I need help on job offer (renewable energy)

[Soutpeel]

Soutpeel staying on topic do you value any experience gained in Thailand industry, I was under the impression that experience is what counts. Is it purely the lower wage for a few years that you think is unacceptable or that industry will place little value on experience gained in Thailand?

If I understand your question, yes of course industry experience gained in Thailand counts, for example in the industry i am in there are things going on here which are not going on in the anywhere in world and for me personally the last 12 odd years have been enjoyable and will read very well on my CV which future employers will certainly read with interest and stand me in good stead for the future, but would I have been prepared to take a +/-50% pay cut off a current base just for the privilage of gaining that experience coming to Thailand ?.....not on your life.

The OP was being low balled on the salary, hence my comments.

The problem with accepting "lower wages for a few years" is that you will never catch up with what your suppose to be making, the OP would have been very naive (glad he hasnt been) in accepting a low ball salary in the belief that after a few years the company or another one in Thailand would all of sudden see his value or contribution and give him a big jump in salary, it doesnt happen this way....HR polices in companies world wide typically dont allow for things like this and if he had taken 49k/m he would have to accept he would be getting nominal pay increases every year

The one thing I have learned over the last 25 odd years working internationally is always go in "high" and negotiate "down", if they really want you, everyone will come to a mutually agreeable salary/ package in the end, companies by nature will always try to low ball, but they do have a salary band they will work in, but the opening offer will be the lowest.

[Tomtomtom69]

Send me the details of the job; I'll happily take it for 50K if you can't reach an agreement with your employer. Frankly, 50K is pretty good to start with in Thailand, most locals will work for considerably less and are able to work 6 days a week 8-9 hours a day, which is the standard here.

[Tomtomtom69]

A Thai Technician (29 years young) fairly good english and motivated pulls about 70K in a German Packaging Company in Lad Krabang. He has a good degree and a supervisor position. How dare can some one make an offer like this. 4000K Housing Allowance? Unbelievable.

By the way, we provided a lot of services to these Renewable Energy Companies. Some of them are very short in cash and most of them never stick to their credit terms. Try and get a decent job in another country and do not look down on yourself working for 1000 EUR a month.

That technician is making pretty good money by Thai standards, particularly if he is based in Lad Krabang, where wages are significantly lower than in downtown Bangkok. I know people in IT in downtown BKK in their mid to late twenties (even early thirties) making 25000-45000 Baht a month so 70000 sounds very good.

Yes many companies low ball you but if they are only willing to offer 50000, 60000-65000 is what should be negotiated for - the OP was lucky to have had a good job in Europe with good pay, so coming to Thailand his expectations are a bit too high. Better to hire someone on the ground with local language knowledge like a local or even me, who would be willing to work for a lot less.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Tomtomtom69

[Tomtomtom69]

The only reasonable thing in this topic is req. for WP, I not remember exactly how much, but according to OP salary offered, this will be around 50k THB, and from this amount tax will be deducted. 50k THB is enough to open WP for European nationality.

For FIRST job here is OK. Year later OP can switch to another company and his working experience here will be valued more.

My first job here was less-payed than OP. That's normal.

er THB 50k salary is for the extension of stay to be issued, not for the WP...there are no minimum requirements to be issued a WP, if there were minimums how would voluteers who get paid nothing be issued a WP ?

According to Ministry of Labor, the minimum salary for professional foreign workers vary from nationality to nationality. How volunteers obtain WP's I don't know, we talk about paid job. As I remember, grade is 60k, 50k, 35k and 25k. Teachers don't have a "salary grade". 60k for US citizens.

OP should do a market research, how much he can cost here. And very important to get first legal job here. Later, when OP obtain local market knowledge, he can move to another company...

Er it's not the DOL who sets this criteria, its immigration and the amounts stated per nationality relate to being issued an extension of stay, it nothing to do with the WP, one can get a WP on lessor money than stated, but it means, with the exception of teachers, that the person will not do 90 day reporting in country and will have to visa run every 90 days because they dont qualify for the Immigration issued extension of stay.

