Overall Salary

[chondan]

Rajabhat pays 20,700 baht/mo plus 8,000 housing. Been at Rajabhat for 8 years. First 4 I made 19,800 baht/mo. Four years ago we got a 900 baht raise. So the total is 28,700 baht/mo in NE Thailand. I have a masters and do teach on weekends now and then. But if you are teaching to make money and not satisfaction of getting farmers kids to have a better life. Well, stick to making money.

[dao16]

You won't make near anywhere what you need to achieve your goals if you work in Thailand.

Try elsewhere, or go back to Korea. You can earn much, much more than 2,500 USD a month if you look around or do privates.

[melvaughn]

Rajabhat pays 20,700 baht/mo plus 8,000 housing. Been at Rajabhat for 8 years. First 4 I made 19,800 baht/mo. Four years ago we got a 900 baht raise. So the total is 28,700 baht/mo in NE Thailand. I have a masters and do teach on weekends now and then. But if you are teaching to make money and not satisfaction of getting farmers kids to have a better life. Well, stick to making money.

Ya I think I'm going to hold off on Thailand for now. I have a special kind of student loan that needs to be paid off religiously every month. So I need to be able to transfer home $500 every month 100%, and preferably more than 500 if possible. Korea is good for the money because there's a lot of opportunity for overtime and living is covered (also four months paid vacation) but I was tired of the culture/scene. I needed a change. Four years was enough and I didn't want to turn into a 'lifer' there. yes, you can find the 'teaching' rewarding in itself, but salary (especially if you have high qualifications) should be important. Gotta make a living and consider saving for the future!!

I may consider Middle East and then Thailand later on when I can afford a cheaper lifestyle.

[Shaunduhpostman]

I'd see about getting one of the better jobs in the middle east, especially since you are well qualified, you can get some of the best jobs there. You'd have to find a one in a million opportunity in Thailand to be able to afford sending 500 dollars/mo. to pay off loans. Over the last 10 years, the job market here has really gone to hell on a dixie cup handcart with a broken axel. I'm fairly certain salaries for teaching in general are actually lower than they were 10 years ago in Thailand and jobs are much more of a hassle to get especially as far as getting your visa and work permit. Major universities won't even help you through the visa process, tho they will tell you that they will do so in the beginning. I know of several people at different institutions of higher learning who have been diddled by university staff entrusted with the responsibility of getting them visas. They end up with immigration problems or if they get through it, resentment and blame from staff who haven't done their job. They don't deserve you if you are a qualified MA. It is not worth the pain and loss of your sanity that can happen even to people appointed uni teaching jobs in Thailand.

Do your homework as far as due diligence checking out any employers in the middle east, I've heard some pretty horrific stories, even some of the colleges that seem good in the description are notorious once you do a bit of digging. But there are good gigs in more profusion there than here in Thailand. I know one guy who did Saudi for two years had a ton of time off which he spent in Thailand and moved to Southeast Asia to settle down with a lesser paying job at the end of it having saved a good amount and having paid his bills. Generally speaking Thailand is fine if you don't have to do anything serious here, wait till you have the money and/or your bills paid.

[zeichen]

Don't go to the middle east just for money. Go because it is a place you want to experience;. It is a tough adjustment for so many especially women. If you know what you are getting into go for it.

Japan Universities offer tenure track positions that make Korean jobs look like day care.

I still don't see how in 4 years in Korea you didn't pay off your loans. Also if you had a uni job that paid that well and gave housing on top of the 2.8 and that much vacation time without having to do mandatory summer/winter camps, you are a fool to leave. That really sounds like the better of all uni jobs.

China international schools are another option especially if your degrees are in economics, business, science fields.

Good luck, and hate to break it to you 4 years in, you are already a lifer. There is no going back now.

[KhnomKhnom]

Well, my cousin's half brother with a RTFT degree used to earn X but then later got a HA which allowed him to buy meat meals, but that was about ten years ago or maybe it was five. I never gone to hisen's schkool and then my former wifey got something extra for something I forgot when she volunteered teaching buffalo in Issanpip.

