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  1. #1
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    $2,500 to $6K a month? Really?

    This sub-forum header says, "Being a international school teacher in Thailand can be a great career with salaries in the range of $2,500 to $6,000 per month..."

    Is that at all realistic? My wife and I both have engineering degrees and she has taught math for a number of years. There's lots of TEFL information online, but I'm not finding much about degreed/credentialed teachers, if there's even much demand for that.

    I understand the more expensive areas pay better, any other guidance folks would be willing to provide? How old of a duffer do you have to be to get aged out of the profession in Thailand?

    Many thanks.

  2. #2
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    $2,500 is about 79,000 baht. I don't know of any professor that earns that as a basic wage (might be possible, especially at private unis).

    Working at an international school is better paid, so earning that or higher is possible. Once you get above the 80,000 to 100,000 per month range, even for the top provate schools, I should imagine these jobs would be very hard to find.
    Cycling should be banned!!!

  3. #3
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    I would not get out of bed for that in a morning!!!!

  4. #4
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    most accredited teachers in proper International schools get at least 120k per month, sometimes more

    the rest is below 80k for non-accredited teachers,

  5. #5
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    I was talking to a tefler today & he was happy 30K per month.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Butterfly View Post
    most accredited teachers in proper International schools get at least 120k per month, sometimes more

    the rest is below 80k for non-accredited teachers,
    Pretty much correct.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by thehighlander959 View Post
    I would not get out of bed for that in a morning!!!!
    Yep, thing is, teachers do not earn a lot, you do not become a teacher expecting to earn truckloads of money. If you do, you're dumb.

  8. #8
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    ^
    Seems like some of the teachers here in Thailand seem to do ok. 30000bht for Tefler, 80000bht non accredited and up to 120,000bht accredited certainly liveable here in Thailand in some places.

    ITS THE $6500 dollars a month thats puzzling me I take it thats the University Professors. I would also be expecting a car and a house to be as part of the package.
    "Don,t f*ck with the baldies*

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    If you are local employ you wont get that $6,000 per month, need to be sourced from overseas to get the good packages.

  10. #10
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    Having a wife sort of negates the best reasons to come here.

  11. #11
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    ^^
    I never mentioned anything about a wife???? There are single University Professors, and as DD says it would probably be foreign specialist teachers who get the really big bucks.

    I do know there are none in the village I live in in NE Thailand get anymore than 4500- bht per month for the Headmaster give or take a few thousand for expenses.

  12. #12
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    My mistake should read 45000 baht plus expenses for the Headmaster.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Butterfly
    most accredited teachers in proper International schools get at least 120k per month, sometimes more
    That's pretty good.

    Quote Originally Posted by thehighlander959
    ITS THE $6500 dollars a month thats puzzling me I take it thats the University Professors.
    Nope. They earn a lot less. A Thai professor might get 60-70k as a basic salary, might, a Thai lecturer could be on as little as 20k... There's no reason to pay a foreigner any more. If you have a PhD and experience of university teaching, maybe a title too, then you'd be between 50-60k salary, maybe, as a foreigner.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by thehighlander959 View Post
    ^
    Seems like some of the teachers here in Thailand seem to do ok. 30000bht for Tefler, 80000bht non accredited and up to 120,000bht accredited certainly liveable here in Thailand in some places.

    ITS THE $6500 dollars a month thats puzzling me I take it thats the University Professors. I would also be expecting a car and a house to be as part of the package.
    Overseas hired teachers at ISB, BPS & NIST would all be on around about 150,000-200,000 per month. No car, though they do get a bunch of other allowances housing, insurance, flights, kids education, annual bonus etc.

    I doubt any school outside of Bkk pays that.

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    My wife begged me to attend an English seminar at the nearest High School a few months ago. I'll keep locations out of it to protect the guilty. The rest is true.

    I reluctantly, agreed. A week before the "seminar" I met with a Thai guy who taught English at the local High School. He called himself "Sam." He claimed he was schooled in England for six months. Fair enough, he seemed competent, and friendly. He asked me to print x50 a single page of 15 basic "English" phrases.

    So off I went.

    1. "Fuck off you Paki cnut."
    2. "I'll glass you in the face you stinking jock."
    3. "I come frum a raver wealfy fammiry."
    and so forth...

    It all went swimmingly until the Queen bee showed up. She demanded an audience of all the teachers an hour before the seminar started.
    I was invited into her inner sanctum, armed with my 50 test sheets, my wife was at my side. It was very curious. There were only 12 "teachers" sitting around the table, but she insisted on using a microphone. Evidently the strain of speaking to a dozen people sitting within three meters of the queen was far too strenuous. Weird.
    We went around the table introducing ourselves. I understood about half of what other "teachers" were saying. OK, maybe a third. I was roped into this, and not feeling very comfortable. The queen asked where "we" lived, my wife answered. She asked my wife's level of English, she answered. She asked my level of education, my wife answered. Said she'd like to see my passport. Never said a word of English to me, or my wife, in preparation of this "English" seminar.
    Bizarre. I declined to show my passport, don't need the trouble.

    The day after the "seminar" which was nothing more than farmers grunting out sounds some white guy presented, the queen called the "teachers" back for a follow up.
    I declined to attend.

    2,000 baht each even to my wife, who speaks English at least as well as a Scot.

  16. #16
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    ^
    And your message is what????

