Salary expectancy and cost of living - ESL Teaching

daniel_harty1982 · Mon 13-Jun-05, 12:23 AM

I am a British business graduate trying to find employment in China (either Hong Kong or Shanghai) either as a teacher of English or in an English speaking business environment.

I am due to have an interview with a company called Saxoncourt in London to teach English in Shanghai. Chinese friends of mine are concerned that the salary is not high enough for me to live in Shanghai within my means. The salary is 7050 RMB before tax with approximately 1500 RMB attributed to accomodation expenditure.

I have no experience of Shanghai and would appreciate your input as to the attractivness (or feasability) of living off this wage in Shanghai. AS I am also job hunting in Hong Kong, an estimate of a minimum wage with which to be self sufficient would help me.

Thanks !

gfell · Mon 13-Jun-05, 12:34 AM

Dear daniel_harty1982,

How many hours will you be expected to teach? If it's around 25 hours per week, I would think the salary should be more around the RMB 8000 per month with FREE accommodation. Check out the terms and benefits for DD Dragon found at http://www.aacircle.com.au/cgi-bin/f...ames/read/1681.

If you take a look at the current ESL jobs on offer in China, you will notice that many of them range from RMB 5,000 ~ RMB 6,000 per month with accommodation included. I'm not too sure if you have a university degree or not, hence why Saxoncourt in London may be paying such a wage.

English Teachers Hunan listed on our ESL Jobs Board pays from RMB 3,500 to RMB 5000 per month, however it only requires 16 teaching hours per week. Round trip airfare and accommodation is provided on top of this.

As you will have a TEFL certificate soon, you should be more marketable opening more doors for you in China.

If you were offered RMB 7050 including accommodation, then I would definitely take the job. However, RMB 7050 less approx RMB 1500 for accommodation leaves 5500. Of course, it will all depend on how many hours you are expected to teach.

Let me know if you need more advice and good luck with things.

gfell · Mon 13-Jun-05, 12:42 AM

If teaching English in Hong Kong, a good rule of thumb would be:

Salary HK$14000+ per month
HK$2000 housing allowance or shared / own apartment
Working hours from 9am til 5pm Monday thru Friday.
Air ticket subsidy or fully paid.

Hong Kong has some of the highest paid English teaching jobs in Asia.

Freelance Teachers can earn: HK$200-$600 per hour.

daniel_harty1982 · Mon 13-Jun-05, 01:30 AM

THanks a lot admin, you have really helped me out

gfell · Mon 13-Jun-05, 09:44 AM

It's a pleasure and best of luck!

Brian · Mon 13-Jun-05, 08:51 PM

Are you set on China? Would Taiwan be an option?

The typical teacher on the mainland would earn about RMB3,000-5,000 (New Taiwan Dollars 12,000-20,000) per month for about 16-18 hours a week.The problem is that many teachers are stuck in out of the way schools and therefore a second job or privates are often out of the question. So adding to possible boredom is a lack of earning potential.

In Taiwan however a teacher working 16 to 18 hours a week would be earning about NTD35,200-43,200 (RMB8,800-10,800) per month. Most teachers in Taiwan would typically work 18 to 25 hours a week, so you could expect to make a lot more here than on the mainland.

The cost of living is higher, but only marginally so, and the quality of living is much better than many areas of rural China.

Money is not everything, but if it is a consideration,and it seems that it is, then why not consider Taiwan? I have lived in both Shanghai and Taipei, and would definitely recommend Taipei over Shaghai.

gege · Wed 22-Jun-05, 05:28 AM

I like Tapai I have never left US. Can you tell me more about the oportunities and requirements.

Phil · Wed 22-Jun-05, 10:04 AM

If you have a University degree and are a native English speaker, then there are plenty of opportunities for you in Taiwan. Just checkout some of the job postings for requirements etc.

Melissia · Thu 23-Jun-05, 12:35 PM

I am currently looking at a position in Harbin, China that pays 5000RMB but I have to pay utilities. Can anyone let me know if I can live on this and save money to send back home. And is it common do tutor on the side even if your contract says no. Thank you for any help you can offer.

ESL Teacher · Thu 23-Jun-05, 01:10 PM

5000 RMB. So your only expenses then are utilities and food? No rent to pay? Sounds very reasonable. But how many hours are you sacrificing to get this pay?

