[dan reed]

What salary could I expect as a TEFL teacher with a years previous experience in HK...lets say in a language center etc...(or a higher level if possible)
I really have no idea! please help
thanks

[PDLM]

I'd guess around $12-15K...

[dreamstalker22]

I worked at a language center here in Hong Kong for 6 months. I made anywhere from $16K to $25K, depending on how many classes I had a month.

[sera]

Originally Posted by dreamstalker22

I worked at a language center here in Hong Kong for 6 months. I made anywhere from $16K to $25K, depending on how many classes I had a month.

Not bad for a lang ctr, interesting... similar to a local school teacher's.

Hope noone minds me tagging on a query or 2 here... but what does a "TEFL teacher" in HK get per hour these days?

And, heard you'd be paid more if you were qualified / recognised as an "official teacher" if you've a post-grad cert in educ (eg. PGCE, etc), NOT just a "TEFL", but hey, what's the difference?

Finally, which would be better at teaching young HKers true English-speaking confidence + cultural know-how?

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by sera

Hope noone minds me tagging on a query or 2 here... but what does a "TEFL teacher" in HK get per hour these days?

Anything between $200 to $400 an hour.

$200 for freshly qualifieds with little or no experience.

[PerryCo]

$200 to $400 per hour teaching English, but remember the hours are not regular, and students (Moms) drop and add classes at their leisure. To make it work you will want about 25-30 students on a full time basis. Check the larger tutorial schools.

[Alby]

I know of a person who came to HK in March of 2006 from the UK fresh from a TEFL course - the only in class experience s/he had was what s/he did in the course.

S/he arrived from the UK w/o a work visa and applied to numerous learning centers - some that had advertised and some who hadn't s/he sent resume anyways.

S/he received calls for interviews for almost every single center s/he sent a resume to. Although, s/he was only interested in a full time position for a center that would sponsor the HK work visa - s/he still went on every interview for the practice but also to further understand the market for TEFL teachers and what type of centers are in HK.

So, during the interview the interviewer would either ask how much $$$ s/he was looking to earn or they would simply state how much the position paid. S/he would then say to the interviewer that s/he has been interviewing and has already been offered more money than what they are offering - s/he said s/he stated at least 4k more than what they had originally offered. A majority of the time the interviewer would add more to what was originally being offered. After about 10 days of interviewing s/he signed a contract with a center that started paying during the probationary 3 months 20k/mnth then after probationary period 23k/mnth with 13 month salary (the contract originally said 12 but s/he neg.) and with 18 days holiday per year (the contract said 15 which is already more than the gov't mandatory 12 but s/he tried the luck and asked for 20 but they agreed on 18). S/he cannot take holiday during July and August and must work full day on Saturdays but has Sunday and another day of the week off. Also, s/he negotiated that that 6k of the salary was for living expenses rents so that portion is not taxed by Inland Revenue Dept.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by Alby

Also, s/he negotiated that that 6k of the salary was for living expenses rents so that portion is not taxed by Inland Revenue Dept.

If only it were that simple. Unfortunately it isn't.
See http://www.ird.gov.hk/eng/pdf/pam44e.pdf for how details of housing allowance is taxed.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by Alby

with 18 days holiday per year (the contract said 15 which is already more than the gov't mandatory 12 but s/he tried the luck and asked for 20 but they agreed on 18).

And the Government statutory minimum is the 12 Statutory Holidays ( Labour Department - FAQ Statutory Holidays ) plus 7 days paid annual leave in the first and second year of employment, rising to 8 days in the third year, and more later. ( Labour Department - FAQ Annual Leave )

In general this: Labour Department - Frequently Asked Questions is a pretty good place to start for Employment Law related questions.

[Alby]

hey PDLM...you raise some good points that I will raise with my friends attention.

Thanks!