Compensation for Teaching English As a Second Language in South Korea

Deoksugung Palace, Seoul (Wikipedia)

by Daniel Eyrich

South Korea is known to offer numerous perks to people interested in working there.

It has so much to offer from beautiful attractions to some of the most enticing activities.

The education sector in the country is competitive and considered crucial towards the development of social and financial success.

It is precisely for this reason that teaching English as a second language in South Korea is viewed as a smart choice.

The salaries offered are some of the highest in Asia, there are ample opportunities to supplement your income by teaching additional classes, severance pay is a national law as is medical coverage.

Salaries

Different institutes pay different salary ranges to teachers and while this is the case, there is an average amount set by the law. This will often vary in accordance to the experience and qualification of the teachers.

Those who are native speakers get a high paying salary than those who are not. The industry is quite a competitive way and there is no better way through which this is reflected than in the kind of salaries offered.

Those who have a TESOL certificate are better placed to get teaching jobs that pay higher than those who don't.

In addition to this, the schools that have been recently opened are known to offer the best salaries. Payday falls anywhere from the last day in the month to the 15th of the new month though this should be stated clearly in the contract.

Overtime

Teachers in South Korea are more likely to enjoy overtime payment.

While this is the case, it is essential to note that it varies from one school to another and is influenced by the season and the reliability of co-workers. It will also vary in accordance to the desire of the school owners to make money.

For instance, January and August are months when the public schools are closed and this also means that they are the busiest as extra classes are scheduled and you can take advantage of this for the purpose of making extra cash.

The rate for overtime varies from one school to another and while this is the case, it is often estimated at 100-120 per hour. The Korean law protects employers from paying any premium on the regular rate unless the employee works for at least 48 hours a week.

However, the hourly rate is not an issue for overtime pay for the simple reason it does not require too much preparation to teach someone else's class.

Severance Payment

Once you complete 1 year contract as an English teacher, you are entitled to get your regular salary for an extra month. Contrary to what most people think, this is not your bonus nor is it paid in accordance to management discretion.

Rather, it is a provision that is made by the Korean law and most of the schools in Korea are known to pay this up and those that don't are often in financial difficulties.

Medical Coverage

This is another major benefit of teaching English as a second language in South Korea.

You are entitled to get a health plan and your employer is supposed to contribute towards this and the contributions they make are often based on the salary you get.

In essence, South Korea is known to offer some of the best medical insurance coverage to teachers.

Want to teach English in South Korea? Get started on your own ESL teaching adventure at http://www.eslhitchhiker.com We have teaching opportunities all over Korea, information on the what to expect once you arrive and loads of content to use in the classroom.

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