Compensation and benefits

Compensation and benefits are usually provided in the following forms:

Salary

As an English teacher, your monthly salary ranges from RMB3,000 to RMB8,000 (1 US dollar is approximately equal to RMB8.2). You are usually required to teach 16 to 20 hours a week. Additional teaching hours will be paid as overtime, which varies from school to school and will be specified in the contract.

Housing

Depending on where you teach, you may get different housing plans. Basically schools will provide free and decent housing for foreign teachers. It can be a fully-furnished one- or two-bedroom apartment, or even a suite, with a private bathroom, TV, telephone set, air-conditioning, refrigerator, washing machine, and sometimes a small kitchen with gas stove, microwave oven, and toaster. You will probably have to pay for telephone and utility bills.

Some private schools or organizations, however, may not provide free housing. But they will definitely pay a higher salary, and assist you in finding a place to stay.

Bonuses

Bonus on completing the contract is a common practice in most schools, which is often a sizable percentage of your monthly salary paid at the end of your contract. You may also get some travel allowances with which you can tour the country while you teach in China. There could be other bonuses provided for major national holidays too. But of course, some schools do not have bonus plan.

Medical and Other Insurances

Most schools offer basic medical care free of charge at contracted hospitals. Some schools even provide additional health insurance. Insurance for travel, life and accidents on route to and inside China is usually not included in the insurance policy provided by host schools. It is highly recommended that individual teachers arrange this kind of insurance in their home country before departure.

Global Insurance

Holidays and Vacations

Most schools offer paid national holidays. With one-year contract, you will usually enjoy 4-week winter vacation and 6-week summer vacation with pay.

China-E-Travel

National holidays are:

New Year’s Day (January 1st )
Chinese New Year (late January early February for 2 days)
International Labor Day (May 1st for 2 days)
Chinese National Day (October 1st for 2 days)

Free Air Ticket (after reimbursement)

For a half-year contract, most schools will reimburse one-way air ticket from your home country to the Chinese city where you teach. For a one-year contract, you may be reimbursed for a return ticket. However, schools will not purchase the air ticket for you before you leave for China, they will reimburse your airfare after you arrive. Sometimes right away, sometimes until you have fulfilled your contract.

China-E-Travel

What is usually not included:

Dental insurance
Vision care