Yes but what visa would such people be on, either a non-B multiple entry (most likely) or otherwise a tourist visa with extensions? If you can't get an extension of stay then you aren't really on the right visa to be allowed to work (unless you have a multiple non-B, but those aren't issued in neighboring countries).

[Tomtomtom69]

Ok, look at it this way why would you leave for significantly less money and live in poverty, going to Thailand seems a great idea but if you have no money to enjoy it then what is the point.

A lot of homework needs done such as checking what the current salary is in Thailand for what you do and also the cost of living.

Also another resource is linkedin they have some useful groups on there.

The main reason I would go over there is because my girlfriend is thai. She is a civil engineer and she's told me to ask for 70k. I have done some research and cost of living in BKK would be around 20k. As for salary within the renewable energy industry, it can vary a lot depending on experience but in a range of 50-75k for my experience.

Anyway, I was just trying to get your insights into this, I will keep doing some more research, thanks again for your help.

Cheers

As someone who works in Engineering in Thailand......I can tell you this much....you are way too low...as minimum take your current GBP 27k add 20 to 30% as an uplift, plus reasonable accomdation allowance (4k/m aint reasonable) plus private medical scheme...this would be a bare minimum and if you can get 2 flights back to UK added more the better...

ps dont listen to your GF....

I would say forget about medical and keep the extra money in your bank account. Medical insurance in Thailand is very limited - you are offered treatment at 1-3 local hospitals you specify, but what happens if you need to travel (even within Thailand) and use another hospital? Yes, that's right, you pay just as if you had no insurance at all! Seriously, you are much better off obtaining travel insurance from home, which costs about US$250-400 per year for unlimited medical expenses and no excess if you pay a higher premium, so you're probably looking at US$400 or equivalent in Pounds as a ballpark figure in that case and the service you get is amazing...you can choose your own hospital or clinic and in cases of emergency all your expenses will be paid for directly by your insurance company. As long as you head back home every year or so you are eligible. This is because travel insurance policies are generally only valid for up to 18 months at a time.

[Soutpeel]

Ok, look at it this way why would you leave for significantly less money and live in poverty, going to Thailand seems a great idea but if you have no money to enjoy it then what is the point.

A lot of homework needs done such as checking what the current salary is in Thailand for what you do and also the cost of living.

Also another resource is linkedin they have some useful groups on there.

The main reason I would go over there is because my girlfriend is thai. She is a civil engineer and she's told me to ask for 70k. I have done some research and cost of living in BKK would be around 20k. As for salary within the renewable energy industry, it can vary a lot depending on experience but in a range of 50-75k for my experience.

Anyway, I was just trying to get your insights into this, I will keep doing some more research, thanks again for your help.

Cheers

As someone who works in Engineering in Thailand......I can tell you this much....you are way too low...as minimum take your current GBP 27k add 20 to 30% as an uplift, plus reasonable accomdation allowance (4k/m aint reasonable) plus private medical scheme...this would be a bare minimum and if you can get 2 flights back to UK added more the better...

ps dont listen to your GF....

I would say forget about medical and keep the extra money in your bank account. Medical insurance in Thailand is very limited - you are offered treatment at 1-3 local hospitals you specify, but what happens if you need to travel (even within Thailand) and use another hospital? Yes, that's right, you pay just as if you had no insurance at all! Seriously, you are much better off obtaining travel insurance from home, which costs about US$250-400 per year for unlimited medical expenses and no excess if you pay a higher premium, so you're probably looking at US$400 or equivalent in Pounds as a ballpark figure in that case and the service you get is amazing...you can choose your own hospital or clinic and in cases of emergency all your expenses will be paid for directly by your insurance company. As long as you head back home every year or so you are eligible. This is because travel insurance policies are generally only valid for up to 18 months at a time.

I think you have no idea how private medical insurance works in relation to what you can and cant do in Thailand and your talking poop and as OP would be working here, travel insurance wouldnt apply, cos he aint a tourist, and typically only cover emergencies with exclusions specified, hence the reason they are cheap at USD 400/yr besides most reputable companies either fully pay for or contribute to the cost of private medical insurance for their employees.

