[xtqctz]

The market rate for (caucasian)private school English teachers in urban China is between 100-150 yuan/hour ($15.80-$23.75). The cost of living is higher than you would imagine, but you can live quite inexpensively once you get used to the city.

That being said, I do not personally find such teaching jobs enjoyable. And the author, it seems, is not well acquainted with the drawbacks (or advantages) of living in China. (Read Peter Hessler for an accurate account.)

[trevelyan]

State schools pay maybe 7000 RMB per month for 20 hours of classroom teaching per week. Private schools double that for nearly double the workload.

I'd guess most teachers are probably pulling 15k USD per year between their main job and a couple of tutoring or corporate gigs on the side. It's better money than sitting in the basement, but it helps to keep things in perspective: a minimum wage job in California makes close to 24k these days and you can drink the milk.