Salary and Benefits

The base salary for a contract teacher (including a housing allowance) in Khon Kaen University is 25,580 baht per month, with minimal deductions for taxes and health insurance. An additional 5000 baht per month is payable to a teacher with a master's degree. Unfortunately, the Department cannot cover relocation expenses. Although the advertised salary is low by Western standards, one can live quite comfortably in Khon Kaen on this amount. For example, a small air-conditioned (studio/efficiency) apartment can be rented for 3,500 to 4,000 baht, but many of the contract teachers from abroad rent townhouses or detached homes (5,000+). With this salary one can also afford to operate a car and travel occasionally within Thailand and Southeast Asia by air, as well as travel to Europe or North America about once a year.

In AUA, most teach about 20 to 25 hours per week. Pay rates range from 250 baht per hour for teachers-in-training to 300 baht per hour for teachers under contract with one year teaching experience at AUA. Some special weekend courses pay up to 400 baht per hour.