Proper in country medical insurance polices with decent cover cost significantly more than USD 200-400/yr

[Tomtomtom69]

I think you have no idea how private medical insurance works in relation to what you can and cant do in Thailand and your talking poop and as OP would be working here, travel insurance wouldnt apply, cos he aint a tourist, and typically only cover emergencies with exclusions specified, hence the reason they are cheap at USD 400/yr besides most reputable companies either fully pay for or contribute to the cost of private medical insurance for their employees.

Proper in country medical insurance polices with decent cover cost significantly more than USD 200-400/yr

I think you don't know what you're talking about. I work in Thailand and still use travel insurance and YES it does work for everything, not just emergencies. When I say everything I mean every medical issue you have with some exceptions (although pre-approval for pre-existing conditions does apply). There is no problem in using travel insurance for longer overseas stays unless you never return home - travel insurance is just as useful for business travellers or those working although you must specify your overseas home as your starting/ending point as strictly speaking of course, travel insurance is NOT valid for people leaving home and not returning BUT it is OK for working overseas, for a while at least. I do and I have always been able to make claims without any issues. And YES my insurance only costs about 400 USD per year. In-country medical insurance can cost significantly more, but usually about 600 Baht per month was deducted from my paycheck although if I were to use my policy, I MUST go to one of the hospitals I've specified, any other hospital and I have to use my travel insurance and if I didn't have that it would be 100% out of pocket! So there...don't go talking nonsense...the insurance that foreign employees get here is OK if you don't have any other insurance to cover you by which you must pay first and then claim later, but only if you get treated at the hospitals covered by your policy. If you travel (even for your job) you'll need another travel insurance policy. Also, I can't speak for every company in Thailand and there may be specialist insurers for foreign expats, which could be used in lieu of travel insurance, especially if you stay here longer and don't want to return to your home country but generally speaking, you would have to pay for those policies out of your own pocket unless you can negotiate something with your company here, but this is highly unlikely unless you are a highly experienced individual with 15-20 years of experience on a high-end package, which perhaps you are on, soutpeel.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Tomtomtom69

[Tomtomtom69]

@soulpeel it also depends where you're from. Australian providers are quite generous, but Americans generally don't even take travel insurance when they travel overseas. Also, premiums are age dependent...older individuals often pay significantly more...often US$1000 per year or more.

[Tomtomtom69]

A Thai Technician (29 years young) fairly good english and motivated pulls about 70K in a German Packaging Company in Lad Krabang. He has a good degree and a supervisor position. How dare can some one make an offer like this. 4000K Housing Allowance? Unbelievable.

By the way, we provided a lot of services to these Renewable Energy Companies. Some of them are very short in cash and most of them never stick to their credit terms. Try and get a decent job in another country and do not look down on yourself working for 1000 EUR a month.

BTW 4000 "housing allowance" is included in the basic salary. Usually what happens is when you are offered say, 60000 a month salary, the company specifies your salary component as say 37500 Baht, plus 4000 for housing allowance, plus 3000 for telephone call reimbursement, plus say 7000 for transport reimbursement etc. to make up the total of 60000, something like that. So the base salary of 50000 Baht mentioned by the OP already includes all allowances. It may sound like a low salary but hey, this is Thailand. Why should someone be paid 200000 Baht a month when a local is willing to work for much less (oh and so are foreigners from neighboring countries and from China, India etc.) If it was me I'd take the job in a heartbeat but of course the OP does have more options than many other people. He still has a job in the UK and hence by the sounds of it, he'd be much better off sticking to what he has or searching elsewhere for more high paying positions (such as in Singapore, Dubai etc. even China where the Solar industry is probably the biggest in the world already but continues to expand at a rapid pace, and they're usually willing to pay for experienced industry professionals from other countries).

[Bangkokhatter]

A Thai Technician (29 years young) fairly good english and motivated pulls about 70K in a German Packaging Company in Lad Krabang. He has a good degree and a supervisor position. How dare can some one make an offer like this. 4000K Housing Allowance? Unbelievable.

