Alexandra Jade Worsham <jadanalexander@msn.com> -- 12 May 2005

if this is your first job in china 4500 RMB is pretty good considering alot people start with 2000 RMB. I started with 2000 and worked up. Look over your contract carefully though.

___________________

Take it! - ESL discussion
yank Paul -- 12 May 2005

I've a MA and started 3 years ago with 3.500/rmb. Today I am making 6.500/rmb and works for me. Best, Paul

___________________

4500RMB - ESL discussion
jinchafa -- 12 May 2005

Forget about it. With your experience you deserve much more. You should accept nothing less than 6000RMB with multiple benefits. All utilities should be paid, a computer should be provided in your apt. with internet paid for. A water dispenser with water paid by the school should be provided.

Anyway, shop around - you can get a much better deal. A one bedroom apartment doesn't sound like much to me. Ask them to send you a picture of the apartment. If it's located on campus it could be a converted student dormitory, which by local standards may be considered ok, but is not anywhere near what you can negotiate for. The two free meals they are trying to entice you with means nothing. University cafeteria food totally sucks. If you were paying for it, the cost would amount to around 100RMB a month.

Ok, you've talked to other teachers there. Maybe they'll disagree with everything I've said here. If so, ask them where else they've taught in China.

Good luck.

______________________

4500? Try 7000 - ESL discussion
kathy -- 15 May 2005

I am making 7000rmb with 1-year experience. My friend from England is making 16,000rmb plus housing in China. He doesn't even have a degree!!!!!!!

_____________________

that is not true....unless - ESL discussion
Ian -- 15 May 2005

I doubt your friend makes that much. If he or she does, it is because he or she works for a company not a school. Someone who makes that much is usually working for some big joint-venture company, such as in marketing.

You won't make that much teaching, no way. There are only a few exceptions and they require a degree. Such as director of studies for a big company like WEB English, a kindergarten teacher at a famous kindergarten, or teaching IB level(usually for one of these rich private schools that caters to foreigner's children).

Now, 7000 is not a problem, you can make that in many of the larger cities. But, the current rate is between 5000 - 6000 including accomidation. Beijing and Shanghai, you can expect the same, or you can choose to do your on apartment and make about 2000 more.

Some of the little villages, and not so modern cities will offer only 4000. Also the Universities and the more remote places will still offer only 4000. I don't know why so little, but maybe things are cheaper there, but I seriously doubt it is cheap enough to make such a big difference.

There are some serious imbalances in the pay rate scales throughout China. It is not a set standard that equals out evenly.

For example, you spend more living in Beijing, but you make more, in the end you will bank more.

Look at two ROUGH estimates:
A.
Working in Beijing:
salary base: 8000 per month
accomidation: 1600 per month
basic living expenses: 1800 per month
------
bank about 4600 rmb

B.
Working in Sichuan
salary base: 4000
accomidation: free
basic living expenses: 1000 rmb
-----
bank about 3000 rmb

SO you see, these are just rough estimates, just imagine some of the people whom make 10,000 rmb teaching per month, they bank at least 5000 rmb per month. It is not equal yet, so even if you spend less in another place, you will not make as much profit as you would if you lived in the metropolises. So it basically comes down to: is the money important or not? Do you want to live in a big city or not?

You can get good teaching experience and have a great job in either places.

_____________________

4500 remimbi OK?
Joe Archer -- 11 May 2005

I'm a licensed-8 years teacher from New York. Best offer so far is a university in Zhoushan city-seaside city. Cond: single one room furnished apt within campus-prof living area,20-hours week,adults-less than 25 students,2 free meals a day,5 days a week,Chinese classes free,they are 13 lawois teachers teaching there. I spoke to 2 Americans.
Any feedback welcome. Joe

_____________________

ian is right - ESL discussion
john -- 19 May 2005

I agree with Ian. I made 9,000 a month in Hangzhou (with one year of experience). My apartment rent was 1,500 RNB. I believe Hangzhou is relatively expensive to live in but I managed to save about 5,000 RNB a month. Unfortunately, I had a weekly 40 hour obligation of 25 class and 15 office hours. After 10 months of work I burned out on the situation. If I had had a university job I could have made 4,500 a month with apartment and a much lighter teaching load. In addition, I could have worked part time at a private school and probably made the same about of money with fewer committed hours. My point is, I guess, your overall situation is as important as your salary. And 16,000 a month is too high for a typical job...