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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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No_hite_pls
Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Location: Don't hate me because I'm right
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: Final Pay 1,870,000won per month. Supposed to be 2.1mil |
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| singerdude wrote: |
| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| Kuval wrote: |
So my employer has been paying me 1,870,000 per month... which is my salary, minus 200 bones a month for benefits/pension, and -30,000 for a monthly maintenance fee on my apartment.
Is this about right? Or am I getting ripped? |
Your wage is below the minimum wage of several of the countries (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) that E2's are allowed to come from and very close to others (Canada, England).
I always thought that people who probably spent thousands on a university education should be making more than minimum wage. |
How convenient of you not to factor in benefits like health care (50% paid by employer, pension 50% paid by employer), airfare (paid by employer), housing (rent free with a minimal monthly utilities fee), lower income tax vs back home, severance...
Its ok, facts can get in the way of making a point.
As for wages, they have dropped or stagnated for newbies. This largely due to a rather important market shift as a result of the US 2008 economic meltdown. That drove tons of applicants to Korea and turned the market from an employees market to an employers market. The Korean economy also showed signs of a slowdown. The result is that employers now are faced with tons of applicants and can be picky. These applicants prefer a job (even a lower salary than before in Korea) to NO JOB at all and who can blame them. It is so easy to slam people who accept these "low wages" but frankly, if you were faced with no job prospects, you might start to think 2.1 in Korea with housing and airfare becomes an attractive option... |
In most of the countries I mentioned health care is free if you make minimum wage. You also will not pay s--t for taxes if you are only making minimum wage. The first 11,000 you make in Canada is non-taxable. You will get a rebate check for any sales tax you have paid too.
Airfare is benefit? How are you suppose to get here if it wasn't a benefit.
Ok 2.1 salary in 2005 would have been around 2,300 CAD, when minimum wage in Canada was around 7 dollars an hour.
Today 2013 2.1 salary would been around 1,900 CAD and minimum wage is 10.25 now in Canada.
Canada is better option for Canadian college grads than Korea in 2013. |
You forgot to mention rent. Big point there. The average rent in the US is $800. A quick check on google told me the average bachelor place in Canada is in the range of 600-700/month. Factor in that you would be paying that after taxes and it would cost you(at least in the US) more than 20% on top of that. So add at least 800-900,000 to your salary, factoring in the exchange rate. Now it's more than minimum wage. |
True. But ESLer's in Korean are not making big bucks despite popular beliefs of fellow ESLer's and Koreans. I read an article from the Korean herald that said that 70% of Korean college graduates made 2.0 or more in their first job after university. In general there will be more opportunities for job advancement at home. This is sacrifice you are making when you are coming here. I wouldn't make that sacrifice for 2.1 now. The math just doesn't add up.
Last edited by No_hite_pls on Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:23 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| True. But ESLer's in Korean are not making big bucks despite popular beliefs of fellow ESLer's and Koreans. I read an article from the Korean herald that said that 70% of Korean college graduates made 2.0 or more in their first job after university. |
For most TESLers here, this is their first job after university, so compared to those 70%, they are making big bucks |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:53 pm Post subject: Re: Final Pay 1,870,000won per month. Supposed to be 2.1mil |
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| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| Otherside wrote: |
| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| Kuval wrote: |
So my employer has been paying me 1,870,000 per month... which is my salary, minus 200 bones a month for benefits/pension, and -30,000 for a monthly maintenance fee on my apartment.
Is this about right? Or am I getting ripped? |
Your wage is below the minimum wage of several of the countries (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) that E2's are allowed to come from and very close to others (Canada, England).
I always thought that people who probably spent thousands on a university education should be making more than minimum wage. |
GTFO troll. His salary is lower.. So is his cost of living. With your big ego, why aren't you running a multinational instead of posting here at Dave's? |
People are accepting too low of salaries and it's driving down wages. It's good point otherside. Don't be so touchy. |
Let's pretend it's a good point, even so, it's completely irrelevant to this thread. The OP is asking whether his take home pay is correct, and you use this is a soapbox to complain about low wages, take a jibe at teachers earning "below mininum wage" and throw a bit of blame at the teachers accepting these jobs.
Well guess what, I know don't know your background and I personally don't care, however, earning 2.1 in Korea will result in far more savings than earning minimum wage in the West. Many jobs offer a free apartment? How's the public transport? Health care and pension included? What's the cost of living? Tax rates? All of these combine to make working in Korea far more attractive than earning minimum wage in the West.
Additionally, complaining about people accepting low salaries and bringing the wages down..that's supply and demand... even so, if there was more demand for teachers, salaries may be 2.2 or 2.3 instead of 2.1. If an extra 200k a month is the difference between being a success and failing at life then you need to get your priorities straight.
But instead of starting a thread and creating a discussion, you throw in a few lines without any debate on the pros and cons? Why don't you just copy/paste those 2 lines and put them in every thread.
