Is it actually common for people who work as English teachers to receive a bonus twice a year?
I decided I want to start teaching English over here because I used to love being a teacher in the UK before I moved, but my current job pays a bonus twice a year which I need so that I have money to take my family out once a year and also not be giri girl on rent.
My current position pays a monthly salary of 270,000 plus x2 bonuses a year. The monthly income is simple to find, but the bonus is what has me concerned.
I’m in Nagoya, if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know!
22 comments
Never had a bonus as an English instructor/assistant on both sides (Eikaiwa and ALT). I don’t think it’s a thing for ALTs.
I think Eikaiwas have it, but there’s usually a clause where you void all of it if you leave midway through a contract.
You get bonuses?
Must be nice. Interac gave us negative bonuses. August was 60% pay while Dec was 75%. That was 2008, I don’t know if they still do it now.
Your bonuses would likely be listed in your contract if they are paid out regularly. It’s an easy way to help retain employees. I don’t think it’s common with ALTs. Some Eikaiwa’s might toss you a few notes for Christmas or your birthday. I’d review my contract before banking on receiving a bonus.
> My current position pays a monthly salary of 270,000 plus x2 bonuses a year.
I don’t think it’s realistic to expect the same level of compensation in English teaching.
Some have a bonus. For example, I’ve seen Tochigi City BoE advertise that ALTs get a bonus. I think I saw that BoE starts ALTs at 285,000 plus bonus But, I don’t think it’s a common thing in the ALT world.
I just started a new job in the same area which includes two bonuses a year. I’m not sure how common that is but I have been here for a while and this is my first job to give more than one bonus a year.
Extremely unlikely. If they offer it, for sure they are gonna advertise it in the job description. If they don’t advertise, there goes your answer.
I don’t think it’s a good move on your part, considering that English teaching in Nagoya rarely pays above 270k, and as you figured, no bonuses.
If you are willing to go to different regions, maybe?
Edit: What I said above applies for eikaiwa/alt/etc. If you are a licensed teacher or are somehow qualified to work in a proper international school, then the salary range will be higher and very likely to have bonuses.
What are you currently doing in Japan that makes English teaching something you want to switch to?
It would almost certainly say so in the job description. Why wouldn’t they say that? I don’t think it’s common in English teaching, but I have seen job postings at hoikuen/yochien working with young kids (and helping teach them English) which have offered twice yearly bonuses. I don’t think the base salary was as high as your current one though
Bonuses in Japan are part of the annual salary and not really a bonus. I guess in some fields there are reward bonuses, but likely not in English teaching. So, I wouldn’t really worry if you don’t get one and know what your annual pay is supposed to be. If you do have a bonus, it will mean you get less each month than you would otherwise.
Back when I worked for an eikaiwa they paid the Japanese staff bonuses but not the foreign teachers.
Sounds like you haven’t started working yet – bonus’s are rare in the English teaching industry and I’ve never worked in it so I have no idea, but…
Typically your annual compensation target is given to you including the bonus targets. So if your salary is targeted at 3,240,000 jpy a year your monthly pay will actually be 3,240,000/X with X being the months pay including your bonus. For instance my first position here we were paid on a 14 month scale. 1 month per month and in December we received an extra 2 months pay as a “bonus”. That “bonus” was included in our annual compensation though it wasn’t 12 months + bonus it was just this is your annual compensation with a bonus paid in December (and the bonus being included in that annual compensation target).
Where I’d worry is if this is the case where you’re working if their financial situation changes (say they lose a contract or something) your bonus might get cut severely impacting your annual compensation.
Actual English teachers at schools? Yes—most licensed teachers are paid bonuses. ALTs or eikaiwas? Likely no.
Bonuses are only provided by some private school, international school, and direct hire ALT positions. Eikawas or dispatch ALT companies do not provide bonuses (source: me, I get around 350,000 x2 as DH ALT)
Yes I get a bonus twice a year. I work in a private school and have a special license. These jobs are around they’re just hard to find.
I would say it might be better to keep your current job and just teach some English on the side.
Private lessons or a few nights a week at a (kids?) Eikaiwa may satisfy your yearning for teaching while not causing you to take a big pay cut 🙂
Buddy, English teaching is not the same as it is in Japan as your home country.
I can’t speak for ALTs but eikaiwas don’t receive yearly bonuses. I think most contracted positions don’t get annual bonuses, but I could be wrong.
Full time uni has bonuses on top of contracted salary.
It is interesting to read all these comments and see the different amounts. Makes me appreciate my situation so much.
Obviously this depends on the job, but I’d take what people say here with a grain of salt since often they conflate “English teaching” with eikaiwa/ALT work, when in reality, there are a lot of other types teaching jobs.
As a full-time university teacher, I get a bonus twice a year. If you teach part time, don’t expect a bonus. I wouldn’t be surprised if other full-time teachers at prestigious private schools or international schools get bonuses as well, but I can’t confirm whether that’s truly the case.
Both private school contract positions I have had (both “overseen” by a licensed teacher which is a runaround they use to not give licenses – I still ran class by myself) had bonuses that were clearly outlined in the contract. In this case the bonuses seem to be used to entice the employee to finish the contract since the amount is fixed. I got an entrance exam bonus at both as well that was not fixed.