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:
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. Note: all numbers are based on typical situations as of 2007; individual cases may vary.
|
China Provides |
United States
|
| A tax-free salary of 5,000 RMB per month | $7790/year |
| Free Accommodation (~2500 RMB per month) | $3900 |
| Free Airfare | $1500 |
| Others (bonus, etc) | $1300 |
| Total | $14490 |
When one considers that the cost of living in China is between 1/10th to ¼ 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 |
RMB Month | |
|
3,500 to 4,500 | |
|
4,000 to 5,500 | |
|
4,500 to 6,500 | |
|
4,500 to 7,500 | |
|
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.
