save that much for 30 hrs work, living in a ncie apt and having a very nice lifestyle?
Just curious as I'm from Uk not the US. |
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IncognitoHFX
Joined: 06 May 2007
Location: Yeongtong, Suwon
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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I was under the impression that living in the US with a decent degree was equally as fruitless as living in Canada with a decent degree and expecting to get a $37,000 entry-level job.
In Canada, even if you have a really decent degree, you mention you want to make $37,000 at an entry-level job and you'd be laughed out of the room. Try $17,000 as an entry level, and at a short-term, interchangable position rather than a long term career. |
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Vlad Spinner
Joined: 09 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:27 pm Post subject: Hwang Woo Suck is scientist, as I know. |
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| suneV wrote: |
Koreans are awaiting a mythical Golden Age when Samsung and Hyundai have made them the number one world power and they no longer have to deal with foriegners anymore, accept as perhaps underlings. Preferably technology will have advanced enough so that they can all isolate themsleves completely with a force field or even all go and live en mass in their own space station.
In the meantime it's all toleration for neccessities sake.
Far From Heaven Folks
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Koguryo is our land . . . you think this is "myth"? Most of China belongs Korea, even Russia, is proven in our Korean high school "history" books.
Korea owning most of China, Japans (include Dokdo),
Hwang Woo Suck is scientist, as I know. Don't you know about it?
You still not understanding about Korea? Not playing with chopsticks too well? When you go back your country?
Last edited by Vlad Spinner on Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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| IncognitoHFX wrote: |
I was under the impression that living in the US with a decent degree was equally as fruitless as living in Canada with a decent degree and expecting to get a $37,000 entry-level job.
In Canada, even if you have a really decent degree, you mention you want to make $37,000 at an entry-level job and you'd be laughed out of the room. Try $17,000 as an entry level, and at a short-term, interchangable position rather than a long term career. |
Please don't equate all of Canada with Nova Scotia. There are plenty of jobs in Ontario, for example, that will pay that much at entry-level. |
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suneV
Joined: 10 Jan 2008
Location: At the Flop
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
in uk terms has to be around 25k, depending whether ur in the big smog or not that is.
| suneV wrote: |
I teach 30 hrs a week (ft job 20 hrs, pt job 10 hrs) and can save around 2 million won or 2 thousand dollars us a month. That's a nice round 24,000 US a year.
What would you have to earn in the US BEFORE taxes and health care and other deductions to save that much for 30 hrs work, living in a ncie apt and having a very nice lifestyle?
Just curious as I'm from Uk not the US. |
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No that's WAY TOO LOW!
I was on almost that in London and could save 800,000 K Won eqvt if I lived like a monk!
I'm saving 2 million a month at the moment! I'd need probably at least 35,000 Pounds a year pre tax to match that.
Anyway, redirecting my original question back to USA ian's.... |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:16 am Post subject: |
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well in terms of what you can actually save then yes ur probably right. I was talking in terms of the actual pay packet and what its equivalent to.
london is a living knightmare when you dont have enough money. It just sucks money and life away from people. It drains you.
| suneV wrote: |
| stevieg4ever wrote: |
in uk terms has to be around 25k, depending whether ur in the big smog or not that is.
| suneV wrote: |
I teach 30 hrs a week (ft job 20 hrs, pt job 10 hrs) and can save around 2 million won or 2 thousand dollars us a month. That's a nice round 24,000 US a year.
What would you have to earn in the US BEFORE taxes and health care and other deductions to save that much for 30 hrs work, living in a ncie apt and having a very nice lifestyle?
Just curious as I'm from Uk not the US. |
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No that's WAY TOO LOW!
I was on almost that in London and could save 800,000 K Won eqvt if I lived like a monk!
I'm saving 2 million a month at the moment! I'd need probably at least 35,000 Pounds a year pre tax to match that.
Anyway, redirecting my original question back to USA ian's.... |
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xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| IncognitoHFX wrote: |
I was under the impression that living in the US with a decent degree was equally as fruitless as living in Canada with a decent degree and expecting to get a $37,000 entry-level job.
In Canada, even if you have a really decent degree, you mention you want to make $37,000 at an entry-level job and you'd be laughed out of the room. Try $17,000 as an entry level, and at a short-term, interchangable position rather than a long term career. |
My best friend lives in Atlanta, GA. He moved there from Springfield, MO where the starting wage is around $20,000 per year with any kind of degree. Accoding to him with the inflated costs of living in Atlanta $35,000 goes about just as far there as $20,000 does back in Springfield. |
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rationality
Joined: 05 Jul 2007
Location: Some where in S. Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by rationality on Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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I've been reading about life in the U.S. lately. The subprime fiasco is just beginning to affect the economy, as in you ain't seen nothing yet. Many more will lose their homes, and if the Fed keeps cutting rates to zero, it'll just encourage more reckless financial behavior like the first set of cuts did after the 2001 terrorist bombing.
But back to the original point. Korea isn't a model for foreigner friendly countries, but well, you could do worse. Here, foreigners can make money, own property, not really worry about violent crime, and the like. I've met many lifers here who are not ethnically Korean, and they seem to really like it (otherwise why would they be here so long?).
Korea, like life, is what you make of it. |
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Newbie
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| IncognitoHFX wrote: |
I was under the impression that living in the US with a decent degree was equally as fruitless as living in Canada with a decent degree and expecting to get a $37,000 entry-level job.
In Canada, even if you have a really decent degree, you mention you want to make $37,000 at an entry-level job and you'd be laughed out of the room. Try $17,000 as an entry level, and at a short-term, interchangable position rather than a long term career. |
As the Habs fan said, don't equate all of Canada with Nova Scotia. |
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