Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jst]

When you see salary ranges for hagwons (ex. 2.0 ~ 2.2 million), what are they based on? Qualifications? How low someone can be paid? Or something else?

Is it common to just ask for highest amount on the salary range?

[Ice Tea]

No experience 2.0
Experienced 2.1
Experienced + Teaching Degree/TEFL 2.2

[hondaicivic]

[marsavalanche]

[northway]

[jrwhite82]

Although the above does not apply to ALL hagwons, it is accurate.

I think the market determines salary to a certain degree. Across the hagwon industry, wages have not increased much in about a decade. Yes, there is a higher demand for teachers now than there was 10 years ago. But the supply of teachers has outpaced the demand to an even greater extent. This keeps all the entry level jobs at the same salary.

You're looking at anywhere between 2.0 (standard guy with a BA) - 2.4(super hot white female or MA-TESL/Ed with a year or two of experience)

[willteachforfood]

While all of those factors mentioned above do affect hiring practices in Korea....I think that it's safe to say that hagwon salaries are based more on:

1. How much money does the school make off of you....in general the schools with higher pay either require more contact hours, or are more expensive schools.

2. Supply and demand for that location, and when they need the teacher by. Most schools will offer as little as possible, regardless of your experience. If they need a teacher now, or are in an unfavorable location, then you can ask for more.

The bottom line is that for a couple hundred thousand per month....the school doesn't care whatsoever about your experience. Ask for the higher amount and then refuse to take the job if you don't get it....if they have the pay range then they can afford the higher amount....hagwons paying in the low 2's don't care about your experience, they care about money, and am inexperienced teacher makes them the same amount of money as a teacher with 1 year experience and/or an online TEFL.....if you hold your ground and refuse to take the lower end of the scale then more times than not they will buckle and give you the higher end of their pay scale. They may call your bluff, at which point you can decide to take the job at the lower rate....but most likely if you turn them down once, if they at all have a need for a teacher, they will pay you the extra hundred bucks as opposed to finding another teacher....unless the school is in a prime location.

Now, I am talking about a newbie asking for the higher end of the posted pay scale....not asking for 2.4 on a job that is offering 2.0-2.2....but even then, you never know....if you're willing to go hagwon, there will always be a job for you in Korea.

[St8ofTheArt]

Black guy, no experience, no education degree, 2.5 mil first year, blue eyes my ass.

[Chet Wautlands]

[jrwhite82]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[PatrickGHBusan]

In all seriousness, jrwhite asks pertinent questions and does contribute to the contract thread, I think his questions should be answered as it will help lots of people down the road.

[willteachforfood]

[bobbybigfoot]

Geez, starting salary was 2.1 or 2.2 nearly 4 years ago. And the Won was strong and prices lower. Stay a couple years and you were getting 2.5 to 2.7.

Now cats are accepting 2.0 million for a weaker won, and paying out more to live here.

How times have changed.

[TheresaTheresa]