Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Radius]

Yeah, thats the going rate...Would you do it?

I was actually considering China to teach after hearing people talk it up on here--never paying attention to the salary-- but after looking at the exchange rate that comes to around (average) $750-$900/month (5,000-6,000RMB)

Most jobs I saw were offering that. I just couldn't even do it.


When I heard people saying that wages were going up I thought they were already hovering around $1,300-$1,500/month---Let's just say there's a long way to go before you see any amount of people leaving here for there. (which also begs the question: why is Korea paying such high salaries, comparatively speaking, to surrounding Asian countries???)

I'd like to hear from people already teaching there, and how in the world are they saving anything? Is it even worth it?

[Louis VI]

I saw a lot of 9000-12000 RMB a month jobs earlier this year (when I was looking) and several 15000 RMB jobs in Shanghai. You just have to weed through the mass of lower offers.

[nukeday]

yeah it depends where you're looking. sure if you wanna teach uni in china for like 12 hours teaching a week, you might be seeing 6000 RMB jobs. work at a chinese hagwon in shanghai, and it's more likely to be in the 12000-15000 RMB range, with or without accommodation. and you'll work your ass off just like in a korean hagwon i'm sure.

[AsiaESLbound]

I might would do it for a month or two just to see what it's like there, but to make a career out of a $750 a month job isn't happening. $1200 still isn't enough. Come on, this is restaurant and retail pay. In fact, I was hoping to do 2X better after college than just $2000 that Korea pays. Sure you can live OK in most parts of Asia on this chump change, but you need some coin to skate you by when you go home and it would be nice to get ahead. I guess the money's in the money work.

[machoman]

[cragesmure]

It depends on location, definitely. If you work somewhere like Shenzhen or Shanghai, then 6000 is not enough, assuming you are looking to save. A few years back I was working in Beijing at a uni, and was getting 8000, free apartment, no utilities and a monthly allowance at the uni cafeteria. I was saving $1000 Australian a month without trouble. It can be a headache to send money home - you have to get a Chinese person to change the RMB to your curreny and then you can send your dollars or whatever home (I think some banks have different rules, though). That may have changed in the last couple of years.

[metalhead]

Shanghai is expensive; I lived and worked in Suzhou (30 mins from Shangers) and Nanjing (about an hour and a half from Shangers); both are great cities.

My last job was teaching adults, six month contract, pay was 10 000 a month, and extra classes pay 100-150RMB an hour, about 200RMB for privates (this was in Suzhou).

OP, I'll give you prices of things in China so you can work out if it's worth going or not (I think it is, just choose a good location, Jiangsu Province is good as it's a rich province).

At stores:

Can of Coke - 2RMB
Big bottle of local beer - 3-4RMB
Smokes - anywhere from 3 to 150RMB, although 6-12RMB is the norm
Pack of spags - 9RMB
Can of tuna (expensive) - 12RMB
Bread - cheap and everywhere but similar to Korean bread, western loaf of bread at a German bakery about 20RMB, ciabatta bread 3RMB
Imported European cheese - 20-60RMB, depending on what cheese it is
Blue cheese at IKEA - cheap, decent amount for about 20RMB

Eating out varies, you can eat cheap Chinese food (lamb kebabs for 1RMB each, noodles for 5-10RMB), or expensive (but then the Chinese food will be very good) - there's a LOT of different Chinese food styles to choose from, most decent menus will have English on the menu and pictures (which is good, as some of that English makes no sense)

I was in Shanghai recently, at Family Marts over there a tall can of Carlsberg was 7.5RMB, microwaveable burritos and spaghetti about 8RMB, sandwiches like egg and ham on wholewheat bread was 5RMB.

Bars - 25-30RMB for 500ml of Carlsberg or Tiger draft, they usually have happy hour before 9pm, expect to pay almost double in Shanghai

Foreign food is good in cities like Suzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu and Shanghai, a burger at Hooters with Swiss cheese was I think 50RMB, most foreign restaurants a meal will be about 40-100RMB.