I stand by my original statement, GTFO TROLL. |
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No_hite_pls
Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Location: Don't hate me because I'm right
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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| In general there will be more opportunities for job advancement at home. This is sacrifice you are making when you are coming here. I wouldn't make that sacrifice for 2.1 in 2013. The math just doesn't add up to me. |
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singerdude
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| In general there will be more opportunities for job advancement at home. This is sacrifice you are making when you are coming here. I wouldn't make that sacrifice for 2.1 in 2013. The math just doesn't add up to me. |
I agree that the lack of advancement would be a concern for a long term commitment here. If I were still on an E2, I would have to seriously consider that downside. Although it isn't enough to rule it out, I would look into other options (China, etc) to see if the opportunities there are better. |
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Kuval
Joined: 19 Aug 2012
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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| singerdude wrote: |
| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| In general there will be more opportunities for job advancement at home. This is sacrifice you are making when you are coming here. I wouldn't make that sacrifice for 2.1 in 2013. The math just doesn't add up to me. |
I agree that the lack of advancement would be a concern for a long term commitment here. If I were still on an E2, I would have to seriously consider that downside. Although it isn't enough to rule it out, I would look into other options (China, etc) to see if the opportunities there are better. |
You get a 10% wage increase every year... what's the big deal? You're beating inflation with style, which is more than you get at most jobs. After 10 years, you're earning 54mill a year. If you start when you're 25, when you're 35, you're pulling in 54... PLUS ALL THE MONEY SAVED ON BENEFITS AND THE WORKS. Oh, and this doesn't include the severance you've earned each year. Plus the roundtrip airfare.
I dunno, it's a pretty good deal if you ask me! |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:29 am Post subject: Re: Final Pay 1,870,000won per month. Supposed to be 2.1mil |
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| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| Kuval wrote: |
So my employer has been paying me 1,870,000 per month... which is my salary, minus 200 bones a month for benefits/pension, and -30,000 for a monthly maintenance fee on my apartment.
Is this about right? Or am I getting ripped? |
Your wage is below the minimum wage of several of the countries (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) that E2's are allowed to come from and very close to others (Canada, England).
I always thought that people who probably spent thousands on a university education should be making more than minimum wage. |
How convenient of you not to factor in benefits like health care (50% paid by employer, pension 50% paid by employer), airfare (paid by employer), housing (rent free with a minimal monthly utilities fee), lower income tax vs back home, severance...
Its ok, facts can get in the way of making a point.
As for wages, they have dropped or stagnated for newbies. This largely due to a rather important market shift as a result of the US 2008 economic meltdown. That drove tons of applicants to Korea and turned the market from an employees market to an employers market. The Korean economy also showed signs of a slowdown. The result is that employers now are faced with tons of applicants and can be picky. These applicants prefer a job (even a lower salary than before in Korea) to NO JOB at all and who can blame them. It is so easy to slam people who accept these "low wages" but frankly, if you were faced with no job prospects, you might start to think 2.1 in Korea with housing and airfare becomes an attractive option... |
In most of the countries I mentioned health care is free if you make minimum wage. You also will not pay s--t for taxes if you are only making minimum wage. The first 11,000 you make in Canada is non-taxable. You will get a rebate check for any sales tax you have paid too.
Airfare is benefit? How are you suppose to get here if it wasn't a benefit.
Ok 2.1 salary in 2005 would have been around 2,300 CAD, when minimum wage in Canada was around 7 dollars an hour.
Today 2013 2.1 salary would been around 1,900 CAD and minimum wage is 10.25 now in Canada.
Canada is better option for Canadian college grads than Korea in 2013. |
1- Health care is not free in Canada. It is funded by income taxes, sales taxes and so on.
2- Airfare IS a benefit. It is something the employer offers the employee and hence is considered part of the renumeration package.
3- Canada may be a better option than Korea for some college grads in 2013 but many grads end up stuck in service industry job(s).
4- Provided housing is a big benefit and also part of the renumeration package.
5- Comparative savings potential has to be accounted for as well as does cost of living (what you need).
All I am saying is that your paycheck is not representative of your total income as a teacher in Korea. |
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singerdude
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Kuval wrote: |
| singerdude wrote: |
| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| In general there will be more opportunities for job advancement at home. This is sacrifice you are making when you are coming here. I wouldn't make that sacrifice for 2.1 in 2013. The math just doesn't add up to me. |
I agree that the lack of advancement would be a concern for a long term commitment here. If I were still on an E2, I would have to seriously consider that downside. Although it isn't enough to rule it out, I would look into other options (China, etc) to see if the opportunities there are better. |
You get a 10% wage increase every year... what's the big deal? You're beating inflation with style, which is more than you get at most jobs. After 10 years, you're earning 54mill a year. If you start when you're 25, when you're 35, you're pulling in 54... PLUS ALL THE MONEY SAVED ON BENEFITS AND THE WORKS. Oh, and this doesn't include the severance you've earned each year. Plus the roundtrip airfare.
