Report on Salary and Benefits of Foreign Expert Working in P.R.C.
Chinese Government recognizes 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,
certain amount of airfare reimbursement, free Accident& Hospitalization Insurance 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.
When one considers that the cost of living in China is between 1/10th to ? that of Australia,
North America and Europe and the fact that no overtime payments have been included in the
following 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 |
Bachelor's Degree without bona fide teaching experience: |
|
3,500 to 4,500 |
Bachelor's Degree with ESL, TESOL or other qualifications |
|
4,000 to 5,500 |
Post Graduate, Masters [Education], MBA etc. |
|
4,500 to 6,500 |
Experienced, Qualified Teachers |
|
4,500 to 6,500 |
PhD, Experienced IT Post Graduates, etc. |
|
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 authorized 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 organization is not licensed,
andmany are not, you will have no recourse if they fail to honor 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 authorized organizations are issued a number. |
|
