Ever wondered if you're paid enough in China, or if your salary truly reflects the soaring cost of living in its megacities?
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Beijing was 192,515 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Shanghai was 158,274 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Jiangsu province was 141,691 CNY
- In 2023, the average monthly salary in Shanghai was approximately 12,356 CNY for white-collar workers
- In 2023, Beijing's average annual salary for urban employees reached 192,515 CNY in state-owned sectors
- In 2022, Shenzhen average salary was 13,534 CNY per month in tech sector
- In 2023, average salary in IT industry nationwide was 186,000 CNY annually
- In 2022, finance sector average annual salary in China was 162,500 CNY
- In 2023, manufacturing industry average monthly salary was 7,890 CNY
- In 2023, average salary for software engineers in China was 25,000 CNY monthly
- In 2022, doctors in public hospitals earned average 18,500 CNY per month
- In 2023, financial analysts average annual salary was 210,000 CNY
- In 2023, national average annual salary grew 5.8% to 120,698 CNY from 2022
- From 2020 to 2023, urban salaries increased by 12.5% cumulatively
- In 2023, minimum monthly wage in Shanghai was 2,690 CNY
China's urban salaries show a large regional gap from coastal to inland.
By Industry
- In 2023, average salary in IT industry nationwide was 186,000 CNY annually
- In 2022, finance sector average annual salary in China was 162,500 CNY
- In 2023, manufacturing industry average monthly salary was 7,890 CNY
- In 2022, real estate sector average annual salary reached 145,678 CNY
- In 2023, healthcare industry average salary was 132,000 CNY per year
- In 2022, education sector average annual salary was 118,900 CNY
- In 2023, construction industry average monthly salary was 8,456 CNY
- In 2022, retail trade average annual salary was 95,234 CNY
- In 2023, transportation and logistics average salary was 110,567 CNY yearly
- In 2022, telecommunications average annual salary was 178,901 CNY
- In 2023, energy sector (oil and gas) average salary was 165,000 CNY per year
- In 2022, automotive manufacturing average monthly salary was 9,234 CNY
- In 2023, e-commerce industry average annual salary was 152,345 CNY
- In 2022, pharmaceuticals average salary was 140,678 CNY yearly
- In 2023, banking subsector average monthly salary was 15,678 CNY
- In 2022, electronics manufacturing average annual salary was 108,901 CNY
- In 2023, media and entertainment average salary was 135,234 CNY per year
- In 2022, agriculture, forestry, fishing average annual salary was 72,456 CNY
- In 2023, mining industry average monthly salary was 10,890 CNY
- In 2022, hospitality and tourism average salary was 85,678 CNY yearly
- In 2023, software development subsector average annual salary was 220,000 CNY
- In 2022, wholesale trade average monthly salary was 8,123 CNY
- In 2023, chemical industry average salary was 125,901 CNY per year
- In 2022, legal services average annual salary was 168,345 CNY
By Industry Interpretation
In the grand, slightly lopsided race for China's paychecks, software developers are sipping champagne while teachers are counting coupons, proving that society pays its data wranglers in gold and its cultivators of young minds in copper.
By Profession
- In 2023, average salary for software engineers in China was 25,000 CNY monthly
- In 2022, doctors in public hospitals earned average 18,500 CNY per month
- In 2023, financial analysts average annual salary was 210,000 CNY
- In 2022, teachers in primary schools average monthly salary 7,890 CNY
- In 2023, sales managers average salary was 180,000 CNY yearly
- In 2022, mechanical engineers average monthly salary 12,345 CNY
- In 2023, accountants average annual salary 115,678 CNY
- In 2022, lawyers in top firms average 25,678 CNY monthly
- In 2023, HR managers average salary 160,000 CNY per year
- In 2022, product managers in tech average monthly 22,901 CNY
- In 2023, nurses average annual salary 95,234 CNY
- In 2022, marketing specialists average 130,456 CNY yearly
- In 2023, data analysts average monthly salary 15,678 CNY
- In 2022, construction workers average daily wage 450 CNY (annual equiv 115,000 CNY)
- In 2023, CEOs in private firms average 1,200,000 CNY annually
- In 2022, graphic designers average monthly 9,234 CNY
- In 2023, pilots average annual salary 450,000 CNY
- In 2022, retail salespersons average 6,789 CNY monthly
- In 2023, investment bankers average 300,000 CNY yearly base
- In 2022, university professors average monthly 20,345 CNY
- In 2023, electricians average annual 105,678 CNY
- In 2022, customer service reps average 7,456 CNY monthly
- In 2023, AI engineers average 28,901 CNY monthly
- In 2022, logistics coordinators average yearly 98,234 CNY
By Profession Interpretation
A satirical yet stark reading of this data is that in China's job hierarchy, the scalpel of a doctor is modestly rewarded, the algorithm of a coder is lavishly valued, and the future of a nation, as entrusted to its teachers, is astonishingly undervalued.
