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Depths of My Soul
Joined: 04 Apr 2010
Location: In The Sun
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 Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 1:21 pm Post subject: Why is the pay so crap? |
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In Busan...........
It seems that the rate of pay for teaching English there is the lowest in Korea. Does anybody know why? |
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air76
Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| It's because they supplement your income with free seafood.....and also because a lot of people want to live in Busan, so that drives wages down. |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Why do you think this? what are you basing this on? |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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The pay is crap because of bonehead teachers signing for any wage. Period. You have every Joe Smuckatelli coming to korea hoping to make the big bucks which there are not. Most teachers are desperate for a job any will sign any 'ol contract. Schools know it...if this fool won't sign...another will.
School owners want only one thing....a body to teach and work for cheap. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| air76 wrote: |
| because a lot of people want to live in Busan, so that drives wages down. |
That's what a recruiter told me in 2002. The same thing was said of Jeju.
There are 2.5-2.6 mill jobs in those places, though usually the good jobs aren't the ones advertising last minute. A good hagwon doesn't need to advertise. Seriously, experienced ESLers keep their ear to the ground and hear about the good ones and snap them up. |
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austinmc86
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Because Busan is very competitive and they know that can give lower wages.... simple.
In fact, everywhere the wages are going down.... |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Define crap anyways, and are we talking hagwon or PS? Geez, I take home 3 million with some extra classes with 3 years experience and no certs or anything. It's the exchange rate I'm more concerned with. Learn to budget, and what do you expect from a relatively low skilled job you can get off the internet? |
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caylia
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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I just saw a post where the lower end for a Busan position is 1.5 M KW
That really sucks! |
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Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Not Korea
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Busan is awesome!!! |
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Old Surrender
Joined: 28 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| caylia wrote: |
| I just saw a post where the lower end for a Busan position is 1.5 M KW |
Pity the numbskull who lands that gig. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
The pay is crap because of bonehead teachers signing for any wage. Period. You have every Joe Smuckatelli coming to korea hoping to make the big bucks which there are not. Most teachers are desperate for a job any will sign any 'ol contract. Schools know it...if this fool won't sign...another will.
School owners want only one thing....a body to teach and work for cheap. |
Exactly. The median personal income for a male with a bachelor's degree is $52,265 back home in the U.S. That is over 4.8 million won a month. Granted, there are some bonus perks here, such as a tiny apartment and a free plane ticket, however, the monetary value of these are far less than the monetary value of a benefits package attached to a professional job back home. So no, apologists, the money is not good here.
Additionally, the median personal income for a male with a master's degree is $67,123. Wowzers! That is over 6.2 million won a month! How many people with master's degrees in Korea do you know making that? Zero? None are making what is typical in the United States? |
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Kurtz
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
Location: ples bilong me
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
The pay is crap because of bonehead teachers signing for any wage. Period. You have every Joe Smuckatelli coming to korea hoping to make the big bucks which there are not. Most teachers are desperate for a job any will sign any 'ol contract. Schools know it...if this fool won't sign...another will.
School owners want only one thing....a body to teach and work for cheap. |
Exactly. The median personal income for a male with a bachelor's degree is $52,265 back home in the U.S. That is over 4.8 million won a month. Granted, there are some bonus perks here, such as a tiny apartment and a free plane ticket, however, the monetary value of these are far less than the monetary value of a benefits package attached to a professional job back home. So no, apologists, the money is not good here.
Additionally, the median personal income for a male with a master's degree is $67,123. Wowzers! That is over 6.2 million won a month! How many people with master's degrees in Korea do you know making that? Zero? None are making what is typical in the United States? |
I'm certainly no apologist but what is the median income for an unemployed person in the US with a Bachelors? I think for many having any job is better than being unemployed and living as an adult with the parents.
Granted, you'd have to be a moron to take 1.5m |
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madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="World Traveler"]
Exactly. The median personal income for a male with a bachelor's degree is $52,265 back home in the U.S. That is over 4.8 million won a month. Granted, there are some bonus perks here, such as a tiny apartment and a free plane ticket, however, the monetary value of these are far less than the monetary value of a benefits package attached to a professional job back home.quote]
That $52K is more around $35K after taxes. Factor in housing and you are down to $23K. Subtract car payments and insurance and you around $18K. Then wonder how you are going to get a job at all with double digit unemployment and a degree from Podunk U. Whine all you want. But the very fact that you're in Korea means that you know what you wrote is wrong. |
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Dragoon
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 12:39 am Post subject: |
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| Pay is crap everywhere these days...even with the F-visa its pretty garbage here. If I wasn't such a bum...I'd be outta here myself. I think the Master Chief guy from "G.I. Jane" said it best.... "seek life elsewhere" |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 3:31 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Exactly. The median personal income for a male with a bachelor's degree is $52,265 back home in the U.S. That is over 4.8 million won a month. Granted, there are some bonus perks here, such as a tiny apartment and a free plane ticket, however, the monetary value of these are far less than the monetary value of a benefits package attached to a professional job back home. So no, apologists, the money is not good here.
Additionally, the median personal income for a male with a master's degree is $67,123. Wowzers! That is over 6.2 million won a month! How many people with master's degrees in Korea do you know making that? Zero? None are making what is typical in the United States? |
1- The amounts you quote are before TAXES.
2- The median income you quote is nice but HOW MANY BAs and MAs are under employed or not employed at all in the current economic climate in the US?
3- Living expenses...these need to be factored in.
4- Break the income stats down according to the major of that BA-MA to see how many social science grads get those jobs.
I am not saying Korea is all roses but you showed one side of things only. Still, if you CAN get a job that pays that median wage with a BA or MA, good for you.
As a one time example, a friend of mine works for the Public Sector in the Ottawa region.
He holds a MA.
He makes close to 70K per year in an education related field.
His take home pay is about 3000 CAD per month (so figure 3.2M Won). That is before paying his rent, car payment, gas, insurance, food....
At the end of every month, he saves roughly 200CAD.
This is a Canadian example of course...
For many people it boils down to savings potential and disposable income. In Korea, some people may earn less in raw pay but the proportion of their income that goes to savings or disposable income tends to be far higher. With proper planning you can make that work for you in ways that will put you years ahead of the financial game compared to someone who just stays back home. This is case by case of course...and depends on qualifications, drive and networking.
All that being said, my friend is accumulating a great pension and has health care and other benefits like dental.
Its not black and white, thats all I am saying. |
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