Ok, now for some recent facts:

-teaching in high school level international school subject-specific topics within your degree and experience get the average higher salaries of most all kinds of teachers in Thailand. Starting is in area of $2500usd and can go to $3500usd/month with mandatory working hours of 7AM to 5PM six days week, clock in and out. Ask for added housing allowance to get to these totals. In classroom about 70% of the 9 hour days. Schools expect English and any Thai is a big help getting the jobs with earned B. A. or better, an M.A.

-teaching in leading universities, of which there are no more than five, subtract $500usd to $1000usd, 3 to 5 classes per semester, two to four hrs. each class/week. No clock in/out, week ends optional. English or Thai EXPECTED and related to an international college or regular Thai-based subjects. Ask for housing. OTHER cheaper "universities" lower salaries, wider expectations. Need advanced degree for all.

-teaching at regular Thai govt schools grade to high schools, $900usd/mo, no kidding, and Thai mandatory.

-teaching English at for-profit language school, depends on your degree and negotiation ability, but $1000usd/mo appears average.

-private tutoring ...ask around, very variable with some teachers accepting services in lieu of money. Ghost writing student papers and theses is common and about 10,000THB for long ones in English...do not do this.

Now that is what a real answer looks like.

thaivisa owners...... you get more site traffic at cost of including wrong, misleading, stupid, insulting, and ranting postings and you just merrily leave this junk on your cluttered site.

[melvaughn]

Don't go to the middle east just for money. Go because it is a place you want to experience;. It is a tough adjustment for so many especially women. If you know what you are getting into go for it.

Japan Universities offer tenure track positions that make Korean jobs look like day care.

I still don't see how in 4 years in Korea you didn't pay off your loans. Also if you had a uni job that paid that well and gave housing on top of the 2.8 and that much vacation time without having to do mandatory summer/winter camps, you are a fool to leave. That really sounds like the better of all uni jobs.

China international schools are another option especially if your degrees are in economics, business, science fields.

Good luck, and hate to break it to you 4 years in, you are already a lifer. There is no going back now.

If you look at the original post, I was actually making around 2.5 and that included sometimes 'mandatory' summer/winter camps and overtime. Base pay was 2.2 because I lived in Busan and most Uni's in that province have lower pay.

My loan is special...It's not your typical student loan. The interest rate is $500 every month. So basically I only pay off the interest every month but the actual loan itself ($70 000) stays frozen. I would have to transfer home $1000 to 1500 to even make a dent.

I don't know anyone who has gone to the M.E for any reason but the money...my friend worked there for $10 000 a month so i think it's worth it. Although I would actually find the culture interesting as well.

Korea is tiring after awhile (as well as many bitter foreigners there) and I didn't find the money SO great that it would be worth staying for life. And the culture itself is too homogeneous and bubble-like. I don't like to stay in any one place long enough that I'm bored....I also taught at colleges in Canada but the ESL field is a bit 'unstable'. Will probably return to Canada eventually and teach in an English department at a college.

[smotherb]

About 4 years ago I was offered a job at one of the nearby universities, they advised me that as I only have a bachelor degree, the standard rate would be 30k, and that if I had a masters or doctorate, that the standard rate would be higher. That was to work in the International office, assisting international students, not actually teaching.

30k THB per month is around $913 USD, so it's probably still less than what you're making in China.

Edit: Also wow @ 19k THB per month + 6k THB living allowance, although if it was for a non NES or someone without a bachelor degree, that might make sense (Or perhaps it was for a subject with a quite low workload?).

With proper doctoral credentials, publications, and experience--like a real university professor--at a good university, the pay is much better. Salaries from B100k-B150k/mo with housing, office, and stipends for research and seminars is not unusual.

[zeichen]

actually your OP said 2,500 usd that is about 2.8million won. But that isn't the issue. Just that for the pay seems like a pretty good job especially with over time and all your vacation time. 2.2 base is still good for Busan Universities. 1.8 was more common a few years back. They love to low ball in the South. I did 4 years in Korea also so I can relate to wanting something different.

