Am I getting underpaid?

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  1. #1

    Am I getting underpaid?

    I am an expat CBC, recently moved to HK to work for my relatives company. I hold a BA in a top 100 international university as well as a Marketing Diploma.

    In terms of work experience I have no related work experience to my field, I worked as a cashier for roughly 3 years.

    Native english speaker, yy chinese is OK i can understand the majority of it id say 80% of it, when I speak I have a thick accent with some times poor grammer. However so far at work, language has not been much of a problem

    I am working in marketing, making 10,000 HK per month, 1 month annual bonus, 7 days annuals leave, 1 sick annual sick day.

    Whatcha guys think?

    I am also curious on what is a normal annual % pay increases in Hong Kong.

    Last edited by sharingon83; 15-08-2008 at 11:57 AM.

  2. #2

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    Yeah, you're underpaid! Wowsers. You need to start looking for another job. Are you living with family? If you're getting free room and board it's not quite as bad (but they're still taking advantage of you).


  3. #3

    Thanks for the response,

    Nope I'm paying 3k a month to live with my aunt. I dunno anychance you can estimate my market value?

    Last edited by sharingon83; 15-08-2008 at 12:06 PM.

  4. #4

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    That's basic office clerk earnings, so depends how much work you are actually doing.


  5. #5

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    Well, since you're new to the field, you should be making 15k or so. Your own family shouldn't be taking advantage of you. Then again, if you're doing really basic secretarial type stuff like MrMoo said, you're getting fairly average pay for HK.

    If I were you, I'd start looking for another job.

    Last edited by jayinhongkong; 15-08-2008 at 12:39 PM.

  6. #6

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    Actually, I'd say that 10K figure might be reasonable depending on the actual work ("working in marketing" is vague- for all we know it could mean telemarketing or handing our flyers!). From some discussions I've had with university careers advisors, a 10K starting range for a graduate in a non-specialised field would not be unreasonable. As a comparison, my understanding that HKU Comp Sci/Comp Eng graduates are averaging a several more k than that.


    Still, at least you've got a job and somewhere to live. Maybe you should just be looking at this job as a stepping stone to something better paid.

    Last edited by jgl; 15-08-2008 at 12:46 PM.

  7. #7

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    One annual sick day?

    What sort of person thinks that up and puts it in your contract? If you're sick you go to the doctor and you get a sick note- your company should understand and respect that.
    If I was ever given a contract with that in it I would take it as a very strong indication of what was to come and walk away graciously.
    I bet your more senior relatives don't have it in theirs.
    Move on young man, move on.


  8. #8

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    I read somewhere recently that the new median pay in HK was HKD11,000 per month, up about $900 per month, from the previous year.

    Like jgl said, 10K per month for what you do is not entirely unreasonable for a junior person working for a local company with minimal relevant work experience, and no special skills or education that make you stand out.

    You might want to look around for a new role but unless you have some qualities that is demanded by employers or the marketplace, you might not get that much more.


  9. #9

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    Might be worth sticking it out for a year so it looks better on your CV. Do you have Hong Kong ID?


  10. #10

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    we are all being underpaid aren't we

    It depends, as others have already said, what exactly your role is. Specifically, are your skills as a native English speaker vital to the company/your role...

    If they are, then you will have a fairly solid case of them taking advantage of you, as to replace you with a native english speaker is very likely to cost them more than they are paying you...

    If however, they could employ somebody 'locally' who isn't a n.e.s. to do exactly the same job...then why would they want to pay you more?

    I empathise with your situation, especailly if you consider yourself an expat and see and here of the types of salaries being earnt here, it can be depressing somewhat...

    Have a look around, see what other options you have being a n.e.s is a good skill to have here

    chin up


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