By the way, we provided a lot of services to these Renewable Energy Companies. Some of them are very short in cash and most of them never stick to their credit terms. Try and get a decent job in another country and do not look down on yourself working for 1000 EUR a month.

BTW 4000 "housing allowance" is included in the basic salary. Usually what happens is when you are offered say, 60000 a month salary, the company specifies your salary component as say 37500 Baht, plus 4000 for housing allowance, plus 3000 for telephone call reimbursement, plus say 7000 for transport reimbursement etc. to make up the total of 60000, something like that. So the base salary of 50000 Baht mentioned by the OP already includes all allowances. It may sound like a low salary but hey, this is Thailand. Why should someone be paid 200000 Baht a month when a local is willing to work for much less (oh and so are foreigners from neighboring countries and from China, India etc.) If it was me I'd take the job in a heartbeat but of course the OP does have more options than many other people. He still has a job in the UK and hence by the sounds of it, he'd be much better off sticking to what he has or searching elsewhere for more high paying positions (such as in Singapore, Dubai etc. even China where the Solar industry is probably the biggest in the world already but continues to expand at a rapid pace, and they're usually willing to pay for experienced industry professionals from other countries).

I have no idea who you work for but your information is not typical for a professional expat working here. I and most people I know receive a basic salary, a housing allowance, annual bonus and medical cover. That is a basic package.

The salary the OP was offered was a locals salary and a cheap attempt to employ a westerner who they probably thought was desperate to come here.

[Soutpeel]

I think you have no idea how private medical insurance works in relation to what you can and cant do in Thailand and your talking poop and as OP would be working here, travel insurance wouldnt apply, cos he aint a tourist, and typically only cover emergencies with exclusions specified, hence the reason they are cheap at USD 400/yr besides most reputable companies either fully pay for or contribute to the cost of private medical insurance for their employees.

Proper in country medical insurance polices with decent cover cost significantly more than USD 200-400/yr

I think you don't know what you're talking about. I work in Thailand and still use travel insurance and YES it does work for everything, not just emergencies. When I say everything I mean every medical issue you have with some exceptions (although pre-approval for pre-existing conditions does apply). There is no problem in using travel insurance for longer overseas stays unless you never return home - travel insurance is just as useful for business travellers or those working although you must specify your overseas home as your starting/ending point as strictly speaking of course, travel insurance is NOT valid for people leaving home and not returning BUT it is OK for working overseas, for a while at least. I do and I have always been able to make claims without any issues. And YES my insurance only costs about 400 USD per year. In-country medical insurance can cost significantly more, but usually about 600 Baht per month was deducted from my paycheck although if I were to use my policy, I MUST go to one of the hospitals I've specified, any other hospital and I have to use my travel insurance and if I didn't have that it would be 100% out of pocket! So there...don't go talking nonsense...the insurance that foreign employees get here is OK if you don't have any other insurance to cover you by which you must pay first and then claim later, but only if you get treated at the hospitals covered by your policy. If you travel (even for your job) you'll need another travel insurance policy. Also, I can't speak for every company in Thailand and there may be specialist insurers for foreign expats, which could be used in lieu of travel insurance, especially if you stay here longer and don't want to return to your home country but generally speaking, you would have to pay for those policies out of your own pocket unless you can negotiate something with your company here, but this is highly unlikely unless you are a highly experienced individual with 15-20 years of experience on a high-end package, which perhaps you are on, soutpeel.

Not to start a p*ssing match...but been working in Thailand in engineering for nearly 13 years and the company pays nearly USD 3.5k/yr for my medical insurance, and the company I work for, like every other company the world over would gladly pay USD 400/yr if they thought they could get away with it, so the question is why have they provided me with a 3.5k/yr policy if a USD 400 travel insurance policy is ok then ?

As yes I am one of those highly experienced individuals with 25yrs + experience and have never paid out of my own pocket for private medical insurance in any of the countries I have worked in in the last 25 years, the companies concerned always picked up the tab...

Your blagging dear boy

Further why are you trying to hijack the OP's job offer with so much gustso at THB 49k/m if your already working ?