Strange loan. I think that you should refinance it now. 70k in loans sounds incredibly high but still doable. but a 8-9% interest rate is insane 6k dollars just in interest a year on 70k is ridiculous. If all you are doing is paying off interest every month and not touching the principle, might as well default on it. Also if you haven't deferred the loans yet, you could get a financial emergency deferrenment. Most of my loans were 2% or less. I had one that was 6% but it was only 2k dollars and I paid it off first. REally think about contacting a finance lawyer one that specializes in student loans. You might end up saving yourself some serious cash and stress.

My advice about being selective with the Middle East is a valid warning. It is hard to adjust for many. In Saudi the average school replaces 2-3 teachers a term. They hold your passport hostage so you don't run out on them.

I do wish you the best and hope that you find the right balance for jobs. Don't rule Thailand out though. The average jobs and average pay is low but there are choice positions if you are available when they come open.

good luck

Edited January 15, 2015 by zeichen

[scorecard]

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Universities in Thailand pay between 20,000 baht and 100,000 baht, depending on the school, your qualifications, and what your teaching. I think the average is about 50-60,000 a month.

Many foreign uni lecturers in Thailand are not on a salary at all, they get paid by the hour and according to what courses they have been offered and have accepted.

Some semesters might be several courses (maybe 3?) and in some semesters maybe 1 or even zero courses, and no income at all during the semester breaks except uni's which have 'summer courses' etc., but still paid by the hour according to how many courses and perhaps different rates per course.

Also lecturers with bachelor degree are often paid significantly lower then lecturers with a masters or Ph.D.

Another possibility if you have a masters or Ph.D. is to try to get on the thesis / dissertation committees. Usually no salary, paid a meeting fee by the hour or by each meeting, normally 1 to 2 hours. Fees normally pretty good but such meetings not every month, perhaps 2 or 3 times a year.

This is also accurate, but it should be noted that universities can have a limit on how many classes per semester a part-time teacher may teach, e.g., only one in some cases.

That's true and there's another factor.

Most of these universities also have qualified and experienced Thai lecturers (many teach in English) who are paid a lot lower than foreign lecturers therefore uni. deans / directors often need to be careful that the foreign teachers are not getting too many courses and thereby causing upset and even protest by the Thai lecturers.

Edited January 15, 2015 by scorecard

[Mencken]

You are a fool not to refinance that loan, especially if has a variable rate.

If you can, declare bankruptcy.

What were you thinking that you took 70k inloans and best you can do is efl job overseas in Thailand? Take stock, sort your finances and your life.

The banks are totally screwing you.

[melvaughn]

You are a fool not to refinance that loan, especially if has a variable rate.

If you can, declare bankruptcy.

What were you thinking that you took 70k inloans and best you can do is efl job overseas in Thailand? Take stock, sort your finances and your life.

The banks are totally screwing you.

My interest in overseas teaching goes further than just 'money'. I have a passion for travel/writing and I'm actually working with a publisher on a book contract for an upcoming poetry manuscript. I take inspiration from the countries I go to. I don't want a 9-5 job.

My loan cannot be deferred and I cannot claim bankruptcy. It is not a student loan. It's a line of credit that my parents took out and signed under their names with collateral on their house. So if I don't pay it, their house will get taken away. There's nothing I can do with the loan. I also had to start paying it off immediately upon graduatiing! It was the only way I could do my Masters at Columbia where I lived in Manhattan for 2 years (hence why the loan is so high). I was an international student coming from Candaa so tuition is higher than average. Overall, it was still worth it to live in NYC. And I went on to do a one year TESL certificate in Canada on top of it.

My parents signed life insurance on it. So it will one day be cancelled when either one of them dies. Despite the loan, I've still been able to travel all over the world! If I stayed in Manhattan to work, I would be more or less stuck with the high cost of rent.

Edited February 5, 2015 by melvaughn