Please see the limited, representative salary charts below for public and private schools, by province. This information was compiled simultaneously from www.ESLcafe.com; www.chinatefl.com; and www.abroadchina.org on a single February 2003 day and is only representative, not comprehensive. They do reflect the differences in salary (which are inconsistent with the guidelines of the State Bureau of Foreign Experts) ranges and numbers of employment opportunities in a given province, comparatively speaking.

KEY
K -- Kindergarten
P -- Primary
M -- Middle
U -- University
BI -- Business Institute
Pu -- Public
Pri -- Private

The amount of salary is also tied directly to the degree held, particularly in public universities. The higher the degree, the higher the salary.

The private schools that offer higher salaries usually tie the higher salary to a heavier workload, i.e. more teaching hours per week.

The Central Government guide provides:
"According to the invitee's professional level, post held, and academic background and experience, he or she will be paid a salary of between 1,200 and 4,800 RMB Yuan per month. For every year's work completed, the equivalent of half a month's salary is paid as a departure allowance." (1994, Guide for Foreign Experts Working in China , State Bureau of Foreign Experts, p.52)

This regulation is somewhat outdated by differing salary schedules in various provinces.

All schools promise housing. Some go so far as to promise "western style" housing, (with the emphasis on "style"). Some only promise "assistance" in locating housing. Public Universities usually provide on campus housing but a few provide a room in a low class Chinese hotel. Some teachers have been put up with local Chinese families in very unsatisfactory conditions. Private business institutes usually provide their own housing or an ample allowance for off campus housing.

However, even the best of the "western style" housing is still housing in China, designed and built according to Chinese standards and interpretation of "western style housing" by people who have never been to the west. There are instances of regular power outages, lack of adequate heat, lack of adequate hot water, lack of cable or satellite television, lack of a DVD or CD player, lack of any kind of oven, censored Internet access, etc.

The Central Government guide provides:
"Accommodation will be provided for the invite and all related costs met, as well as for his spouse and children not over the age of 12 if agreed by the inviting party." (1994, Guide for Foreign Experts Working in China , State Bureau of Foreign Experts, p.52)

"According to the relevant regulations of the People's Republic of China , foreign experts cannot rent and live in ordinary apartments. Such rule is enforced out of consideration of administration, as well as to ensure the expert's security in China . At present, accommodations for foreign experts are mostly provided by inviting parties. They are usually of three types; A. At the place of work, in either a specially built or converted building. B. At foreign expert's reception centres. C. In hotels or guesthouses, depending on whether the unit has appropriate accommodation.

All types have bathrooms, and the rooms vary in size and number. They are furnished with desks, sofas, bookshelves, TV sets, refrigerators and central heating and air conditioning." (1994, Guide for Foreign Experts Working in China , State Bureau of Foreign Experts, p.55)

It should be noted that this regulation is somewhat outdated as foreign experts are now allowed to live in certain designated regular apartments in certain major cities and some schools charge for rent and utilities for "on-campus" housing.

A good deal of unnecessary confusion is created by too many Foreign Affairs Office and other responsible management personnel, both Chinese and Western, not understanding the true extent and nature of China 's visa system. Much misunderstanding and harsh dialogue has ensued between many a FE and management because of this, creating mistrust and poor human relations situations. This has also resulted in FEs feeling that their school management has "lied" to them when the truth is a simple lack of understanding on both sides.

"L" visa is a single or multiple entry tourist permit. It is illegal to work in China on an "L" visa. It is very difficult, but not impossible, to convert an "L" visa to a "Z" visa that allows employment in China . It all depends on how much your employer wants and needs you and the extent of their credibility with the local authorities. (Credibility comes in many forms, shapes and sizes and through various means and devices.) Some Provinces close to Hong Kong and Macao will issue multiple entry "L" visas to FE with prior "Z" visas. The further the province from Hong Kong or Macao , the more difficult to obtain a multiple entry visa while working in China .

"F" visa is a single entry permit for business purposes. You must have an invitation letter from your host company. The visa is for 30 days. This visa is easily converted to a "Z" visa before its expiration date that then allows further employment in China past the initial 30 days.