Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ExpatriateJoe]

What is a realistic salary for an English teacher in Korea?

That is a difficult question to answer.

In my opinion there are three categories of English teaching positions in Korea. (1) Institutes (2) Public/Private elementary/middle/high school and EPIK (3) University positions.

There might even be a 4th category- Corporation EFL trainer/proof reader/gofer.

(1) Institutes

Any degree will do. No experience necessary. No interview necessary.

Most people would be leary to accept a position with the afore mentioned limited requirements. But the majority of people who come to Korea to teach at an institute do so because: (i) they are forced to become economic migrants, (ii) they feel the itching urge to become vega-bond hippy gypsies, (iii) they are too eccentric to fit in and find a job back home, (iv) they are hiding from paying their allimony/child support or loans, (v) they are x-cons, or (vi) maybe, just maybe, they want to expand their horizons.

Be real... to teach at an institute, a degree in basket weaving and a pulse will get you a position at an institute. What is reasonable and fair renumeration for an institute teacher without an: English, Linguistics, Education, or TESL degree? In my humble opinion: W 2,000,000 tops + single housing, medical insurance, return airfare, severance and two weeks paid vacation. An English/Linguistics/Education/TESL degree:
W 2,200,000 a month plus the same benefits as listed above. If you add 2 years experience on top of the afore mentioned, then your salary should be an extra W150,000 a month.

(2) Public/Private elementary/middle/high school and EPIK

Due to the professionally demanding nature of the above positions, the minimum salary without an English/Linguistics/Education/TESL degree should be W 2,100,000 a month plus two months of paid vacation time. Add an English/Linguistics/Education/TESL degree, the salary should be
W 2,200,000 a month plus the afore mentioned benefits. Add 2 years experience and the salary should be W 2,350,000 a month plus the afore mentioned benefits.

(3) University/College teaching positions

What I find real funny is when people whose majors have no relation to English or Education complain about their university salaries and benefits. However, despite their lack of qualifications they do deserve a decent salary and benefits. (Refer to #1- institute teachers) People whose majors are English/Linguistics/Education/TESL deserve to be paid the same rate as their counterparts engaged in teaching at public/private elementary/high schools/EPIK as I outlined in (2)

Now, if a person has a masters degree in a related subject (English/Linguistics/Education/TESL) they should receive at least W200,000 on top of their counterparts outlined in (2).

I won't even comment on the few who do possess Phds, because if you have a doctorate degree, why would you be in Korea?

If you look at my outlined humble opinions you will clearly see that the numbers don't add up to W 3,000,000 a month. Plain and simple.... very few foreigners make W 3,000,000 from their legal teaching positions.

[Zyzyfer]

You forgot to discuss location...people in Seoul tend to make more money.

[Circus Monkey]

Are we talking net or gross?

CM

[Arthur Fonzerelli]

C'mon were teaching English...and most people here are teaching ummm, "conversational" English which isn't rocket science, it's not even computer science for that matter...Thus it won't pay like rocket science or computer engineering salaries....

English Teachers don't make much money anywhere in the world do they? Personally, I didn't get into this business to get rich...I did it because I like teaching, living in a foreign country, and having extra time to travel....

Seems like the salaries for each category Expatriot Joe mentioned are similar and not too far off from each other despite the extra training and education...

More money is always good to have, but money isn't everything is it?

OR is it???

The Fonz

[ExpatriateJoe]

For the most part, I agree with the Fonz. But, being a family man, the extra money sure helps out.

[Anda]

I'm on the level one pay with EPIK of 2.1 million. The best I've seen advertised is 4.2 million a month with special schools and around the 3 million at a couple of universities. These jobs are few and far between. A few hogwans offer exta money for extra teaching hours up around the 3 million.

If you get your work hours in a suitable time frame and have decent holidays with airfares along with a good apartment then around the 2 million is pretty good. We haven't after all got to put up with the controls placed on teachers these days in Western countries.

[CivicGSR]

This thread can be very handy as a reference, I must tag it.

[jsmac]

Money is not the only thing to be concerned about. I work at a university out in the provinces, and I have a friend who works in Seoul for ECC. My salary is only 10% higher than his, BUT I have a brand new, beautiful 15 pyong apt, and he has a shared 10 pyong basement dump (roacharama!); I have a 4 day week, he has 6 day weeks; I work 16 hours a week, he works 35-40; I get 4 months of paid vacation, he gets 5 days. So money isn't really such a big deal here. If I wanted, I could get up to 2.5 or higher by taking on some ovetime, but frankly I'm not that interested at the moment, since I enjoy my quality of life more than I need more money. You can't buy your life back for an extra $500 a month.

[keguri]

I will have a master's in applied linguistics in May. I have been offered 2.28/month, housing: 5 million key money plus 150,000/month allowance (but that's in apkujeong in seoul -- and no washing machine), one-way airfare, 30/hours a week, 4 days a week (M,T,Th,F), split shift for 2 months and early morning block after that, teaching adults. I have about a year and a half of teaching experience, some in the US, some in Korea. The teachers there now seem to like it. Should I hold out?

[Bulsajo]

[BTM]

My university just put down 80 million for a deposit for a new place for me and my wife, way out in Gunpo-shi. It's reasonable, but not huge - 25 pyung or so, plus veranda.

I admit, I'm lucky, but that should give you an idea of how little you're gonna get for a 5 mill deposit. You'd be lucky to find a cardboard box in Apku-jong....

[weened]

For 5,000,000 key money you can get a decent officetel. however you will pay anywhere from 500,000 to 1,500,000 a month in rent. Insist on more key money or more rent money.

[keguri]

[steroidmaximus]

At this moment in my life, money is important. I'm recently married, waiting for my first child. I have a different take on how much English teachers should be paid.

A Hakwon is a business just like any other. But English Hakwons are expensive to send your kids to; some charge higher rates for classes with a foreign instructor. Keeping this in mind, if you are professional about your job, your salary should reflect this. 2 million should be a starting salary for 30 hours. Yet most teachers get a break of 1-2 months, which for anyone who has been in the teaching profession for any length of time knows, is necessary not just for the students but for your own peace of mind. Since most teachers in Hakwons do not get this necessary down time, salaries should accordingly be increased. 2.5 million a month is not too much, considering: how much the owners are making, the quality of life issues, and the lack of vacation time. This should also include the housing and air flight allowances.

Again, this is for professional individuals. Like me. I make more than this, but I teach at a college and teach privates, do proofreading, translations. . .in case your wondering, yes it is legal, since I can work for a second company, which is allowed under my F2 visa. the company happens to be owned by my wife, but hey this isn't against the law. All my privates, proofreading, translations (my wife does the Korean end of it, I proofread) are properly billed and taxes paid.

[staticdelusion]

vravra