Best Starting Salary for University grads

[bkk6060]

On 4/23/2023 at 6:53 PM, EVENKEEL said:

Here in Thailand a good education is required to have a life where you don't live paycheck to paycheck. 

Tell a girl on Soi 6 this and they will laugh in your face.

 

In all seriousness, quality jobs are not easy to find.  Lousy sales jobs are plenty.  As are those in hotel and restaurants.  But 12 to 15k a month is a minimal living standard if they work in the tourist areas or city. And, what is the true professional/job identity of this place? 

 

Government jobs are decent because they are steady work with pay raises and a pension much more then the current 500 b scheme.

[BritManToo]

9 hours ago, mania said:

Even to work at 7-11 Thailand you need a college degree

Starting pay was only 12k a month but did have a few benefits

Incorrect, 

All the chain stores require a certificate you finished high school mattayoom 3 (3 years high school age 15). 

[EVENKEEL]

So fathers with real life experience have posted 15-20K/month with a degree. That's rather depressing.Thanks

[DrDave]

9 hours ago, mania said:

Even to work at 7-11 Thailand you need a college degree

Starting pay was only 12k a month but did have a few benefits

My daughter worked at a 7-11 for a year or so after finishing high school. No university degree was required.  

[gomangosteen]

41 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

So fathers with real life experience have posted 15-20K/month with a degree. That's rather depressing.Thanks

Ms Mango is an accountant for a civil engineering company, 155 staff.

 

Gave me the example of their recent straight from uni engineering graduate who commenced on exactly 20,000 per month.

 

But - he/she gets a 2000b meal allowance, iPhone and contract, fuel allowance, apartment rent paid, medical/dental scheme, superannuation contribution (last two items applicable to all permanent employees).

 

Private companies have the opportunity to balance salary with tax-free allowances.

 

Annual reviews, and bonus after qualifying period of years. This July will be her tenth anniversary there, up a step in terms of bonus eligibility; equally, gets to the point where can employee can't leave as would be starting over with a new company in terms of bonus progression.

 

 

[itsari]

On 4/23/2023 at 8:52 PM, bignok said:

True. Most will never earn much. Most degrees are worthless.

Degrees show that you finnish what you started and companies  know that they have to train you what ever degree you obtained .

[EVENKEEL]

13 hours ago, gomangosteen said:

Ms Mango is an accountant for a civil engineering company, 155 staff.

 

Gave me the example of their recent straight from uni engineering graduate who commenced on exactly 20,000 per month.

 

But - he/she gets a 2000b meal allowance, iPhone and contract, fuel allowance, apartment rent paid, medical/dental scheme, superannuation contribution (last two items applicable to all permanent employees).

 

Private companies have the opportunity to balance salary with tax-free allowances.

 

Annual reviews, and bonus after qualifying period of years. This July will be her tenth anniversary there, up a step in terms of bonus eligibility; equally, gets to the point where can employee can't leave as would be starting over with a new company in terms of bonus progression.

 

 

Thanks for the detailed accounting.

 

Guess, I had hopes that paying for an english program school for many years, and top university with an international program would later would have a payout greater than 20K/mo.

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Thanks for the detailed accounting.

 

Guess, I had hopes that paying for an english program school for many years, and top university with an international program would later would have a payout greater than 20K/mo.

She'll need to work until age 37 just to break even with a girl that left after government high school and worked in 7-11.

[mania]

15 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Incorrect, 

All the chain stores require a certificate you finished high school mattayoom 3 (3 years high school age 15). 

That makes more sense to me. Someone told me they had to have college grad to apply which sounded odd even for Thailand...unless she meant for certain positions/pay levels?

Edited April 28, 2023 by mania

[EVENKEEL]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

She'll need to work until age 37 just to break even with a girl that left after government high school and worked in 7-11.

Don't you have higher aspirations for your kid later on in life? I wouldn't dream of having my kid attend any gov school.  

[johnnybangkok]

I've employed a lot of grads over the years and continue to do so. Because my business requires a high level of English reading & writing (minimum 750 TOEIC), I pay 25k per month plus commission. My preference though is to have 2nd jobbers as straight out of university grads can be a bit 'green' but I will certainly consider a talented 1st jobber. 

[marin]

11 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Don't you have higher aspirations for your kid later on in life? I wouldn't dream of having my kid attend any gov school.  

