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13-12-2005, 03:37 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 57
| |  How much salary to ask for?
I make $75,000 USD annually in Portland, Oregon. How much salary do you think I should negotiate for in Hong Kong? I used the HomeFair salary calculator, which converted it to $135,000 USD, which seems crazy to me. (I lived in HK in '94-95 and lived comfortably on $60,000 USD. During a visit this past summer, it seemed like HK housing prices haven't gone up much since then.) Other specifics: I am assuming I will get full medical/dental/optical coverage and typical U.S. benefits, but no housing allowance, etc.
Please advise. Thanks! | |
13-12-2005, 04:47 PM
|  | Resident Peacekeeper | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Pokfulam Age: 40
Posts: 10,666
| | >> it seemed like HK housing prices haven't gone up much since then
They dropped a fair bit and have been rising since the last few years.
Look at : the cost of living article to get a comparison... | |
13-12-2005, 05:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 57
| | | Thanks, KnowItAll. I read the article before I posted my question. I couldn't figure out from that how much I should ask for (not sure how much I spend on all those items individually). From my previous experience in HK, rent was my major expense. And all the other stuff was reasonable. (I'm not a big consumer.) Do you have an idea in round numbers about how much salary I should seek? Input from other people would be most welcome. Thanks, all. | |
13-12-2005, 05:08 PM
| | Resident Peacekeeper | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Pokfulam Age: 40
Posts: 10,666
| | | Depends on what you're doing. At the end of the day, you don't want to be the poorest of your peers, just because you settled for "reasonable". Also depends on what end of a career path you're at...
I'd start by using the USD135K salary as a base for negotiation. | |
13-12-2005, 05:29 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 57
| | | Sorry for any confusion: I think if I ask for USD135k, the employer will think I'm crazy. (My industry doesn't pay that much in general.) I'm making top dollar for my experience level in the U.S., so I just want to get the HK equivalent, whatever that is. I think the salary calculator is skewing high, so I wanted to get feedback from others. | |
13-12-2005, 06:03 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Age: 32
Posts: 588
| | Would suggest to search all salary related threads on this site... Im sure that would give you reasonable answer..
e.g. 35k Salary Adequate? | |
13-12-2005, 08:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 57
| | | I appreciate your suggestion, nivantj. I read the salary threads, but I'm asking a slightly different question. I'm trying to convert my current salary into an HK equivalent -- meaning I'm looking for a constant "multiplier" that can convert anyone's US salary into HKD, regardless of how much you make, what job you have or what experience you have.
I saw a reference to a multiplier of 1.86 on one thread (I've lost track of which one), but that one's even higher than the HomeFair calculator's. As I mentioned, the HomeFair conversion seemed high.
Most salary threads seem to be discussing what lifestyle you can afford with X salary. I already know I can afford my low-maintenance lifestyle in HK even on my current salary in the U.S. But I don't want to shortchange myself by not taking HK's cost of living into account when I negotiate salary. | |
13-12-2005, 08:16 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 16
| | | my advice to you is don't compare what you'd be making here with your US salary.
Depending for your industry (i speak for myself) my industry is much different here then it is in USA, Canada, Australia or NZ, where I have all worked.
I suggest you try website forums to try to find people in a similar field as you and find out from them what seems right. | |
14-12-2005, 04:23 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 57
| | | Thanks, Sunshine7. I will keep looking for comparisons in my industry, but I've had no luck so far. My job is relatively scarce, and the pay packages vary widely with the quality of the employer. As far as I can tell, there are two companies that pay in my range. But I don't know how to account for HK's higher cost of living. I will try to break the ice with current employees and ask them how they did it. Maybe they will offer some insight. Meanwhile, I'm hoping for input from others on this board. I appreciate everyone's help.
I've learned a lot on this forum, even though I've worked in Hong Kong before. When I was in HK, the Internet was just taking off and there was little useful stuff on it. Having this resource now is amazing. | |
14-12-2005, 07:08 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Presently in Hungary, soon in HK.
Posts: 1
| | | Some advice, please!
I have just been offered a position as English Instructor at a university in HK. My salary will be HK27,790 a month. I am presently living in Hungary where I am basically happy but earning very little, like almost everyone here.
My purpose for going to Hong Kong is to save some money. I do not live extravagantly; I don't even drink alcohol. I taught in Japan once, where I saved US$2,000 a month, but there I received free housing. I understand rent is very expensive in HK, so I've lowered my expectations somewhat. I would like to save at least US$1,000 a month.
Will I be able to do that on this salary? Should I try to share an apartment with someone? (I would much rather have my own place, of course.) I would appreciate information from any of you old HK hands! Thanks!
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