Salary Breakdown - Working as an ALT in Japan

[@cheche833]

I love how you are detailed with your answers. It gave us a clear picture.

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@cheche833 If you have any more questions, ask away! 😄

[@CostcoSamurai]

I started as an ALT back in 1993. It was a fantastic experience and laid a solid foundation for the work I do today. The pay seems pretty much the same as when I was a JET, but it’s enough to work and fully enjoy all that Japan has to offer. Embrace the journey-it’s a pivotal chapter that shapes everything that follows!

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@CostcoSamurai Wow, 1993?? Yeah, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows but I definitely feel like I’ve learned a lot from being an ALT! Coming to a new country, interacting with the Japanese students has really been eye-opening hahaha. So cool to see that you’re still in Japan now!! 😆

[@CostcoSamurai]

@@LisaLostInJapan After Jet, I worked mainly in the states until my company transferred me and my family here 10 years ago. I am partly retired now.

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@CostcoSamurai Living the dream life 😭 I hope to be able to raise a family here too!

[@CostcoSamurai]

@@LisaLostInJapan Keep doing what you love and play to your strengths. With passion and dedication, you'll make your dreams a reality. Keep pushing forward!

[@goldguilder9554]

The USDJPY was better back then. The USDJPY exchange is horrible now. You can make more $ working for Starbucks in California at $20/hr

[@renren_]

I'm not an ALT but this came up to my recommendations. Knowing how underpaid ALTs are, I recommend those who wants to work or move to Japan to take it as a stepping stone and transfer to their desired job after a year or two. All the best!

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Definitely agree. Getting a job as an ALT is probably the easiest way to get into Japan. I’m working hard on my Japanese to try for either a better-paying English-teaching job or a job in a different field all together!

[@lovelynelizalde2915]

Your visa will only allow you to do the same work unless ur married to a japanese

[@goldguilder9554]

@@renren_ people going for ALTs are definitely not doing it for the $ but for the experience of living in Japan.

[@Kaneki-lu8ez]

I really appreciate the video. This really makes the salary seem liveable. (I know its not the best, but between reddit and other things I've read/heard people claim its a literal pay check to pay check job). I reckon even if you could put away 20k yen a month that's not bad compared to other living situations.

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@Kaneki-lu8ez Definitely possible!! Especially if you’re happy living a simple life ☺️

[@bellabernadette6787]

I think this is very true! I spend about 160.000 yen on average for a month :( That's why I feel so confused when the company offered me 200.000 yen + commuting 30.000 yen :(

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Yeah… I guess that’s why some ALTs do part-time jobs like online tutoring, but I personally prefer to use my extra time to rest so no additional income for me 😭 Just gotta save money wherever I can…

[@KajalSingh-nd2hl]

Hi. I saw you are an ALT in Japan. I wanted to speak to you about your experiences there and how life is. Can we connect?

[@ullaskunder]

thanks thats really helpful and thanks no one explain in this much detail,... subscribed

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@ullaskunder Glad it was helpful! Let me know if you have anything else you want to hear about ☺️

[@ullaskunder]

​@@LisaLostInJapan 😅I do have a lot of questions, but I won’t bombard you with all of them at once. I’ll ask them gradually in your future videos...

[@Darkhorse12022]

Before companies were forced to pay insurance and pension, you could easily save up your first year. But now, it’s almost impossible to save

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Yeah 😭 My dreams of exploring Japan on the weekends were dashed when I figured out how little savings I would have…

[@goldguilder9554]

Don’t worry about saving ¥ as an ALT. You’re obviously not doing it for the $. Just enjoy your time in Japan and focus on wealth accumulation once you’re back in the States earning higher wages back home.

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@goldguilder9554 Doubt any ALT is doing it for the money 🤣 I’d be lying if I say I don’t regret leaving my higher-paying job for this one haha

[@neilofficial396]

Thanks a lot for sharing. Quick question how does one apply to be ALT and what are the basic requirements?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

You can search online for specific ALT companies if you know which one you want to join (Interac, Borderlink etc.) or go on job sites and search for ALT jobs in Japan and you can browse the different companies that are hiring! The highest paying would be under the JET program, but it’s harder to get in. The basic requirements would be a university degree and at least 12 years of education conducted in English 😁

[@mayayoshihata6636]

I consider myself to be a stoic person, yet the ALT job seems little feasible to me 😅. All the best to you with your living expenses.

[@LisaLostInJapan]

I don’t think I can continue doing this job if I want to start a family :,) Maybe I will do this job for 1 or 2 more years haha

[@mayayoshihata6636]

@@LisaLostInJapan Haha, that would be an interesting transition to see. I often see many foreigners who get ALT jobs leave Japan due to exploitation believing it to be the country's fault. But it would definitely make children a little sad to lose such an excellent teacher lol.

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@mayayoshihata6636 I wouldn’t blame the country, but there is definitely something exploitative about ALT dispatch companies… They take advantage of the fact that foreigners want to work in Japan, and offer bare minimum salaries. But even if ALTs quit, there’s always more foreigners who are willing to take their place so the exploitation goes on. Anyways, I came here knowing what I was getting in to, so I’m just trying to enjoy my time here 😋 And the kids really make the job feel rewarding!