My wife and I felt the same as did our kids. Primary school was a lovely private school that was excellent. 2 years in a government high school was enough. No challenge at all. So we got them in a good international school for the 4 years of high school. It paid off with acceptance at two excellent US universities. 

 

Upon graduation good jobs were there to be taken. One now working for Apple and the other for an IT  communications firm. Both making a lot more money at 25 than they probably ever would here. Plus they are very happy.

 

Miss them incredibly but am also so proud of what the have done. 

[BritManToo]

53 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Don't you have higher aspirations for your kid later on in life? I wouldn't dream of having my kid attend any gov school.  

I want my kids to be happy.

 

[TheFishman1]

I think the best job in Thailand would be like a high-ranking policeman. These guys seem to have a Lotta nice cars big houses sure they get a small salary but think of all the big huge brown envelopes to get each month TIT

[Andycoops]

On 4/23/2023 at 7:30 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

I have no personal experience with this. But it seems to me that for many Thais the salary alone is not so important. There are lots of people who want to be police officers even when everybody is complaining that their salary is so low. And then there are doctors, teachers, people who work in the local or central administration, etc.

The only reason they want to become police officers is because of the salary top ups at checkpoints and elsewhere, not to mention the government pension.

[Andycoops]

19 hours ago, gomangosteen said:

Ms Mango is an accountant for a civil engineering company, 155 staff.

 

Gave me the example of their recent straight from uni engineering graduate who commenced on exactly 20,000 per month.

 

But - he/she gets a 2000b meal allowance, iPhone and contract, fuel allowance, apartment rent paid, medical/dental scheme, superannuation contribution (last two items applicable to all permanent employees).

 

Private companies have the opportunity to balance salary with tax-free allowances.

 

Annual reviews, and bonus after qualifying period of years. This July will be her tenth anniversary there, up a step in terms of bonus eligibility; equally, gets to the point where can employee can't leave as would be starting over with a new company in terms of bonus progression.

 

 

My son has just completed an engineering degree and I would be delighted if he started on 20k.

[EVENKEEL]

5 hours ago, marin said:

My wife and I felt the same as did our kids. Primary school was a lovely private school that was excellent. 2 years in a government high school was enough. No challenge at all. So we got them in a good international school for the 4 years of high school. It paid off with acceptance at two excellent US universities. 

 

Upon graduation good jobs were there to be taken. One now working for Apple and the other for an IT  communications firm. Both making a lot more money at 25 than they probably ever would here. Plus they are very happy.

 

Miss them incredibly but am also so proud of what the have done. 

Excellent story,  I was thinking of not coughing up US college money, but maybe necessary.

[alanrchase]

21 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

So fathers with real life experience have posted 15-20K/month with a degree. That's rather depressing.Thanks

My son graduated 9 years ago. He had three jobs the first year after graduating. First job started at 20,000 with accommodation and last job started at 35,000 without accommodation. He is still with that third company. Today he owns a car, pays a mortgage on a condo in Bangkok and is a partner in an antiques shop. No idea what his total monthly income is now but he seems to be doing well. 

[AgMech Cowboy]

@EVENKEEL As you've read from all the other post that's not an easy question to answer.  (Gee time flies, when you look back...)  When I was working at a Thai petroleum exploration company in 2007, we hired a Senior Accountant for baht 30,000.  I was shocked at how low her salary was and from what I could tell she was good at her job.  Ok, add 16 years since then and take a guess.  Wages are pretty depressed here.

 

I've tried to get my son to go to the US and work to earn money for his university tuition and the experience (you know skip a trimester or two), but he has been negative to that idea.  He told me it's not worth it to skip a trimester to work in Thailand. (Will his Mother ever cut him off?)

[AgMech Cowboy]

22 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Excellent story,  I was thinking of not coughing up US college money, but maybe necessary.

Mahidol University is an excellent university.  If off to a US university there are many scholarships available.  Something to consider are ROTC scholarships, too.  Get into an area like 'intelligence' (I know a oxymoron), supply, UAV specialist or AF or Space force missile ops and never have to deploy into a war zone.

[scorecard]

On 4/23/2023 at 8:03 PM, EVENKEEL said:

I'm not sure what some professions pay. Doctor of course, I assume are top earners. Then you have pharmacists, seems like it should be a good paying gig. Own your own pharmacy.

 

I'd be inclined to say engineering would be solid choice. Finance could be good. Surely we have some success stories of kids landing a high paid job out of school.

Theres other options rather then salary (an employee). 

