You teachers that advise others to accept less than what they are worth should wake up and smell the coffee - or maybe the cha. The fact that Chinese teachers earn less is irrelevant. The fact that you earn less is irrelevant. If you are a qualified teacher with experience, you deserve the max. It's not like they don't have the money to pay. It's no different here than it is in any Western country - the fat cats are laughing all the way to the bank because you're so willing to be taken advantage of.