Korean Job Discussion Forums

m8888888 · Joined: 10 Sep 2006

How much do Korean teachers make at public schools?
At my school they have to work every other Saturday, and every day from about 8am-6pm. Every other month they have to stay until 9pm. Some have to work until like 10pm every day (although it's not clear to me why they have to, when other teachers don't....). I was just wondering how much they make (although it couldn't ever be enough for me to justify working those hours!!).
I know at most Hagwans the K teachers make around 1,000,000 won a month, which is also ludicrously low. At my last job, the K teachers made half as much as the foreign teachers, were mostly better qualified than us, but had to do about twice as much work! I don't think I could help but hate foreigners if I was in this situation...
Does anyone have an idea what salaries are like in public schools?

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

I've always been curious, but felt it was rude to ask. So I don't know either. My guess is it depends on how much experience. We have one or two teachers that I know are starting their second year and were fresh out of college last year. They can't be making much at all.

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

New teachers earn about 1.8m, but teachers with many years of experience can earn a lot more than we generally do.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

So probably by their second or third year they are making about the same as we are (assuming your making more then the league min for foreign teachers).

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

I've heard that teacher at high school hagwons (which hire very few waygooks) can get a lot of money. Middle school hagwon korean teachers can also make decent money (my wife gets 2.4 teaching English).

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

Check this thread:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=84206&highlight=

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

This is pay scale for a teacher with 25 years of experience:

And this is pay scale for a new teacher:

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

Really, there is a huge difference between public school teachers and regular hakwon teachers in terms of social respect and pay. The teacher is still king in Korean society.

There are reasons why many public school teachers act snobby; Korean society has already taught them they can.

Even with housing, the average ESL Teacher in Korea is making less than average salary for a college educated professional. Farmers, fast food workers and the unemployed may look up to you but no one else will.

Last I heard, the average salary in Seoul was little over 3 million a month. You add in bonuses and it could be a lot higher. And, mind you, this is just average. You probably need to be raking in over 4 million just to be thought of as a little above average. 6 million + is considered a high wage earner.

But most Koreans do not think of wealth in terms of salary; they think of it in terms of total assets. I remember reading a survey of Koreans and the majority thought you were not really well-off until you had 2 billion won in assets and you were not rich until you had over 5 billion won in assets.

In a city where a 20 pyoung apartment can go for 500 million won, your measly 2.2. million + rent + airfaire ain't much.

Of course, with so many well-off people, the demand and salary for English teaching will always be high. Of course, the question is will the average Westerner here see his or her fair cut? That will always be a mystery on Dave's ESL Cafe...