[Soutpeel]

A Thai Technician (29 years young) fairly good english and motivated pulls about 70K in a German Packaging Company in Lad Krabang. He has a good degree and a supervisor position. How dare can some one make an offer like this. 4000K Housing Allowance? Unbelievable.

By the way, we provided a lot of services to these Renewable Energy Companies. Some of them are very short in cash and most of them never stick to their credit terms. Try and get a decent job in another country and do not look down on yourself working for 1000 EUR a month.

BTW 4000 "housing allowance" is included in the basic salary. Usually what happens is when you are offered say, 60000 a month salary, the company specifies your salary component as say 37500 Baht, plus 4000 for housing allowance, plus 3000 for telephone call reimbursement, plus say 7000 for transport reimbursement etc. to make up the total of 60000, something like that. So the base salary of 50000 Baht mentioned by the OP already includes all allowances. It may sound like a low salary but hey, this is Thailand. Why should someone be paid 200000 Baht a month when a local is willing to work for much less (oh and so are foreigners from neighboring countries and from China, India etc.) If it was me I'd take the job in a heartbeat but of course the OP does have more options than many other people. He still has a job in the UK and hence by the sounds of it, he'd be much better off sticking to what he has or searching elsewhere for more high paying positions (such as in Singapore, Dubai etc. even China where the Solar industry is probably the biggest in the world already but continues to expand at a rapid pace, and they're usually willing to pay for experienced industry professionals from other countries).

It may sound like a low salary but hey, this is Thailand.

it doesnt sound like a low salary...it IS a low salary for the basic job description the OP gave...

Let me put a little perspective based on where I work.....We have Thai nationals, who have nothing more than basic education and a little bit of industry experience working as "helpers" ie "grunt work", carrying stuff and sweeping the floors and they are making THB 30k/m, now I know someone is going to say this is not the norm for Thailand and you maybe right, but the fact remains they are being paid 30k/m

[Tomtomtom69]

I think you have no idea how private medical insurance works in relation to what you can and cant do in Thailand and your talking poop and as OP would be working here, travel insurance wouldnt apply, cos he aint a tourist, and typically only cover emergencies with exclusions specified, hence the reason they are cheap at USD 400/yr besides most reputable companies either fully pay for or contribute to the cost of private medical insurance for their employees.

Proper in country medical insurance polices with decent cover cost significantly more than USD 200-400/yr

I think you don't know what you're talking about. I work in Thailand and still use travel insurance and YES it does work for everything, not just emergencies. When I say everything I mean every medical issue you have with some exceptions (although pre-approval for pre-existing conditions does apply). There is no problem in using travel insurance for longer overseas stays unless you never return home - travel insurance is just as useful for business travellers or those working although you must specify your overseas home as your starting/ending point as strictly speaking of course, travel insurance is NOT valid for people leaving home and not returning BUT it is OK for working overseas, for a while at least. I do and I have always been able to make claims without any issues. And YES my insurance only costs about 400 USD per year. In-country medical insurance can cost significantly more, but usually about 600 Baht per month was deducted from my paycheck although if I were to use my policy, I MUST go to one of the hospitals I've specified, any other hospital and I have to use my travel insurance and if I didn't have that it would be 100% out of pocket! So there...don't go talking nonsense...the insurance that foreign employees get here is OK if you don't have any other insurance to cover you by which you must pay first and then claim later, but only if you get treated at the hospitals covered by your policy. If you travel (even for your job) you'll need another travel insurance policy. Also, I can't speak for every company in Thailand and there may be specialist insurers for foreign expats, which could be used in lieu of travel insurance, especially if you stay here longer and don't want to return to your home country but generally speaking, you would have to pay for those policies out of your own pocket unless you can negotiate something with your company here, but this is highly unlikely unless you are a highly experienced individual with 15-20 years of experience on a high-end package, which perhaps you are on, soutpeel.

