Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kokoba]

A rather gauche question, but an important one.

Bearing in mind that things can vary depending on where you are (Jeju versus Seoul, etc), what are appropriate pay levels for:

*FOB first time teachers? (2 or 2.1 / month)

*teachers with experience in Korea? (2.1, maybe 2.2 on a super-sweet rec?)

*teachers with a CELTA/TESOL/etc cert? (2.3? 2.4?)

*teachers with an M.Ed? (2.4? 2.5?)

*teachers with a combination of the above? (???)


Am I being hopelessly naive?

I'm trying to figure out what I should expect out of contracts (I'd be outside of Seoul, on the last-ish stop of the subway), and what's asking too much and what's being taken advantage of. Obviously I'm not expecting you to share what *your* salary is. I'm asking in the abstract. All of the threads I've read in the FAQs and elsewhere only bring this up tangentially, so it'd be nice to get my bearings.

I can find pay rates for SMOE/GEPIK, but I have no idea if they're comparable to hagwon jobs.

Have at.

[ttompatz]

In a hagwan you are worth what you can negotiate.

Typically, in the current market, teachers who are new to Korea and/or applying from abroad can expect offers in the 2.0-2.2 million won range. You, unless you are the next Albert Einstein, don't have much bargaining power and as an applicant you are easy to replace with any of the other many economic refugees coming out of the US.

Teachers who are IN Korea have a little more bargaining power and if they know their stuff the range will be 2.2 -2.5.

.

[MyNameIsNobody]

As someone who has recently signed a contract and will be a first-timer in Korea (provided my documents safely make it through Immigration), I can say that you are worth as much as you think you are worth.

I applied with an older sibling, and both of our starting salaries will be 2.5 million won.

My sib and I discussed salary quite a few times throughout the application process, and I spent a lot of time reading comments on this forum/perusing expat blogs. I even looked at the pay scales for public schools like you did, even though I wanted to work in the private sector. I came to the conclusion that I would like to shoot for 2.3 million won, but that 2.2 million won was perfectly acceptable (Basis follows: 2.2 million won is what I would be getting on the public school scale, because one of my majors was English; My sib would have received 2.1 million won, because sib only minored in English). However, my sib would jokingly (with an undercurrent of seriousness) indicate 2.5 million won is what we should earn (Sib is not big on research). I would see positions that payed more for the English major, and I often joked with my sib that my pay should be higher. Sib somehow reasoned (Confucianism perhaps? ) that the elder should earn more.

When recruiters asked us what our salary expectations were, we told them 2.3 million won. Some indicated that the expectation was unlikely to be met while others took on an ominous tone and simply said "I see."

Both my sib and I have teaching/tutoring experience, but no one (recruiters/schools) seemed to care. They were happy as long as we said, "We like kids."

The lowest offer we ever received was 2.1 million won, but 2.2 million won was most common. What pushed me to keep looking for other positions was my sib's joking/serious desire for 2.5 million won.

Honestly though, my biggest concern was the reputation of the school. I have done loads of research, and it doesn't take long to come across the horror stories. Salary is important, but a comfortable, secure working environment is more critical, for me at least.

As far as salary goes, if you have the time (took us about three months), then find a position worthy of your expectations. If you don't have the time, then best not me too picky over +/- 0.1 million won. Also, keep in mind, recruiters don't have to care that your salary expectations are met.

Best of luck.

P.S. On a bit on an unrelated note, although I eye-rolled at Confucianism above, it definitely played a part in sib's and my hiring process. Overwhelmingly, my sib is the one who had the interviews. Sib got the tough questions, I got the "do you like spicy food" or "your picture/smile is nice." It annoyed me so much that recruiters/schools didn't really think to ask me important questions. Eventually, it became a running joke between sib and me. One time, we received an offer after the school only heard sib's voice. For all that school knows my English speech could have been indecipherable.

[southernman]

Your ideas of the pay ranges is pretty accurate as others have said. Although, you can in fact earn less if you have just the basic entry level qualifications

If you're interested in EPIK then just apply through their website.

By going through EPIK you will be sent an attachment with the official payscales of every province as well as any extra allowances, like rural or more than one school.

Recruiters may be necessary for fob's to get into a Hagwon job, that was me in the day. But for any PS job they are not needed at all. frankly you cut out a hell of a lot of the BS that comes with the application process by dealing directley with EPIK.

[Kokoba]

I'm not interested in dealing with EPIK. The public school gig doesn't really appeal to me: large classes, in-class co-teacher. The sweet vacation time is not a big priority for me, and I prefer the afternoon/evening hagwon hours to standard working-day public school hours. The first hagwon I worked at was 90% legit, you could do a whole a lot worse and only a little better. This one I'm applying for now I have personal testimony (friend there now who will be there when I arrive) that it's about on-par, only they pay better. (My FOB contract was an even 2.0 / month.)

I ask because I'm staring down a contract with this second school and I don't want to come across as the d-bag foreigner who thinks they're God's gift to ESL. I have a BA in English, I have a CELTA, I have a year of experience in Korea, and I have about six years' experience working with kids in the states---with enough compliments and accolades accumulated that I'd say with confidence I'm good at what I do. To me, that is worth 2.4. I might even be so bold and say 2.5.

2.5 million for a FOB job? Crikey. I hope that's a monthly salary and not some sketchy hourly/"contractor" rate. Well done on the two of you!

[Njord]

Kokoba - your estimates in the OP are about right on average. You could do a little worse or a little better depending mainly on your patience, luck, and persistence. Factors such as age, looks, and national origin may also play a role, unfortunately.

[Kokoba]

I am a young white American lady in my 20s. Looks is up for debate. =P I know that helps with Korean hireability but I've no intentions on listing those as my credentials...

Thanks, Njord. Glad to know I'm not completely off my rocker, here.

[MyNameIsNobody]

Whoops! Didn't realize you were already in Korea.

[Kokoba]

Well, I'm in the states now. But I was in Korea for a year. I would have considered extending my contract (I do really love Korea that much and have many dear friends there), but I had obligations in the states I had to return to at the end of my year. I might, this time around, consider a two-year stint, depending.

[CentralCali]

[Kokoba]

Oh, I'm well aware. I've done this all before. That was a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor, there. =P