Salary and Benefits



Full-time positions are almost always salaried, the minimum salary being 250,000 yen (US$1,925 at 130 yen/dollar) per month, 3,000,000 yen a year ($23,000 at 130 yen/dollar). It used to be that only private schools paid the minimum, but recently even some universities pay this low.

Private schools often pay salaries in different ways; sometimes they will advertise the salary in novel ways to make it look like more than it is. Don't make a big deal about salary and benefits until late in the job interview, but at some point try to get the skinny by either working out their system or just asking directly. This goes for overtime as well; ask about amounts and limits on overtime work. If you specifically do not want to work overtime, ask about this as well; you may be expected to do at least some overtime work.

Higher salaries can be had; some private schools may offer up to 300,000 yen a month, or may throw in perks like apartment allowances that add to the basic pay. Public schools often pay higher, and the better university jobs go up to $40,000 a year for teachers with at least an M.A., and can exceed $60,000 a year for Ph.D.'s with publications on their resume.

Don't expect the huge, twice-a-year bonuses you heard Japanese workers get; few schools pay foreign workers bonuses (we get higher straight salaries instead), and bonuses that do exist tend to be smaller.

As stated above, some schools will arrange for housing and/or pay a housing subsidy. This is a big deal, considering how much "key money" you usually have to pay for an apartment. Not many private schools will do this for you; universities will more often offer such services. When you are offered this, count it as part of the salary.

Holidays and vacation usually consist of national holidays, school holidays and 10 paid vacation days. Some schools mandate when half of your paid vacation days will occur, though most let you choose. Some schools offer up to 5 days sick leave or "personal" days off as well, but not many. There are about 15 national holidays in Japan. School holidays fall in the three Japanese peak vacation periods: New Year's (January 1-3), Golden Week (April 29, May 3, 4, and 5), and O-Bon (usually three days in August). Most of Golden Week is made up of national holidays anyway, but most New Year's and O-Bon tend to be freebies. Some schools give longer holidays, but just count on the 3 or 4 days off most people get. Also, expect to work Christmas; it is only a commercial holiday in Japan. Many schools try to let as many teachers take that day off as they can, but don't count on it.

Health insurance in Japan is nationalized, and foreign teachers usually have access to either that or the much cheaper traveler's insurance (which doesn't cover dental); ask the school you'll work for if they have a broker they get good deals from. If you go for public insurance, there are two kinds: social and national insurance. Social insurance is for full-time workers (40 hours a week), is partially subsidized by your employer (this should not be counted as part of the salary) and covers 90% of medical and dental costs. It can be expensive, but it can also be worth it if you need care. National insurance is available privately--your employer is not involved--and pays 70% of all medical and dental. Payment is based on your last yearly tax statement, so you start off paying a minimal fee (because most foreigners do not have a prior tax statement to calculate from), but then it climbs to a substantial but not crippling amount later on. Also, keep in mind that when you quit national insurance, they hit you for about 5 months of premiums in one shot--to make up for your first several months at the minimal fee. Also, you can only quit the insurance scheme when you leave Japan; otherwise you must stay with it once subscribed. It is possible to quit it when you move out of your prefecture or local area by simply not re-subscribing in your new location; but if you try to re-subscribe later on, they will see it and hit you for missed payments.

Transportation (usually a monthly train or bus pass) is paid by the school, up to a certain ceiling. Unless you plan to live more than an hour or two from your work by train, your expenses should be totally covered. This should not be counted as part of the salary.

Do not expect advances on your salary; few schools will provide this service.



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