Not to start a p*ssing match...but been working in Thailand in engineering for nearly 13 years and the company pays nearly USD 3.5k/yr for my medical insurance, and the company I work for, like every other company the world over would gladly pay USD 400/yr if they thought they could get away with it, so the question is why have they provided me with a 3.5k/yr policy if a USD 400 travel insurance policy is ok then ?

As yes I am one of those highly experienced individuals with 25yrs + experience and have never paid out of my own pocket for private medical insurance in any of the countries I have worked in in the last 25 years, the companies concerned always picked up the tab...

Your blagging dear boy

Further why are you trying to hijack the OP's job offer with so much gustso at THB 49k/m if your already working ?

Well that's because you're an experienced professional with more years of experience than the age of this young OP! That's why you're getting everything paid for but for someone who's just moving to Thailand and is getting this kind of offer, I would recommend having a travel insurance policy in place, for say 6 months just to be safe because there's a good chance that within that time the new employee won't be happy and leave or the company might fire him, so he'll have some insurance in place to tie him over in the meantime...at least until the time comes to ask for better conditions, which is usually after around 1 year or so.

You're definitely misunderstanding the insurance part US$400 is for a travel insurance policy NOT for your in-country expat insurance - if a good medical insurance package can be offered by the company, then that's all good and well but that's not going to happen if the company is offering just 50000 a month salary - they'll offer just the bare minimum which means that travel insurance is better in the interim although you would obviously still be offered the medical insurance package from your company (after the 1st year or so a better package should be negotiable which should include separate housing allowance, better medical and leave conditions etc.) Believe me I've been there done that. The package I was offered at my current job is said to be quite decent, when speaking with various local friends here and in my own opinion is fairly acceptable, if not flash hot. Medical is OK but limited to some local hospitals that I've specified - everything is paid for, but for smaller expenses you pay first then claim later. Life insurance is also offered. The basic wage includes all allowances.

While we're all happy for you that you have such an incredibly good package, but this is NOT the norm here in Thailand, especially for those just starting out and getting hired locally - I know exactly what companies like this one will offer, they'll offer just the bare minimum to comply with the law and no more.

On your last point: Well maybe I want to find new opportunities and am willing to work without being paid a fortune like you are, that's why...and perhaps also because the OP with 3 years experience and aged just 27 is not going to find any local opportunities for the 200,000 a month or whatever you are being paid.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Tomtomtom69

[Tomtomtom69]

A Thai Technician (29 years young) fairly good english and motivated pulls about 70K in a German Packaging Company in Lad Krabang. He has a good degree and a supervisor position. How dare can some one make an offer like this. 4000K Housing Allowance? Unbelievable.

By the way, we provided a lot of services to these Renewable Energy Companies. Some of them are very short in cash and most of them never stick to their credit terms. Try and get a decent job in another country and do not look down on yourself working for 1000 EUR a month.

BTW 4000 "housing allowance" is included in the basic salary. Usually what happens is when you are offered say, 60000 a month salary, the company specifies your salary component as say 37500 Baht, plus 4000 for housing allowance, plus 3000 for telephone call reimbursement, plus say 7000 for transport reimbursement etc. to make up the total of 60000, something like that. So the base salary of 50000 Baht mentioned by the OP already includes all allowances. It may sound like a low salary but hey, this is Thailand. Why should someone be paid 200000 Baht a month when a local is willing to work for much less (oh and so are foreigners from neighboring countries and from China, India etc.) If it was me I'd take the job in a heartbeat but of course the OP does have more options than many other people. He still has a job in the UK and hence by the sounds of it, he'd be much better off sticking to what he has or searching elsewhere for more high paying positions (such as in Singapore, Dubai etc. even China where the Solar industry is probably the biggest in the world already but continues to expand at a rapid pace, and they're usually willing to pay for experienced industry professionals from other countries).

It may sound like a low salary but hey, this is Thailand.

it doesnt sound like a low salary...it IS a low salary for the basic job description the OP gave...

Let me put a little perspective based on where I work.....We have Thai nationals, who have nothing more than basic education and a little bit of industry experience working as "helpers" ie "grunt work", carrying stuff and sweeping the floors and they are making THB 30k/m, now I know someone is going to say this is not the norm for Thailand and you maybe right, but the fact remains they are being paid 30k/m

Are you hiring because your company is paying some damn GOOD money!

