This is a personal story from TAXBugnoms about starting work with a salary of ฿5,000 and looking for ways to earn from existing skills. The story does not state the year or provide full monthly earnings, so it cannot be used to compare with current salaries or statutory wages.
He recalls being surprised when human resources told him the salary and calling his mother to ask how he could live on it. She suggested he try the job first and return if it did not work out. The story is about both a first salary and the uncertainty of starting work.
Retouching work made pay depend on the amount of work
After starting the job, he says he retouched comic-book pages for about ฿7 per page. A book could have more than 200 pages, but total pay depended on how many pages he completed and how difficult the images were. Some pages took little time to clean up; detailed images took longer, while the per-page rate remained the same in his account.
He says that for a period, retouching gave him more money than some peers. The story does not provide a verifiable total income, so monthly earnings should not be calculated from the per-page rate alone or generalized to other workers.
From image work to an opportunity to write
He later noticed work by the book’s editorial team and offered to write about Korea or places shown in the comic. A manager let him try, although the initial payment was not clearly agreed. He recalls later receiving around ฿100–฿200 per page. The amount is approximate and should not be treated as a standard writing rate.
In his experience, one job led to a chance to try another kind of work. It does not mean other people will receive the same opportunity or pay. The account describes retouching and a writing opportunity, but does not establish long-term outcomes or total income.
What the story does and does not tell us
- What he recalls: His starting salary was stated as ฿5,000, and he also did retouching paid by the page.
- What depended on the work: Page-based income varied with the number of pages and time required. The video does not give an average monthly income.
- What was specific to his experience: Offering to write led to a chance to try another role, but does not guarantee the same result for others.
- What cannot be concluded: The year, comparison with local minimum wages, net income and legal working conditions are not specified.
Frequently asked questions
What first salary does TAXBugnoms recall?
He recalls being told the starting salary was ฿5,000. The account is personal and does not state the year.
How did he earn additional income?
He describes comic-book retouching paid by the page and later trying to write material for a book. Some details about the writing payment are approximate and are not a general rate.
Does this show that ฿5,000 is enough today?
No. The story gives neither the year nor current cost-of-living information. It is not a comparison with today’s income.