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 THE HARD FACTS ABOUT $ALARIES
As with Chinese Nationals travelling to your country for employment, they expect to paid local salaries; however, the Chinese Government recognises that most foreign [overseas]
applicants for teaching positions in China receive salaries in their home countries considerably higher than those paid to local Chinese teachers, and also enjoy a higher standard of living.
An average Chinese teacher salary in 2003 was [universities & colleges] 1,950 RMB per
month and for Middle Schools 1,100 RMB per month (China Bureau of Statistics). On these salaries most teachers support their families in a reasonable manner and enjoy a comfortable [local] lifestyle.
However, for foreign teachers, the Government of China, through SAFEA Approved schools, guarantees a minimum standard of western
accommodation and salaries that bear some semblance [buying power parity] to those received in their home countries. In order to arrive at a salary package that would satisfy
most applicants, the government considered the following factors:
- Comparative costs of living
- Provision of high standard accommodation
- Salary free from taxation
- Basic health care
- Reimbursement of airfares
Therefore, Government Approved schools and universities provide foreign teachers [many of whom do not have any real teaching experience] tax free salaries, free
accommodation, airfares, free basic health care and the salaries that are three to five times higher than that paid to local teachers performing similar tasks, and who often
have many years teaching experience. Teacher applicants who wish to be rewarded relative to their own domestic salary rates,
especially those wanting home country salaries equivalent to 35 to 40 hours per week work, but for which they will only work for 12-16 hours per week teaching in China,
should seriously consider the following.
China Provides |
Australian Dollars
$ Value |
United States
$ Value |
A tax-free salary of 5,000 RMB per month |
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Add to that tax that would be paid in home country |
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Salary Package for 20x45minute
classes per week: |
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Accommodation [Free in China] at $150 pw |
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Total China employment package |
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When one considers that the cost of living in China is between 1/10th to ΒΌ that of
Australia, North America and Europe and the fact that no overtime payments have been included in the above figures, the salary package offered is not unattractive and often not
that much less than one would receive at home, but without the opportunity to experience the unique culture and traditions of the world's fastest growing economy.
Realistic salaries
[depending on province and city] for China |
RMB Month |
1st Degree, without bona fide teaching experience: |
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3,500 to 4,500 |
1st Degree with ESL, TESOL or other qualifications |
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4,000 to 5,500 |
Post Graduate, Masters [Education], MBA etc. |
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4,500 to 6,500 |
Experienced, Qualified Teachers of European ethnic origin |
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4,500 to 7,500 |
PhD, Experienced IT Post Graduates, etc. |
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5,500 to 10,000 |
There is a lot written about salaries, most of it ill-informed. There are also a lot false and
misleading statements made in some Internet advertising. The truth of the matter is salaries in China are not comparable with Western salaries, but certainly allow you to
live in reasonable comfort. The minimum salary payable to a foreign expert is 2,200 RMB per month, however, in reality very few teachers are paid a salary of less than 3,000
RMB. Higher salaries usually mean longer working hours, lower standard of accommodation or loss of some benefits.Any person seeking a position teaching in China should ensure the recruiting entity is
SAFEA or Local Foreign Affairs Office authorised and that the school is Foreign Affairs Office accredited and approved to employ foreign teachers. Failure to do so may result in
your taking a position that is in contravention of the law and if the hosting organisation is not licensed, and many are not, you will have no recourse if they fail to honour the
contract, compell you to work unreasoinably long hours, do not pay your salary, fail to reimburse your airfare and place you in sub-standard accommodation. All SAFEA
authorized organisations are issued a number, such as hereunder, which may be checked against SAFEA, Beijing records. |
