Poll: What kind of income would be enough to make you live and work in China?

he started it but a few of them jumped on the bandwagon. i dont wanna go and name names because thats frowned upon now or something idk⁷⁷

Considering the fact I make nearly $9k/mo atm and the currency restrictions within China and all the mess the CCP can impose on you with no recourse available, there is no real sum that you could lure me in.  I have no interest in participating in hostage diplomacy.

I put, not even for 10K a month.
The government is so fickle, the moment they have beef with your countries government over whatever issue, they might even take their beef out on you.
A friend of mine's mum used to teach there, and that's what happened to her, the CCP had some minor issue with NZD's government and they refused to pay her while their was issues between the governments, they'd "randomly" come and search her place stating "suspicion of doing something illegal.", and even sent police to harass her during her classes. Funny enough, once the issues with the governments was settled, all that stuff stopped.
I think, even keeping your head down / not getting political etc. isn't really enough, I'd always be worrying about stuff like that happening and it would take A LOT of money to go there to put up with their censorship stuff and be on edge for that stuff happening, and I don't think any school would be willing to pay me the amount to make it worth my time.

On roughly 3.8 mil per month in my first year (after tax and expenses).

Will be on 5 mil per month net next academic year. From September, I will achieve my goal of earning in China from one job, what I earned in Korea from multiple jobs.

The next step after that would be to get further qualifications (MEd) and try to add privates to break the 10mil per month barrier.

Ok, if pay is really a concern consider this approach. Again, this is just advice.

Get married!

On the vast majority of ESL salaries a person who is single, indefinitely, is going to take a VERY long time to save up for any significant fixed asset. Consider spending less time scratching and haggling for better jobs and more time making yourself appealing and searching for a good spouse. The expenses only kick in once you start having kids and as long as you both stay fit and healthy you can postpone that for a while.

2 level 1+ teachers with 2 housing allowances, 2 rural allowances, 2 multiple schools allowances and 2 big severance payouts will hit that jeonse in no time and be able to put a decent amount away every month.

Teamwork, friends.

Even with kids, the expenses don't outweigh the advantages of a double income -- or at least, they don't until it's time to enrol them in hagwons or university etc.
Korea subsidizes almost *everything* child related.
It's pretty awesome!

Even with kids, the expenses don't outweigh the advantages of a double income -- or at least, they don't until it's time to enrol them in hagwons or university etc.
Korea subsidizes almost *everything* child related.
It's pretty awesome!

It's not only about the increase in expenses, but taking care of the child. If the grandparents can't help, then one parent must stay at home. Which means one income gone.

It's not only about the increase in expenses, but taking care of the child. If the grandparents can't help, then one parent must stay at home. Which means one income gone.

cant you just drop em off at daycare once they get old enough

cant you just drop em off at daycare once they get old enough

And what happens untill they get old enough?
It's also debatable what is old enough. I personally think that untill at least 2 years old, a mother ( or father) should take care of a child.

Ok, if pay is really a concern consider this approach. Again, this is just advice.

Get married!

On the vast majority of ESL salaries a person who is single, indefinitely, is going to take a VERY long time to save up for any significant fixed asset. Consider spending less time scratching and haggling for better jobs and more time making yourself appealing and searching for a good spouse. The expenses only kick in once you start having kids and as long as you both stay fit and healthy you can postpone that for a while.

2 level 1+ teachers with 2 housing allowances, 2 rural allowances, 2 multiple schools allowances and 2 big severance payouts will hit that jeonse in no time and be able to put a decent amount away every month.

Teamwork, friends.

Lots of married guys here told me they have struggled and are frustrated with the lack of raises to the wages.  Korea's getting more and more expensive.  Everyone from bus drivers to factory workers have gotten raises while the ESL teachers haven't.  Want to know who is respected and who isn't?  Stay if you wish, but don't flame others who leave or eventualy leave.

Lots of married guys here told me they have struggled and are frustrated with the lack of raises to the wages.  Korea's getting more and more expensive.  Everyone from bus drivers to factory workers have gotten raises while the ESL teachers haven't.  Want to know who is respected and who isn't?  Stay if you wish, but don't flame others who leave or eventualy leave.