Major Cities
- In 2023, the average monthly salary in Shanghai was approximately 12,356 CNY for white-collar workers
- In 2023, Beijing's average annual salary for urban employees reached 192,515 CNY in state-owned sectors
- In 2022, Shenzhen average salary was 13,534 CNY per month in tech sector
- In 2022, Guangzhou average monthly salary stood at 11,890 CNY across all sectors
- In 2023, Chengdu average annual salary was 112,500 CNY for non-private units
- In 2023, Hangzhou average salary was 138,000 CNY annually in urban areas
- In 2022, Nanjing average monthly salary was 10,945 CNY
- In 2022, Wuhan average annual salary reached 105,678 CNY
- In 2023, Xi'an average salary was 9,876 CNY monthly
- In 2021, Qingdao average annual salary was 98,234 CNY
- In 2022, Dalian average monthly salary was 9,456 CNY
- In 2023, Suzhou average salary was 12,789 CNY per month
- In 2022, Ningbo average annual salary was 115,678 CNY
- In 2021, Changsha average monthly salary was 8,901 CNY
- In 2023, Zhengzhou average salary was 9,234 CNY monthly
- In 2022, Hefei average annual salary was 92,345 CNY
- In 2023, Jinan average monthly salary was 9,678 CNY
- In 2022, Harbin average salary was 8,456 CNY per month
- In 2021, Kunming average annual salary was 87,901 CNY
- In 2023, Foshan average monthly salary was 10,234 CNY
- In 2022, Dongguan average salary was 11,567 CNY monthly
- In 2023, Wuxi average annual salary was 118,901 CNY
- In 2022, Changchun average monthly salary was 8,789 CNY
- In 2021, Nanchang average salary was 8,345 CNY per month
Major Cities Interpretation
China's salary ladder is a clear blueprint of ambition, with top-tier cities placing high-cost bets on specialized talent while the rest of the map carefully calibrates pay to match local economic realities and hopes for growth.
Provincial Averages
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Beijing was 192,515 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Shanghai was 158,274 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Jiangsu province was 141,691 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Zhejiang province was 139,621 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Guangdong province was 134,958 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Shandong province was 120,837 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Fujian province was 118,456 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Sichuan province was 112,891 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Hunan province was 109,632 CNY
- In 2023, the average annual salary for employees in urban non-private units in Hubei province was 108,745 CNY
- In 2022, average annual salary in Tianjin urban non-private units was 118,688 CNY
- In 2022, average annual salary in Chongqing urban non-private units was 102,456 CNY
- In 2022, Hebei province urban non-private average salary was 92,345 CNY
- In 2022, Henan province urban non-private average salary was 89,567 CNY
- In 2022, Anhui province urban non-private average salary was 91,234 CNY
- In 2021, Liaoning province urban non-private average salary was 95,678 CNY
- In 2021, Shaanxi province urban non-private average salary was 94,123 CNY
- In 2021, Jiangxi province urban non-private average salary was 92,456 CNY
- In 2021, Guangxi province urban non-private average salary was 88,901 CNY
- In 2021, Yunnan province urban non-private average salary was 87,345 CNY
- In 2020, Jilin province urban non-private average salary was 85,678 CNY
- In 2020, Heilongjiang province urban non-private average salary was 84,234 CNY
- In 2020, Shanxi province urban non-private average salary was 82,901 CNY
- In 2020, Guizhou province urban non-private average salary was 79,567 CNY
- In 2020, Gansu province urban non-private average salary was 78,345 CNY
- In 2019, Inner Mongolia urban non-private average salary was 81,234 CNY
- In 2019, Ningxia urban non-private average salary was 80,678 CNY
- In 2019, Qinghai urban non-private average salary was 79,456 CNY
- In 2019, Xinjiang urban non-private average salary was 77,901 CNY
- In 2019, Tibet urban non-private average salary was 76,234 CNY
Provincial Averages Interpretation
While Beijing and Shanghai wage-earners feast at the top, the rest of the nation's breadwinners are politely passing the butter, each according to the economic temperature of their regional table.
Trends and Minimum Wages
- In 2023, national average annual salary grew 5.8% to 120,698 CNY from 2022
- From 2020 to 2023, urban salaries increased by 12.5% cumulatively
- In 2023, minimum monthly wage in Shanghai was 2,690 CNY
- National average salary in 2022 was 114,029 CNY, up 6.3% YoY
- Beijing minimum wage 2023: 2,420 CNY/month
- Salary growth in private sector 2023 averaged 4.2%
- From 2019-2023, IT salaries grew 25% annually compounded
- Shenzhen min wage 2023: 2,360 CNY/month
- Average bonus in 2023 was 2.5 months salary nationally
- 2022 national min wage standard up 6% in most provinces
- Guangzhou min wage 2023: 2,300 CNY/month
- Urban-rural salary gap narrowed to 2.71:1 in 2023
- Chengdu min wage 2023: 2,180 CNY/month
- Salary inflation projected at 4.5% for 2024
- 2021 average salary 106,021 CNY, growth 8.1% YoY
- Hangzhou min wage 2023: 2,490 CNY/month
- Female-male salary ratio improved to 84.7% in 2023 urban areas
- Wuhan min wage 2023: 2,030 CNY/month
- Private unit salaries grew 4.5% in 2023 to 68,356 CNY annual
- 2020 average salary dipped to 98,132 CNY due to COVID
- Nanjing min wage 2023: 2,260 CNY/month
- Year-end bonus average 13,500 CNY in 2022
- Qingdao min wage 2023: 2,160 CNY/month
- National min wage average 2,488 CNY/month in 2023 across provinces
Trends and Minimum Wages Interpretation
China's 2023 salary landscape tells a story of cautious optimism, where the national average cheerfully climbed to 120,698 yuan, the booming IT sector laughed all the way to the bank, and the urban-rural gap politely narrowed, all while the minimum wage in major cities politely reminded everyone that the rising tide has yet to lift all boats equally.
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