Korean Job Discussion Forums

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Can you give me an idea of salary expectation or what i can negotiate as a first year english teacher without a TOEFL certificate, but has experience working with children in a classroom environment? I would ideally like to make at least $2.2million. I just want to know if this is a realistic salary.

1. SMOE (Elementary vs Middle vs. High School)
2. Seoul Private School
3. GEPIK Bucheon Public School (Elementary vs Middle vs High School)
4. Bucheon Private School

Thanks!

[northway]

$2.2 million?

[jlee83]

2.2million is a realistic salary, you just have to hope the school really wants to hire you (be it for your looks or teaching ability).

Tons of teachers looking for teaching jobs in Korea doesn't help your cause.

[BoholDiver]

Ask for 2.3 but settle for 2.2.

I have seen 2.1 as a common number for many jobs these days.

[kimdeal54]

SMOE has set salary rates. You can see them here. http://www.efl2korea.com/info/salaryscale.htm

Scroll down a bit for GEPIK's salary scale on this page.
http://www.teachaway.com/content/public-schools-gepik
(This might not be up to date by the way. I just pasted the first link I found.)

Without knowing what your major is, you will probably only qualify for the lowest end of both scales. (1.8 or 2.0 million won). If your major is in English, then you'll be worth more. A hagwon is probably your best bet if that's what you mean by private school.

[Skyblue]

I thought 2.2 was rock-bottom?

[BoholDiver]

The bottom is whatever newbie Joe Canadian will accept.

[ttompatz]

Public school pay scales are based on qualifications and (verifiable) classroom experience. They do not vary from elementary to middle school to high school.

If you are coming from abroad they are pretty much set in stone.
If you are an experienced (in Korea) teacher and you are IN KOREA then there is some wiggle room (usually 1 level or pay grade).

At a language academy (what I think you mean by private school) you are worth whatever you think you can negotiate but in today's market it is an employers choice (too many economic refugees fleeing the US).

As a newbie with no TEFL cert of any kind, no experience overseas and an unrelated degree you are just about at the bottom of the barrel in terms of salary (2.0-2.2 million for most jobs).

If they don't recognize/accept your classroom experience you could theoretically drop to 1.8 million in some PS positions.

.

[PatrickGHBusan]

1.8 to 2.1 is your realistic range OP.

Sorry but you do not bring much to the table and as a newbie you have to be realistic.

You may have more salary wiggle room with Hakwons but that depends on how you negociate and on the school. As mentionned above, Public Schools follow a salary scale and your profile of experience and qualifications put you on the lower rung of that scale.

Asking a PS for "at least 2.2" will just send your application to the rejection bin as 10 other applicants will be willing and ready to take that level 1 pay.

You want higher pay: gain experience (referenced experience), if you stay over a year upgrade your qualifications and network. In other words, work your way up.

Good luck.

[Skipperoo]

Complete newbie to teaching here, no relevant experience or qualifications (except for an online TEFL course) and I'm starting on 2.2mill at a hakwon. I was offered jobs that paid more than that, too, but you've got to ask yourself how many hours/days/classes you're willing to teach for that money.

[PatrickGHBusan]