Raising a family on one English teacher's salary would be hard. But he was trying to make a point about being married and having two people earning an income. That should be enough to live comfortably and save a decent amount. In his example, as rare as it might be, it's about 6.5m a month. And that's two public school NETs. A working Korean partner could have the potential to earn more.

Raising a family on one English teacher's salary would be hard. But he was trying to make a point about being married and having two people earning an income. That should be enough to live comfortably and save a decent amount. In his example, as rare as it might be, it's about 6.5m a month. And that's two public school NETs. A working Korean partner could have the potential to earn more.

One married friend an Aussie who ignored his student debt and began saving right away back when the salary was worth something got a leap on the game.  Starting out today would have been much different.  But he does like me around 3 mil a month and gets 400K rent allwoance.  His wife does hakwon work and contract gigs.  Maybe makes low 2.0's.  So, around 5 mil.  He does have apartment debt and new vehicle.  Kids in daycare.  But not getting rich.  It was only becasue he was here years ago when the cost of living was cheap and money could be saved.  He's lucky his wife will work.  A couple of guys I know, their wives won't work and they struggle on the salary.  Another guy I know, his wife got some yoga teaching part time and makes anotehr million won a month.  So, they come up to 4 or so.  They were here back when the salary was worth something and you could save a lot on it.  So, helped those guys with having some cash for down payments on apartments or whatever.  Can't imagine a newbie doing it now. 

Either way, Korea ain't what it use to be and new guys getting married now will struggle.  Even the F visa market ain't so hot like it was.  Might be better if you live in Seoul, but then you get screwed with much higher living costs housing too.  Either way, these guys complain about their salaries higher than normal haven't been raised in years.  It's still kind of okay for me.  But I see the writing on the wall coming for me.  Korea needs to raise the salaries for the teachers the same way they have for the other professions and soon. 

And what happens untill they get old enough?
It's also debatable what is old enough. I personally think that untill at least 2 years old, a mother ( or father) should take care of a child.

Both me and my SO work, and neither of us have family that live nearby.
We stuffed our little gremlin in a (very excellent!) eorinijib at around 4 months of age. It's been a really good experience for everybody involved.
YMMV, or course, but I feel that in our case, the day care experience has been so positive for us that we would do it again even if only one of us worked.

Both me and my SO work, and neither of us have family that live nearby.
We stuffed our little gremlin in a (very excellent!) eorinijib at around 4 months of age. It's been a really good experience for everybody involved.
YMMV, or course, but I feel that in our case, the day care experience has been so positive for us that we would do it again even if only one of us worked.

It's good that it worked out for you. It's not easy to  find a place that can take such small babies. Let alone finding a good one.
But I think the majority would try to avoid this option and rather have the mother quit and be a full time housewife even if it the missing income is hurting the family budget. If they want or have to work, it is more common to return to work once the child reaches kindergarten age.
It's good to have options out there though. There are even 24 hour daycares. Parents that are super busy and work long hours (or a single parent)  can leave their child there for the entire week and take them home for one or two days during the weekend. It sounds awful, but for some, this is the only solution.

It's not easy to  find a place that can take such small babies. Let alone finding a good one.

We were just very lucky that the eorinijib in our apartment complex happened to have an infant specialist working there. I get that it probably isn't standard.

Lots of married guys here told me they have struggled and are frustrated with the lack of raises to the wages.

A pretty common complaint on the EMiK and EDiK fb group.
On the other hand, it'a also pretty common to hear stories of how getting married and starting a family in Korea really opened a lot of financial doors that hadn't been available previously. Economies of scale, long term planning, and the necessity of meeting very visible goals can do wonders in motivating people who have previously been in kind of a rut. It's good to shake things up every once in a while. Rattle those golden handcuffs!

EDiK

_{really couldnt have gone with "every father in korea" and why is the mom one "mother" instead of "mom" it should either be mother/father or mom/dad REEEEEE}

_{really couldnt have gone with "every father in korea" and why is the mom one "mother" instead of "mom" it should either be mother/father or mom/dad REEEEEE}

And then a group where the two can meet and discuss.

EMFiK.