Salary vs Cost Of Living ~ Please help

**ZaF_GirL** · 23-04-09, 11:52

Hey guys

I've been offered a job as a classroom teacher at a national plus school in Serpong but I have some last minute hesitations.

The contract is for two years (with an increase after one year), housing (which is shared with some rather strict regulations regarding guest visits but in walking distance to school), medical insurance and flights at the beginning and end of the two years. After tax I should get out about 20 mil.

So my question is, would this be enough to live off (I am aware this depends on life-style) as well as be able to travel internationally at least once or twice a year? Any input would be great!

**Mas Fred** · 23-04-09, 12:25

I can tell you a couple of things. Easy to live on that sort of money if you don't go daft and out boozing every night.
Bar family commitments my personal spend is less than Rp600,000/month.
That allows me to eat at restaurants every day, wander around on my motorbike and do pretty much whatever takes my fancy.
Most here in the sticks are living on Rp400,000 a month but are a bit skint.

The second thing is that they are ripping you off. Salary is way too low.

Ask the English teachers on here what they get but I've been offered (and refused) a lot more.

Added - the last I was offered was 2 days/week at 500,000 per visit.

**ZaF_GirL** · 23-04-09, 13:31

Great, thanks Fred!

Any teachers out there who could give me an idea of what average salaries are??
I saw some jobs for 12 000 000 a month so I thought 20 000 000 would be ok.

**waarmstrong** · 23-04-09, 16:26

20 JT/month is probably adequate for the short life-style description you included -- provided your housing, medical insurance, and hopefully your utilities are paid. It certainly does not sound very competitive. Perhaps some of the teachers who monitor the Forum can elaborate on teaching salaries at Jakarta schools. In any case, its a job in an interesting part of the world. Good luck.

**mattyboy43** · 23-04-09, 18:21

It depends on your credentials and the size of the school as well as what country you are from. 20jt/month for an expat teacher from Europe, Aus, NZ or NA with housing paid for is a resonable starting rate in most of the National Plus Schools in Jakarta. Definitly more than enough to live off of but you might not have enough to do to much travelling outside of SE Asia where everything affordable. The range of saleries varies greatly amongst the different schools, I have some friends only making 13/month and others making 50/month. If you have a chance to stick with the school and can get up into the 30/month range after a few years then go for it. PM the name of the school and I might be able to give you some advice onto the working conditions and if it is one of the preferred schools to work in or not.

**Mas Fred** · 23-04-09, 18:38

What may be worth a mention is the general state of schools in Indonesia.
I visit quite a few and, while standards vary, the attitude of the pupils does not.
The kids are great here (as a rule). Polite and attentive with a great outlook on education. It's common here for kids to shake the teacher's hand on the way into school.
They even take it in turns to sweep the classroom.

**ZaF_GirL** · 24-04-09, 16:04

Thanks for the responses!

**semut** · 26-04-09, 11:56

you need to check out

www.eslcafe.com go into the International teaching jobs forum and enter the Indonesia section

Lots of GOOD, BAD and UGLY info about schools there.

**kingwilly** · 26-04-09, 21:26

I suspect I know that school. 20K is ok and about what some of the national plus school offer. Certainly wouldn't take anything lower than that.

**DP Nagata** · 27-04-09, 14:05

Originally Posted by ZaF_GirL

Great, thanks Fred!

Any teachers out there who could give me an idea of what average salaries are??
I saw some jobs for 12 000 000 a month so I thought 20 000 000 would be ok.

Should I get that offer, I'll take it right away.

Here in Japan many expats get paid a lot lower than that amount and as you see, the cost of living in Indonesia is much cheaper than Japan. You can save more than 50% of your salary.

As a start, I think it is a good deal. Teaching in Indonesia is fun and challenging. The people are easy to get along with.

Good or bad depends on the way you see things and face them. I have been teaching for more than 20 years. My experience is completly different from others, both the good and the bad ones.