[@mayayoshihata6636]

@@LisaLostInJapan Haha, I can feel a tad bit of your frustration with ALT's exploitation already 😂. Nonetheless, I reckon if such is the method to have a gateway into Japan, I wouldn't mind being a cog in the system for them, so long as I am allowed to leave whenever I wish. Enjoy your life there! It's a life of dream for many, certainly for me. I love teaching as well, there is no other feeling quite like the one you get after someone understands what you explain. Though not yet a teacher lol.

[@general-study.]

How much doctor's fees? And Gym cost? And How many hours we can work in a week?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@general-study. With a health insurance card, a normal visit to the doctor would usually be less than 5000 yen! As for the gym, I don’t go often so I found a gym that had a 11 sessions package for 4200 yen 😊 Though you can always get a normal gym membership or check out Anytime Fitness or ChocoZap. I work on a 1-year contract so it’s 7 hours 45 minutes of work per day, or 38 hours 45 minutes per week. I’m on an instructor visa so I can’t take part-time jobs at convenience stores or restaurants, but I’ve heard that some ALTs do online teaching to make some extra money.

[@BengaliToon]

hi lisa 😊 I want to go to Japan on SSW Job visa. Already started learning JLPT N5. Is it a good decision for me? Also Can you tell me, How much money can be savings / save excluding all expenses?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@BengaliToon Hi! I have an instructor visa so I’m not sure how it’s like to have an SSW visa, but it’s good that you started working on JLPT N5 😄 It depends on your salary and your accommodation, but you can save money if you cook at home everyday!

[@terencempofu7061]

how did you apply ,and whats the best time to start applying for the program?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

ALT dispatch companies hire all year round, but I applied online around October to start in April, the first semester of school! You can google for ALT dispatch companies to find out which one you like best (read all the reviews about the company) and apply through their website.

[@ManachanJapan]

Maybe you can try Eikiwa or kindergarten? Pay is much better. Not just here in Tokyo, but nationwide Greets from Tokyo

[@LisaLostInJapan]

I’ve heard horrors about eikaiwa, but I do want to try one day!! And yes, definitely kindergarten!! I think I’ll give being an ALT a go for just one more year before trying something else

[@ManachanJapan]

@@LisaLostInJapan Nova/Gaba scheme is horror, but there are enough Eikaiwa out there not paying for hours only but for office time, too. Those will put you in social insurance as well. Just remember, that only ALT is an instructor. kindergarten and eikaiwa are the Humanities/Intl Services/Engineering visa!

[@PurpleAngel1550]

⁠@@ManachanJapanDo you have any recommendations on how to find opportunities at Ekaiwa’s?

[@Mawulawe4u]

Any link?

[@ManachanJapan]

​@@PurpleAngel1550 gaijinpot

[@goldguilder9554]

$1350 usd a month is your take home pay

[@shadytaha2582]

Hey thanks for video, very insightful. How much do you pay for tax every month and is it legal in Japan to do part time job at an eikiwa or any other type of schools after you school hours? thanks in advance :)

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Hi! I’m looking at one of my payslips and about 36,000 yen is taken off (~10,000 yen for social health insurance, ~20,000 for welfare pension insurance, ~1,000 yen for unemployment insurance, and ~4,000 yen for income tax) I’ve heard that it is possible to do part-time jobs as long as it’s valid under the instructor visa! You just have to file the tax for those jobs yourself. Hope this helps!

[@RoseA0000]

Thank you for sharing! ❤️ Looks like I gotta be more realistic about working in Japan…

[@LisaLostInJapan]

I was really disappointed too 😭 I thought I’d be able to take a lot of day-trips to explore nearby areas, but I definitely didn’t have that much money haha but no worries, you can definitely still enjoy Japan while working here!!

[@goldguilder9554]

While Japan is a cheap country to visit, if you earn in Yen it sucks when converting to USD

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@goldguilder9554 Exactly!! My friends visiting Japan are having a great time shopping and sight-seeing, but if I want to visit a different country, seeing that yen conversion is so depressing 😭😭

[@goldguilder9554]

$1 is ¥150 roughly

[@XC-Z-cv8qw]

ALT means "Assistant Language Teacher"

[@noahlapuz3853]

This is the perfect accent for me.

[@InspectorA-r2e]

Singapore is a rich country. Why do you live in Japan?

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Hi! I just really love Japan, so I decided to find a job here 😁

[@Kaijapan1996]

And also resident tax

[@LisaLostInJapan]

@@Kaijapan1996 I just recently found out how much residence tax I need to pay every year… 💀💀 As if my salary wasn’t low enough…

[@nicolasuzette7480]

¥230k a month in a high expense society…..barely makes sense unless you’re young and want the cultural experience of Eastern life vs the West

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Yeah, the pay is really depressing… it’s a really nice experience for those who want to try living and working in Japan, but definitely not sustainable long-term :/

[@kaminagaliza8434]

Thailand is the better choice.

[@LisaLostInJapan]

Oo! How is it like teaching in Thailand?