Questions...Where to begin?

[PsyGuy]

@shebestova

At IES schools its near the top of their scale. IES doesnt pay very well with compensation packages starting around 24,000Kr and topping out at 30,000Kr. Starting DTs in Sweden have salaries starting at 30,000Kr, and can go as high as 40,000Kr. IES gives you about 6,000Kr in a flight allowance (which might pay half of a one-way flight).

[shebestova]

@PsyGuy

Thanks so much for the info! Do you know any American teachers who have worked for them? It seems as if even though the pay is not great, the working environment and of course, the country, are amazing.

Also, I would assume that it is much easier to live comfortably and the cost of living is much better outside Stockholm and the other large cities. Any input on Sweden in general?

[PsyGuy]

@shebestova

A lot of ITs try to get out of IES and Sweden, Stockholm IS has one of the lowest compensation packages in IE. The ITs that stay in Sweden are the ones that get married.
Its not really that great the sun sets early at around 3-4, its cold all the time. Stockholm is more interesting, better access, but the rest of Sweden is very 'sleepy', there isnt much to do outside Stockholm but work, go to a cafe, etc.
Housing is the only significant difference in cost of living. You can spend more in Stockholm, and its much harder to find lower cost flats, but the cost of living is otherwise the same in and out of Stockholm. Utilities are all nationally set, mobile costs are the same, everything thats imported (and much is) is about the same cost, metro costs are about the same (though Stockholm has better accessibility and convenience options). The only items that are significantly less expensive would be local agriculture products (meat/milk) if you lived near a ranch or dairy. Sweden has a very flat economy, people choose to live outside of Stockholm for the slower pace of life, and closer to nature, not for a savings benefit.
Understand that the tax rate is one of the highest in the world and will be between 40%-50%.

IES is like a charter school in the states (a state trust school), its a chain school and while its non-profit, its managed very much like a for-profit. IES gets a fixed fee/ for each student they enroll, leadership is rewarded for saving coin and reducing costs. Thats why their compensation is so low, its not set organization wide, principals have a budget and salaries come out of their very fixed budget, they offer as little in coin as they believe they can. ITs/DTs choose IES because its a gateway for them into higher paying ISs/DSs within Sweden that dont advertise accept locally.
Pay specific attention to how your contract and salary is written. You may find that your contract is 10 months long, leaving you no salary for the summer, or that your 10 month contract is annualized, meaning you earn less than your stated salary because your 10 months of salary dispersions are stretched out over 12 months.

[shebestova]

@PsyGuy

Thanks so much for the info. I really appreciate your insight!