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Posts: 482

Shifu

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Q: Have teaching salaries in big cities such as Beijing and Shenzhen actually gone DOWN this year?

It could be me, but it seems this way a bit to me.

 

Beijing:

 

Kindergarten Teacher for 10-12k per month with 5k air subsidy.

 

Just one example I have seen today.

 

It's depressing me.

 

As an aside, is the flight bonus actually a con?

 

All the school where I have been offered this have required a receipt with a Chinese tax stamp on it.  How can we get this when we purchase the tickets in the UK, on Lastminute, for example?

 

One job actually gave me cash, but this was taxed on the amount which was not covered by receipts for things which were submit-able under tax accounting law, and even these receipts had to have my name on and the Chinese stamp ON TOP.

 

 

10 years 49 weeks ago in  Teaching & Learning - China

 
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Posts: 164

Governor

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I would suggest leaving the big cities for small cities, in BJ you are a small fish in a big pond, in a smaller city you will be a big fish in a big pond and have more opportunities to pick up part time work and have more leverage in negotiating your contract.  just my 2 cents

Robk:

I agree. 

 

In addition, you will be appreciated more... have more opportunities to be included in various activities and have less restrictions. 

 

Beijing seems like a city that really doesn't want the presence of foreigners. 

7 years 27 weeks ago
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10 years 49 weeks ago
 
Posts: 791

Shifu

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Tax? Geez....who's paying tax? Receipts for an airfare. I'm staying here.....none of that.

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10 years 49 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Absolutely. Just last year I remember SZ had one of the highest salaries around with many offers over 20k. Now, 90% are 10-15k and accommodation and flight allowance if you're lucky. Or you must work for 40 hours. What happened is that pretty much all of the recruiters (cause 95% of ads are not direct hires) standardized the offers in that range too.

 

The same applies to GZ schools.

 

I don't know about BJ because I've never had the intention of working there.

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7 years 27 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2531

Emperor

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I think it is quite possible that due to the restriction changes in Tier 1 cities that less ESL teachers are being introduced. If that is the case, then agencies make less and possibly need a high percentage of the compensation that schools offered in the past. So possibly agencies are taking this now? 

 

Regardless, as mentioned above... you should leave the Tier 1 cities. Why? 

 

1) Tier 2 or lower cities offer almost the same luxurious now. 

 

The city where I bought an apartment may be considered Tier 4-5, with a million or so. It has a Wal-Mart, movies theaters, various cuisine, speed train, airport, many malls... whatever you would need. 

 

2) Lower Tiered cities appreciate you more. 

 

The novelty of foreigners is quite lost on larger cities. In smaller cities, it still exists which means you get special treatment. Sure, the attention could be negative at times (stares, whispers) but mainly it is positive with free dinners, more opportunities to get around the system. 

 

3) Tax is lower & cost of living is lower

 

You do pay less tax in smaller cities and the cost of living is significantly lower. Taxi rates, housing costs (if you rent or buy) and other activities cost a fraction of the cost. But I only make a fraction of the money! That's true, but the workload is significantly less, so you can supplement your income with tutoring. I know ESL teachers making 20k RMB in my city and the average local salary is 2k per month. Working with MUCH LESS effort than say Shenzhen and making the same salary with a much cost of living... seems like a no-brainer if you have the choice. 

 

4) Closely Knit Foreign Groups

 

The foreigners in the smaller cities seem to get a long better. Maybe it is because they need each other more... or because they can just relate to each other better being in the same situation. If you look at foreigner groups in larger cities, they seem to be more standoff-ish and segregated into some kind of a "foreigner hierarchy". This doesn't happen in my city very often. 

 

---

 

Also, you get to see a more realistic view on China. People in larger cities also seem to be kind of easily irritated while in smaller cities they seem more laid back. If they are lowering the salaries, there is really no reason to continue on in a Tier 1 city at all.  

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7 years 27 weeks ago
 
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