I dunno, it's a pretty good deal if you ask me! |
That may be true for the first few years if you meet the requirements for each level, but you will hit a ceiling of 2.6 mil and never go beyond. You could make more by doing after school work but you will never be given a base salary of more than 2.6. Well, 2.7 if you live in a remote area. |
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Deja
Joined: 18 Mar 2011
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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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ESLers making 5.000.000KRW a month in their 35? How many can come even close?
OT: Since I am not an ESLer/English native myself, I am not fully aware of exact taxes for ESLers in Korea, but aside from the % you pay on income each month, don't you need to pay yearly taxes, to account for difference? (with ~2.000.000/mo, that's already in the second/third tax bracket). Not counting the 5/2 tax exemption years. |
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Kuval
Joined: 19 Aug 2012
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 5:54 am Post subject: |
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| singerdude wrote: |
| Kuval wrote: |
| singerdude wrote: |
| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| In general there will be more opportunities for job advancement at home. This is sacrifice you are making when you are coming here. I wouldn't make that sacrifice for 2.1 in 2013. The math just doesn't add up to me. |
I agree that the lack of advancement would be a concern for a long term commitment here. If I were still on an E2, I would have to seriously consider that downside. Although it isn't enough to rule it out, I would look into other options (China, etc) to see if the opportunities there are better. |
You get a 10% wage increase every year... what's the big deal? You're beating inflation with style, which is more than you get at most jobs. After 10 years, you're earning 54mill a year. If you start when you're 25, when you're 35, you're pulling in 54... PLUS ALL THE MONEY SAVED ON BENEFITS AND THE WORKS. Oh, and this doesn't include the severance you've earned each year. Plus the roundtrip airfare.
I dunno, it's a pretty good deal if you ask me! |
That may be true for the first few years if you meet the requirements for each level, but you will hit a ceiling of 2.6 mil and never go beyond. You could make more by doing after school work but you will never be given a base salary of more than 2.6. Well, 2.7 if you live in a remote area. |
This girl I know from south africa was making 2.8 her first year... so don't tell me there's a 2.6 ceiling |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:46 am Post subject: |
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Yes, and I was forced back to 2.1 after 2 years PS experience and 5 years
hagwon experience. It was either accept the low wage or no job.
Your SA teacher is the exception. Could it be her "looks" were a
factor? |
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singerdude
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Kuval wrote: |
| singerdude wrote: |
| Kuval wrote: |
| singerdude wrote: |
| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| In general there will be more opportunities for job advancement at home. This is sacrifice you are making when you are coming here. I wouldn't make that sacrifice for 2.1 in 2013. The math just doesn't add up to me. |
I agree that the lack of advancement would be a concern for a long term commitment here. If I were still on an E2, I would have to seriously consider that downside. Although it isn't enough to rule it out, I would look into other options (China, etc) to see if the opportunities there are better. |
You get a 10% wage increase every year... what's the big deal? You're beating inflation with style, which is more than you get at most jobs. After 10 years, you're earning 54mill a year. If you start when you're 25, when you're 35, you're pulling in 54... PLUS ALL THE MONEY SAVED ON BENEFITS AND THE WORKS. Oh, and this doesn't include the severance you've earned each year. Plus the roundtrip airfare.
I dunno, it's a pretty good deal if you ask me! |
That may be true for the first few years if you meet the requirements for each level, but you will hit a ceiling of 2.6 mil and never go beyond. You could make more by doing after school work but you will never be given a base salary of more than 2.6. Well, 2.7 if you live in a remote area. |
This girl I know from south africa was making 2.8 her first year... so don't tell me there's a 2.6 ceiling |
I was speaking about base salary. She must have been doing after school programs, or some other type of overtime. My wife is a public school teacher, and one of her responsibilities was foreign teacher salary. She told me the teacher's base salary couldn't be more than that amount. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| singerdude wrote: |
[
I was speaking about base salary. She must have been doing after school programs, or some other type of overtime. My wife is a public school teacher, and one of her responsibilities was foreign teacher salary. She told me the teacher's base salary couldn't be more than that amount. |
Base salary differs by province...it is not the same nationwide. |
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singerdude
Joined: 18 Jul 2009
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| singerdude wrote: |
[
I was speaking about base salary. She must have been doing after school programs, or some other type of overtime. My wife is a public school teacher, and one of her responsibilities was foreign teacher salary. She told me the teacher's base salary couldn't be more than that amount. |
Base salary differs by province...it is not the same nationwide. |
I never said it was the same nationwide. I was speaking about the highest possible base salary, which is 2.6, or 2.7 if you live in a province other than Jeju.
But the OP was saying that it is possible to make 4.5/month after 10 years, which is certainly not possible. |
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