Mon 13-Jun-05, 12:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
daniel_harty1982 ESL Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2	Salary expectancy and cost of living I am a British business graduate trying to find employment in China (either Hong Kong or Shanghai) either as a teacher of English or in an English speaking business environment. I am due to have an interview with a company called Saxoncourt in London to teach English in Shanghai. Chinese friends of mine are concerned that the salary is not high enough for me to live in Shanghai within my means. The salary is 7050 RMB before tax with approximately 1500 RMB attributed to accomodation expenditure. I have no experience of Shanghai and would appreciate your input as to the attractivness (or feasability) of living off this wage in Shanghai. AS I am also job hunting in Hong Kong, an estimate of a minimum wage with which to be self sufficient would help me. Thanks !

Mon 13-Jun-05, 12:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: Australian Occupation: Educator Location: Posts: 656	It will depend on teaching hours Dear daniel_harty1982, How many hours will you be expected to teach? If it's around 25 hours per week, I would think the salary should be more around the RMB 8000 per month with FREE accommodation. Check out the terms and benefits for DD Dragon found at http://www.aacircle.com.au/cgi-bin/f...ames/read/1681. If you take a look at the current ESL jobs on offer in China, you will notice that many of them range from RMB 5,000 ~ RMB 6,000 per month with accommodation included. I'm not too sure if you have a university degree or not, hence why Saxoncourt in London may be paying such a wage. English Teachers Hunan listed on our ESL Jobs Board pays from RMB 3,500 to RMB 5000 per month, however it only requires 16 teaching hours per week. Round trip airfare and accommodation is provided on top of this. As you will have a TEFL certificate soon, you should be more marketable opening more doors for you in China. If you were offered RMB 7050 including accommodation, then I would definitely take the job. However, RMB 7050 less approx RMB 1500 for accommodation leaves 5500. Of course, it will all depend on how many hours you are expected to teach. Let me know if you need more advice and good luck with things. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Mon 13-Jun-05, 12:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: Australian Occupation: Educator Location: Posts: 656	Teaching English in Hong Kong If teaching English in Hong Kong, a good rule of thumb would be: Salary HK$14000+ per month HK$2000 housing allowance or shared / own apartment Working hours from 9am til 5pm Monday thru Friday. Air ticket subsidy or fully paid. Hong Kong has some of the highest paid English teaching jobs in Asia. Freelance Teachers can earn: HK$200-$600 per hour. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Mon 13-Jun-05, 09:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: Australian Occupation: Educator Location: Posts: 656	It's a pleasure and best of luck! __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Mon 13-Jun-05, 08:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Brian Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 14	Are you set on China? Would Taiwan be an option? The typical teacher on the mainland would earn about RMB3,000-5,000 (New Taiwan Dollars 12,000-20,000) per month for about 16-18 hours a week.The problem is that many teachers are stuck in out of the way schools and therefore a second job or privates are often out of the question. So adding to possible boredom is a lack of earning potential. In Taiwan however a teacher working 16 to 18 hours a week would be earning about NTD35,200-43,200 (RMB8,800-10,800) per month. Most teachers in Taiwan would typically work 18 to 25 hours a week, so you could expect to make a lot more here than on the mainland. The cost of living is higher, but only marginally so, and the quality of living is much better than many areas of rural China. Money is not everything, but if it is a consideration,and it seems that it is, then why not consider Taiwan? I have lived in both Shanghai and Taipei, and would definitely recommend Taipei over Shaghai. __________________ List of Schools in Taiwan List of Schools in China

Mon 13-Jun-05, 01:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
daniel_harty1982 ESL Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2	THanks a lot admin, you have really helped me out

Wed 22-Jun-05, 05:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
gege ESL Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Nationality: Miami Florida Occupation: Quality Control/ Teacher Posts: 1	I like Tapai I have never left US. Can you tell me more about the oportunities and requirements.

Wed 22-Jun-05, 10:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
Phil ESL Rookie Join Date: Jun 2005 Occupation: English Instructor Location: Posts: 18	If you have a University degree and are a native English speaker, then there are plenty of opportunities for you in Taiwan. Just checkout some of the job postings for requirements etc. __________________ ------------------------- English Insructor Taipei, Taiwan

Thu 23-Jun-05, 12:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
Melissia ESL Rookie Join Date: Jun 2005 Nationality: USA Occupation: High School Teacher Location: Posts: 19	I am currently looking at a position in Harbin, China that pays 5000RMB but I have to pay utilities. Can anyone let me know if I can live on this and save money to send back home. And is it common do tutor on the side even if your contract says no. Thank you for any help you can offer.

Thu 23-Jun-05, 01:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
ESL Teacher Wannabe Guru Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Posts: 31	5000 RMB. So your only expenses then are utilities and food? No rent to pay? Sounds very reasonable. But how many hours are you sacrificing to get this pay?

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