  17. #17
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    My ex taught at ISB about twenty years ago. At that time, I think she made around $3,000 per month, with five years prior experience in the IS system, and a Master's in Elementary Education (US) certified to teach K-8. Probably would be closer to 5K now.

  18. #18
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    Top tier internationals, for an experienced teacher with a family in tow, 150k plus is possible. The mid tier places are paying in the 90-120k range. Don't know about the lower tier places but it would be less than that. My figures include housing allowance, but you can add onto that flights, medical, relocation allowances and yearly bonus which is normally a month's salary.

    Unless you are home certified and experienced in your home country you can virtually rule out the top and most of the mid tier schools.

  19. #19
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    My monthly salary is ok, however the main boss makes close to $7000 per month.

    Then again I was talking to a Brit expat (not a teacher) the other day who was complaining about only making B400,000 per month here in Thailand with an international company. Apparently, his son's public school back in the UK was eating into his pocket. Additionally, he is also paying for international school fees here in Bangkok.

    If a person is truly qualified and works at a top school, then life can be enjoyable. However, keep in mind that these jobs demand considerable time.

    Plus paying back the student loans...
    Last edited by hillbilly; 22-07-2012 at 03:34 PM.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Butterfly View Post
    most accredited teachers in proper International schools get at least 120k per month, sometimes more

    the rest is below 80k for non-accredited teachers,
    Incorrect and misleading. I am a certified teacher from the UK. I am not currently working in Thailand. However I have a few friends who are. They are all accredited teachers e.g PGCE certified, they are on salaries between 55,000 -78,000 baht per month at international schools in Bangkok.

    However they were 'local' hires, thus the salary and benefits aren't aren't as good.

    Certified teachers at international school can earn salaries between 50,000 (rock bottom) - 150,000 (top). Average salaries for local hires are around 65,000 - 70,000 baht and 75,000 + (not including housing, medical, flights etc.) for teachers hired abroad.

  21. #21
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    $7,000 a month for an English teacher in Thailand?

    Somebody's getting ripped off on a very large scale.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by OneSureThing View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Butterfly View Post
    most accredited teachers in proper International schools get at least 120k per month, sometimes more

    the rest is below 80k for non-accredited teachers,
    Incorrect and misleading. I am a certified teacher from the UK. I am not currently working in Thailand. However I have a few friends who are. They are all accredited teachers e.g PGCE certified, they are on salaries between 55,000 -78,000 baht per month at international schools in Bangkok.

    However they were 'local' hires, thus the salary and benefits aren't aren't as good.

    Certified teachers at international school can earn salaries between 50,000 (rock bottom) - 150,000 (top). Average salaries for local hires are around 65,000 - 70,000 baht and 75,000 + (not including housing, medical, flights etc.) for teachers hired abroad.
    Any accredited teacher working for less than 80K is a moron or desperate to stay in Thailand for peanuts. That's why international schools hate local hires, 90% are spastics and are here because;

    a) their husbands are on an expat package (=neurotic housewife playing at being a teacher more often than not they only get the PGCE as a means to be a teacher in these countries

    b) they come to thailand on an expat package but got progressively fired from each job until being a teacher is the last thing left they got into the TEFL game to do so, having no other real qualifications. At some point they get a PGCE to try and upgrade.


    c) they are backpackers or sex tourists trying their damnest to stay in country and got into the TEFL game to do so, having no other real qualifications. At some point they get a PGCE to try and upgrade.

    None of these examples are particularly inspiring teachers, hence the concept of local hire vs overseas hire.

    But perhaps all your friends are somehow different.

  23. #23
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    Good information all - Thanks for your replies.

    Quote Originally Posted by BobR View Post
    Having a wife sort of negates the best reasons to come here.
    Ah - I catch your drift, but my wife speaks English, has been loyal as a puppy dog for 20 years, has a good career, absolutely no baggage, drama or issues, and does not send any money to her parents. And she's a hell of a cook. And looks 10X better than the "escorts" you see in those funny "fat farang" photos.
    Last edited by funcrew; 25-07-2012 at 07:41 AM.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Wilson View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by thehighlander959 View Post
    ^
    Seems like some of the teachers here in Thailand seem to do ok. 30000bht for Tefler, 80000bht non accredited and up to 120,000bht accredited certainly liveable here in Thailand in some places.

    ITS THE $6500 dollars a month thats puzzling me I take it thats the University Professors. I would also be expecting a car and a house to be as part of the package.
    Overseas hired teachers at ISB, BPS & NIST would all be on around about 150,000-200,000 per month. No car, though they do get a bunch of other allowances housing, insurance, flights, kids education, annual bonus etc.

    I doubt any school outside of Bkk pays that.
    Please spell out ISB, BPS, and NIST - I'm an ignorant noob.

    Quote Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton View Post
    My ex taught at ISB about twenty years ago. At that time, I think she made around $3,000 per month, with five years prior experience in the IS system, and a Master's in Elementary Education (US) certified to teach K-8. Probably would be closer to 5K now.
    Experienced, credentialed public school teachers in my large US city don't make $5K/mo unless they have a doctorate degree, and then just barely.
    Last edited by funcrew; 25-07-2012 at 07:47 AM.

  25. #25
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    ISB International School Bangkok

    BPS - Bangkok Patana School

    NIST New International School Thailand

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