Teach English In China
Teach for the experience, rather than for the money
An average Chinese teacher salary is about 800 to 1200 RMB per month, and on this salary most teachers
support their family in a reasonable manner and enjoy a comfortable, local lifestyle. Teaching English in China
however will not make you rich. The average foreign English teacher's pay is about 4,500 to
6,000 RMB per month. If you would like to know how much you can make teaching in China, try this currency conversion tool.
Many English teacher's go to China to experience the culture, learn a little Chinese and feast on the
endless variety of exotic foods. Food and taxes are next to nothing in China.
Salaries may be lower in smaller cities, but then again so will be the cost of living.
Your salary usually includes an apartment with kitchen, bathroom, TV, telephone and basic furnishings. If not, you should get a higher salary. Your school may or may not provide a bicycle, tape recorder, computer (or access to one), washing machine. You usually have to pay for your food and internet service in your apartment.
Generally speaking, teaching English is a year-round business with no particular calendar or holidays. Even if schools employ teachers at the start of their academic year, teachers leave or additional positions are created, so job opportunities are available during the course of the year. It is true, however, that in China there is a particular demand for teachers to start in September or October.
SAFEA or Local Foreign Affairs Office authorised
For foreign English teachers, the Government of China, through SAFEA Approved schools, guarantees a minimum standard of western accommodation and salaries that bear some semblance 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 English teachers tax free salaries, free accommodation, airfares, free basic health care and the salaries that are 3 to 5 times higher than that paid to local teachers performing similar tasks, and who often have many years teaching experience.
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 English teachers. Failure to do so may result in you 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, compel you to work unreasonably long hours, do not pay your salary, fail to reimburse your airfare and place you in sub-standard accommodation. All SAFEA authorised organisations are issued a number, which may be checked against SAFEA, Beijing records.
Tax
For foreign English teachers, the Government of China, through SAFEA Approved schools, guarantees salary free from taxation for amounts less than 4800RMB per month. For amounts over 4800 RMB per month, the tax is 20%.
Contracts
The standard probation period is about a month. After this, the Foreign Affairs Office will sign a contract with you. These are usually fairly standardized, but you have to be careful. Things like provision of bicycles and washing machines are tricky sometimes. You should have agreed on the salary before you came. If you're unhappy about something, you can probably negotiate, but be reasonable.
Your contract will specify what percentage of your salary you can change to foreign currency. It depends on whether you are a foreign expert, and if you have family members with you, the percentage can be higher. Your waiban will generally go to the bank and do this for you every month or so.
There are ways to send money home, but it can be tricky. Some people are able to make payments on their student loans, but you probably won't make too much headway on a Chinese salary.
