Korean Job Discussion Forums

nomad-ish · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:35 pm Post subject: Korean teacher pay

i've been wondering this for a while, how much do korean English teachers make? starting and experienced?

marlow · Joined: 06 Feb 2005

I'd guess a teacher in their early forties is getting about 3.5 to 4.0.

I'd also guess if they teach English their foreign co-teacher making a lot less than them is more qualified.

shaunew · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Location: Calgary

When they start they make 1.5 million won a month, that is what my wife is making as a high school teacher. It goes up but slow. I think they top off at 4 million a month. But if you become VP or P then you get a lot more plus bribes and handouts and you can scrape from the top.

Korlingus · Joined: 01 Sep 2007

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

I only have the chart from the Department of Labor for 2007 to relate to, but the median salary for Korean teachers is around 39 mil KRW per year. this was the average including the low end for first year teachers which is around 27 mil KRW all the way up to teachers with 25+ years of experience coming in around 53+ mil KRW. Principals and administrators top the scale at between 60 - 67+ mil KRW per year. These were the figures I got from the DOL chart.

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

Here'a thread from before:

How much does the average Korean teacher maker?

It's more than you think: do not forget to factor in annual bonuses as it's a heavy addition to their pay (that's what my CT said at least).

yuria · Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Location: seoul

I actually asked the teachers at my school how much first year Korean teachers make, and they told me that even with taxes taken out, one would receive at least 2.0 a month. And it goes up every year.

lucas_p · Joined: 17 Sep 2007

yuria · Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Location: seoul

yes.. I'm talking about public schools.
For hagwons, since it's "only" considered a temp job, the pay doesn't seem to be that strong. However, there are some hagwon teachers who make amazing money. They get paid by how popular they are...

[email protected] · Joined: 06 Apr 2004

Depends on the school. Mostly size.

yuria · Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Location: seoul

For Korean public school teachers, no matter where you're situated in the country, the pay scale is the same. Hagwons are a different matter though..

soju pizza · Joined: 21 Feb 2007

It also depends on whether or not they're certified teachers. There are tons of teachers who have received their degrees but who can't pass their national test. They make a lot less money.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Average Annual Salary
1. 占십듸옙占싻깍옙占쏙옙占쏙옙: 占쏙옙占쏙옙蛋占�: 3444(占쏙옙占쏙옙)
Elementary School Teacher: Annual Average Wage: 34,440,000 won
http://know.work.go.kr/know/sub4/result_0.asp?search_code=04520&search_name=占십듸옙占싻깍옙占쏙옙占쏙옙

2. 占쌤깍옙占쏘교占쏙옙: 占쏙옙占쏙옙蛋占�: 3664(占쏙옙占쏙옙)
Foreign Language Teacher: Annual Average Wage: 36,640,000 won
http://know.work.go.kr/know/sub4/result_0.asp?search_code=04518&search_name=占쌤깍옙占쏘교占쏙옙

3. 占쏙옙占싻깍옙占쏙옙: 占쏙옙占쏙옙蛋占�: 3852(占쏙옙占쏙옙)
Science Teacher: Annual Average Wage: 38,520,000 won
http://know.work.go.kr/know/sub4/result_0.asp?search_code=04515&search_name=占쏙옙占싻깍옙占쏙옙

4. 占쏙옙회占쏙옙占쏙옙: 占쏙옙占쏙옙蛋占�: 3916(占쏙옙占쏙옙)
Social Studies Teacher: Annual Average Wage: 39,160,000 won
http://know.work.go.kr/know/sub4/result_0.asp?search_code=04514&search_name=占쏙옙회占쏙옙占쏙옙

5. 占쏙옙占쏘교占쏙옙: 占쏙옙占쏙옙蛋占�: 3936(占쏙옙占쏙옙)
National (Korean) Language Teacher: Annual Average Wage: 39,360,000 won
http://know.work.go.kr/know/sub4/result_0.asp?search_code=04512&search_name=占쏙옙占쏘교占쏙옙

6. 占쏙옙占싻깍옙占쏙옙: 占쏙옙占쏙옙蛋占�: 4019(占쏙옙占쏙옙)
Math Teacher: Annual Average Wage: 40,190,000 won
http://know.work.go.kr/know/sub4/result_0.asp?search_code=04513&search_name=占쏙옙占싻깍옙占쏙옙

7. 占싸뱄옙占썼열占쏙옙占쏙옙: 占쏙옙占쏙옙蛋占�: 6907(占쏙옙占쏙옙)
College Professor: Annual Average Wage: 69,070,000 won
http://know.work.go.kr/know/sub4/result_0.asp?search_code=04111&search_name=占싸뱄옙占썼열占쏙옙占쏙옙

占싼깍옙占쏙옙占쏙옙占쏙옙占쏙옙占시쏙옙占쏙옙
http://know.work.go.kr/know

Korean teachers in Korea have guaranteed tenure until they reach the retirement age.
Annual teacher salaries, public schools (with minimum training) (US$)
Expressed in equivalent US$ converted using purchasing power parities.
Starting Salary: 25,177
After 15 years: 42,845
Top of Scale: 68,581
Attracting, Developing and Retaining Effective Teachers
Country Note: Korea
John Coolahan, Paulo Santiago, Rowena Phair and Akira Ninomiya
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Directorate for Education, Education and Training Policy Division
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/49/31690991.pdf

Comparing Educational Systems in South Korea and the United States
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/kimeric.356/societies_attitude_toward_education

Ronald · Joined: 14 Feb 2007

Looks like nobody's getting rich here or there. It's all peanuts.

soju pizza · Joined: 21 Feb 2007

MODS! Make this a sticky!