 

Some start their own business and become very successful. I had one young Thai man in a bachelor of Business class at Thammasat uni. He completed high school and then completed a bach. of civil engineering degree all in New Zealand. 

 

Then he decided he needed business knowledge and he started with a bachelor of business then completed his MBA (at Thammasat).

 

By the time he had completed first year of his bach. of business he had started 2 companies in Bkk (one in music, other in sports, both had 20+ employees) and was making good money, and he had completed a business plan (well constructed) for his 3rd business. 

 

Some grads., make plans to gain experience and reputation aiming to be sought out by others (often at high fees) to coach, train, advise, etc., and make big money (my Thai son). 

Edited April 28, 2023 by scorecard

[DavidAlexander]

I live in Chiang Mai and know several students at Chiang Mai University. CMU is the 3rd highest rated school in Thailand and has several international programs, taught in English. An international nursing or engineering degree can get you out of Thailand and into a much higher paying job in the West.

[sharksy]

Recently talking to a young guy with a nice Harley Davidson in Trat.  He had a masters in Chemical Engineering  - but ended up working for a big bank, with a good job.  Spoke great English.

[Celsius]

On 4/26/2023 at 12:17 AM, it is what it is said:

 

the thai friend's children work as, for example, accountant, economist, lawyer, business owner, most went to ABAC, CU or TU and several did Masters abroad. good jobs are there if you're smart enough to get to a decent uni, work hard  and have the right attitude, very similar to my friend's kids in the uk.

You mean if you have rich parents.

[akaika]

First thought is for those of us that are foreigners with children in Thailand, we will likely use our experiences to steer them.  Probably most are either pensioners or working (or both).  Many foreigners I meet are living comfortably of a wage that would be rather minimal in their home country. A lot get by on as low as 25K a month.  So it seems that 25K might be considered a 'good wage' especially if you get it soon after graduating. 

That said, the prospects for university graduates to get 25K++ exist, even as soon as graduating but there are some caveats.  The jobs are usually divided with one category being government and prestigious jobs that pay little in the beginning but offer guaranteed salary increases for life and often many perks such as free housing, medical coverage etc.  Starting pay for a lecturer with a PhD in a government university can be as low as 18K.  Government schools in rural areas are offering a 'retainer' of 5K a month until a government teacher position opens.  People sometimes stay in this role for 3 or more years after they have graduated, usually because they want to or need to stay in that specific location.

The other category are jobs with higher initial salary from 25K to 50K.  These are by definition some type of niche job that often has an associated license or at least a qualification that is more difficult to get.  


 

[EVENKEEL]

22 hours ago, marin said:

My wife and I felt the same as did our kids. Primary school was a lovely private school that was excellent. 2 years in a government high school was enough. No challenge at all. So we got them in a good international school for the 4 years of high school. It paid off with acceptance at two excellent US universities. 

 

Upon graduation good jobs were there to be taken. One now working for Apple and the other for an IT  communications firm. Both making a lot more money at 25 than they probably ever would here. Plus they are very happy.

 

Miss them incredibly but am also so proud of what the have done. 

I'm glad your kids are happy but I'm not sold on the idea of her making a life in the US. We travel there every year together so she can get the feel of life there. Like paying $250.00/nt for a hotel and not a 5 star by any means. Our first night we ate at a Vietnamese joint, she couldn't get over it cost $35. for 2 bowls of soup. I think life in Thailand is more stress free if you have money. She's only P6 now so lots of time,  

[EVENKEEL]

Thanks for all the replies, we all want our kids "to be happy" later in life. Unfortunately making money is part of the equation.  I know I didn't live up to my potential, and just want this next generation to have better. Seems like 20-25K/mo plus some perks is standard. I just feel with some pre planning on a degree landing a job paying more is feasible.

[Jotnar]

Don't know about best, but would expect near 30k a month with an degree, to start.

 

University education isn't required, or even lower level of schooling.   Just ambition & drive to succeed.  

Edited April 29, 2023 by Jotnar

[marin]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

I'm glad your kids are happy but I'm not sold on the idea of her making a life in the US.

If you give her the opportunity to study at university there be aware she will be able upon graduation to start making more a month than she would a year here. Its hard to pass that up, especially after growing and maturing while studying in the states. 

Edited April 29, 2023 by marin

[BusyB]

Find out what they love and get them to focus on that ... the money will follow.

 

(And no I don't mean sex drugs and Rock'n'Roll - that's the R+R bit.)