[Tomtomtom69]

A Thai Technician (29 years young) fairly good english and motivated pulls about 70K in a German Packaging Company in Lad Krabang. He has a good degree and a supervisor position. How dare can some one make an offer like this. 4000K Housing Allowance? Unbelievable.

By the way, we provided a lot of services to these Renewable Energy Companies. Some of them are very short in cash and most of them never stick to their credit terms. Try and get a decent job in another country and do not look down on yourself working for 1000 EUR a month.

BTW 4000 "housing allowance" is included in the basic salary. Usually what happens is when you are offered say, 60000 a month salary, the company specifies your salary component as say 37500 Baht, plus 4000 for housing allowance, plus 3000 for telephone call reimbursement, plus say 7000 for transport reimbursement etc. to make up the total of 60000, something like that. So the base salary of 50000 Baht mentioned by the OP already includes all allowances. It may sound like a low salary but hey, this is Thailand. Why should someone be paid 200000 Baht a month when a local is willing to work for much less (oh and so are foreigners from neighboring countries and from China, India etc.) If it was me I'd take the job in a heartbeat but of course the OP does have more options than many other people. He still has a job in the UK and hence by the sounds of it, he'd be much better off sticking to what he has or searching elsewhere for more high paying positions (such as in Singapore, Dubai etc. even China where the Solar industry is probably the biggest in the world already but continues to expand at a rapid pace, and they're usually willing to pay for experienced industry professionals from other countries).

I have no idea who you work for but your information is not typical for a professional expat working here. I and most people I know receive a basic salary, a housing allowance, annual bonus and medical cover. That is a basic package.

The salary the OP was offered was a locals salary and a cheap attempt to employ a westerner who they probably thought was desperate to come here.

Yes but while it would be great if we could all get expat packages, most expats eligible for such packages are hired from abroad and have quite a few years of experience and will be placed in mid or high level management...quite obviously it will take quite a generous package to convince them to come over and work in Thailand. A less experienced expat has to compete with locals that may have the same or more experience as they do and with the added bonus of language and cultural familiarity - hence it's not as easy to negotiate when you're on those terms. How many 27 year olds earn 150,000 or 200,000 or whatever a month in Thailand, not many I think.

[holeyman1]

If you go through a head-hunter for the job, most likely just trying to get the commission due to the current turmoil here.

Nothing out of the ordinary. I'd say stick it out for a while and research the market.

Like you, I came here looking for a job but in the oil & gas sector (already been living here for 5 years)

First recruiter/head-hunter offered me slightly less than 80k.

I had only 12 years experience onshore.

Leisurely took 2 months looking around and was able to conjure up 2 prospective jobs.

One was offering 145k and the other 180k excluding housing, medical etc which are all extra.

Now tell me, where's 80k, 145k and 180k?

No prizes for which offer i took.

Whatever it is, never ever sell yourself short! If you think you're worth the 70k then stick to it but don't shoot yourself in the foot a few years later!

PS none of the expats I know draw anything less than 100k & they are not much older than you.

somtam palah

Edited February 21, 2014 by holeyman1

[MeowBundit]

If you go through a head-hunter for the job, most likely just trying to get the commission due to the current turmoil here.

Nothing out of the ordinary. I'd say stick it out for a while and research the market.

Like you, I came here looking for a job but in the oil & gas sector (already been living here for 5 years)

First recruiter/head-hunter offered me slightly less than 80k.

I had only 12 years experience onshore.

Leisurely took 2 months looking around and was able to conjure up 2 prospective jobs.

One was offering 145k and the other 180k excluding housing, medical etc which are all extra.

Now tell me, where's 80k, 145k and 180k?

No prizes for which offer i took.

Whatever it is, never ever sell yourself short! If you think you're worth the 70k then stick to it but don't shoot yourself in the foot a few years later!

