Thread: A dodgy statement

And then there is Ramkanghaeng university looking for someone teaching german with at least master degree, preferably with a Ph.D, for the princely sum of 26,000 per month.

Originally Posted by hillbilly

You guys better look at some of the top international schools and what they pay their teachers drafted from abroad. ISB, RIS, NIST, Shrewsbury Bangkok Pattana and Harrow for example. These people ain't losing money by being in the LOS.

yep, then lets add 10% or 20% bonuses each contract, health insurance, housing allowances, shipping to and from home country, flights home each year, laptops, etc...

mind you too bad all considered, but most mates of mine earn far more than i ever do,

Industrial Chemist salesmen is heading back to singapore since they offered him $20K per month in his pocket as base retainer.....

niiioce!

Originally Posted by Fabian

And then there is Ramkanghaeng university looking for someone teaching german with at least master degree, preferably with a Ph.D, for the princely sum of 26,000 per month.

Now that's closer to what's REALLY what's on offer in Thailand. But there is prolly a housing allowance on top of that. That's normally how they manage to boost the salaries.

"You guys better look at some of the top international schools and what they pay their teachers drafted from abroad."

Basically the same as ordinary teachers make back home, which even with perks does not add up to 72,000 a year. Sure, making what is a livable wage in the USA or the UK is nice when the standard of living is like it is in Thailand, but don't think normal grade or high school teachers are raking in the big bucks anywhere in the world.

I have pulled in over 100,000 K a month teaching in Thailand, but that was with extra classes and taking on a course or two (not in English) in the evenings at graduate programs around town.

If I could make the same money at a uni in Thailand as I make elsewhere, I would return in a heart beat.

Teachers just don;t get paid that well, true around the world, not just in Thailand. Last I looked, starting saalry for a New York high School teacher was around 33,000 a year.

“Most professional jobs in Thailand start at 150,000baht per month”

Complete and utter nonsense. Obviously this is not true for Thais and it is also not true for foreigners. This week I signed a contract with a consultant with a PhD from Oxford that was under the figure quoted by DD, who obviously feels the need to belittle teachers to boost his own puny ego.

I have hired Westerners, young professions, for professional positions at local salary scales, which around what ESL teachers make. I have also in past worked as a “manager” for wages based on local wage scales which did not reach the salary DD mentioned.

Sure there are people you make good expat wages (Count me as one these days), but if you are not sent here for a multinational company or other large international organization, chances are your starting salary will be closer to a middle class Thais than 150,000 Baht a month.

Originally Posted by Accidental Ajarn

but don't think normal grade or high school teachers are raking in the big bucks anywhere in the world.

so you are wrong then.

Originally Posted by Accidental Ajarn

I have also in past worked as a “manager” for wages based on local wage scales which did not reach the salary DD mentioned.

idiot. why?

Originally Posted by Accidental Ajarn

I have pulled in over 100,000 K a month teaching in Thailand, but that was with extra classes and taking on a course or two (not in English) in the evenings at graduate programs around town.

that was my starting salary almost 10 years ago in Thaliand, not including any extras.

You need to take into account ALL aspects of the salary.

Harrow is probably a rung below the top tiers but experienced teachers (NOT TEFLERS!) receive approximately GBP 26,000 pa. That is THB 135,000 pm. The most recent housing allowance is about 30,000. There are 10% bonuses, free school fees for children, return flights, and heads of department get an extra GBP 2,000 -3,000.

All up, THB 200,000 is very achievable for primary and secondary teachers. And this school is far from the top payer.

Other than making the mistake of equating teaching with TEFLing, a few posters sem to forget that, despite some community and other attitudes to the contrary, teaching is a profession.

Starting teaching wages in Australia are now geting into the AUD 50,000..rising to AUD 60,000 with a few years under your belt. That's about USD 4,600 at today's rates.

Why would a professional teacher want to pause their careers (losing seniority wthin their respective systems) to go earn less money elsewhere?

The wages talked about here are far from exhorbitant, particularly when compared to other professions.

An IT colleague was pricing the putting together of a team to changeover a banks main software in Bangkok...an 18 month project with base wages to expats of USD 90,000 plus accomm plus flights plus per diems plus plus plus...

The numbers quoted for teachers at the top tier international schools are certainly correct.