Taxis - prices vary by city, Chengdu they started at 6RMB (could be more now), Nanjing and Suzhou 10RMB, Shanghai 12RMB. Buses are 1RMB (no A/C) or 2RMB (with A/C), cheaper if you have a bus card (same price as the subway, cheaper with said card too).

Rent for a decent place is 1700 to 2000 a month, two bedrooms, living room, kitchen fully furnished etc, you have to pay one month deposit then three month's rent, little pricey in the beginning.

Shopping for clothes can be cheap or expensive (there's a lot of foreign brands/stores/companies in China).

Knock-off DVDs are about 5RMB for new releases, 10RMB for old(er) movies (but the selection is amazing).

Essentially, if you don't go to bars each night and not eat too much western food you can save in China, fruits and vegetables are ridiculously cheap (buy them at markets, cheaper and fresher), Internet (ADSL) is 160RMB a month, you pay bills every two months, about 200-300RMB, cell phones you can buy cheap (200 for a new basic Nokia), or expensive (3000-4000 I think for an iPhone).

China is more foreigner-friendly than Korea in a lot of ways, but don't work in the sticks or a city with not a lot of foreigners; you'll soon be out shopping for a rope to hang yourself if you do.

[Oreovictim]

[Tigerstyleone]

[itistime]

"(which also begs the question: why is Korea paying such high salaries, comparatively speaking, to surrounding Asian countries???) "

because it's the only way to attract people that know any better.
Not the most desirable place to live, so they have to pay a higher salary. Would you still be in Korea if Thailand, Vietnam, Indo, and others paid the same salary?

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

Well, let me simply say this. I was paid a few days early at the end of October by my very decent and honest boss. It's a handsome salary for China.

Today is November 17th and I haven't had to touch the pay I got for the month of October. I WILL have to dip into it tomorrow, though.

I also have squirreled away a couple of months pay back from July and August, plus a couple of bonuses for this and that.

China is not half-bad, if you've got some teaching credentials. I probably should keep my mouth shut about this as I had sworn to do in the past. I didn't want hordes of the Korea-weary swarming over. But it seems to be happening anyway, based on the current hiring practices at my school - more than a few Korea vets are landing here and liking it very much.

China is an easy and comfortable place to live if you are able to do it right. Done wrong, it can be hell. Having learned how, I am doing it right. Last year, I lived in a very nice serviced apartment (Sheraton). Now, I sublet my own place from a Chinese friend who gives me a generous discount. I have a hired car/driver to bring me back and forth to school (paid for by the school).

At least at my school, working conditions are very good, as is the salary and the accommodations offered. And Chinese people really are lovely.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

If you're teaching kids at an academy in Shanghai, be prepared to work weekends. Every weekend.

[D.D.]

I make 20000 in a non teaching job in shanghai. pay 6500 for my house and spend about 6000 a month or 200 a day and I have a very good time. Much more fun than Korea.

Any place in China if you have a free place and over 6000 a month you will be having fun.

Dont expect to eat western every night and drink 30-40 rmb beers a lot on under 10000 spending money.

My advice tier two city university job with an apartment for free off campus and load up on the privates. min 6000 salary.

People free lancing in Shanghai are not complaining about their lifestyle.

I am about to give up my 20000 salary to free lance next year in my industry and expect to earn more not tied down to one place.

If you take a job in Shanghai or beijing make sure the apartment is decent, free and not miles from the cbd.

If you have debts back home expect to work in a large city for a hogwan like establishment and do lots of hours.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

[D.D.]

Time is worth more than money. So I choose to live a 5 minute walk to work and wake up 1 hour before work each morning. I also save a lot on taxis as I dont take them to work and I can get home cheaply from a night of partying.

6500 for rent in Shanghai is cheap and I looked around a lot to find a place as nice as mine for that price. Its easy to spend 20000 to 40000 on a place here no worries.

I guess I could live in some shite suburb and eat Chinese every night staying in some ugly apartment and commuting 3 hours a day to save 600 U.S. a month but life for me is about living good now and not saving for later.