PS none of the expats I know draw anything less than 100k & they are not much older than you.

somtam palah

Oil and Gas is another story. This must me one of the highest - payed engineering jobs in the world. I also know Thais, who work in this industry for something like 120k. OP should spend some time for looking, and if after 6 month of this he still have offers around 50k - this is real cost of this particular job here.

[Soutpeel]

If you go through a head-hunter for the job, most likely just trying to get the commission due to the current turmoil here.

Nothing out of the ordinary. I'd say stick it out for a while and research the market.

Like you, I came here looking for a job but in the oil & gas sector (already been living here for 5 years)

First recruiter/head-hunter offered me slightly less than 80k.

I had only 12 years experience onshore.

Leisurely took 2 months looking around and was able to conjure up 2 prospective jobs.

One was offering 145k and the other 180k excluding housing, medical etc which are all extra.

Now tell me, where's 80k, 145k and 180k?

No prizes for which offer i took.

Whatever it is, never ever sell yourself short! If you think you're worth the 70k then stick to it but don't shoot yourself in the foot a few years later!

PS none of the expats I know draw anything less than 100k & they are not much older than you.

somtam palah

Oil and Gas is another story. This must me one of the highest - payed engineering jobs in the world. I also know Thais, who work in this industry for something like 120k. OP should spend some time for looking, and if after 6 month of this he still have offers around 50k - this is real cost of this particular job here.

The O&G game, because of its international nature and its typically because the same players are involved, ie only a few big operating companies and service companies, salaries worldwide are a lot more "uniform and consistent" for the same job description ...

[mmh8]

wrt to tomtoms suggestion to take money, the medical package should be a standard giving you the option to go to any hopsital anywhere you happen to be, be it bumrumgrad or whatever. it provides inpateitent and out patient cover etc. and is part of a decent medical package. I imagine a tefl typoe teacher would be left ot foot the bill , as from what I understand they are not always given the best of packages, not even covering the wp and visa from what I understand

[Soutpeel]

wrt to tomtoms suggestion to take money, the medical package should be a standard giving you the option to go to any hopsital anywhere you happen to be, be it bumrumgrad or whatever. it provides inpateitent and out patient cover etc. and is part of a decent medical package. I imagine a tefl typoe teacher would be left ot foot the bill , as from what I understand they are not always given the best of packages, not even covering the wp and visa from what I understand

Your most likely right make sense why he was so interested in helper positions paying THB 30k/m and saying its good money

[hhfarang]

"...cost of living in BKK would be around 20k"

Boy are you in for a big surprise! Malcolminthemiddle is right... you'll need 100k per month plus some expenses to have a decent life there.

[VocalNeal]

There is an engineering guy on Thai Visa who has been offered a

job in Thailand with a "renewable" energy company at 45,000 a

month. I assume that is "local".

Any ideas what guys working with/for you make?

So 45,000 baht per month? That sounds about right - maybe a little bit low. I think that is in the ballpark of what we pay our on-site (Thai) General Manager for our 3 solar plants - I think he has a bachelors in engineering, not totally sure.[/size]

[Ragic]

Hi everyone again,

I decided to dig a little bit more into salary rates in bangkok for my industry and my experience. I spoke to several recruiting agencies, friends and applied similar jobs. I realised that 55k/month is the maximum they would offer for this type of job to someone of my age. They are not willing to pay much more when a local can do a similar job working more for less and speaking the language.

So I called the company back and I asked to speak with the director who is the guy that interviewed me the second time. I wanted to know more details about what exactly the offer was made of as the “50k/month” figure was given to me by someone else and not in a clear way. To my surprise, he told me the salary offered to employees is 55k not 50k, with medical cover plus profit bonus, which are given twice a year worth at least 2 months of salary depending on companies profit. That was later confirmed when I heard some employees stating they normally get 5.5 months salary of bonus. In overview, that makes up pretty much for what I initially asked for and they are more than happy for me to take the job and join them. On the other hand, once I have gained some exposure and experience into the thai marketplace I can always reconsider whether to look for something else.

I will be arriving in BKK late June and I’ll stay around Lat Krabang area.

Thank for all your comments!