MINIMUM AND AVERAGE SALARY IN CHINA
Pay in China varies sharply by city, employer and industry. A salary offer is best assessed against the local statutory minimum wage, the sector’s official earnings data and the cost of housing where the job is based. This matters particularly for anyone considering work in China.
AT A GLANCE
- China does not have one national minimum wage; rates are set by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.
- As at 1 January 2026, the highest published monthly minimum is CNY 2,740 in Shanghai; the lowest published regional tier is CNY 1,750.
- Official 2025 annual average pay was CNY 129,441 in urban non-private units and CNY 71,590 in urban private units.
- Individual income tax is progressive, from 3% to 45%, after applicable deductions.
CONTENTS
Minimum wage in China
China’s Labour Law guarantees a minimum-wage system, but the amount is not fixed nationally. Provincial governments, autonomous regions and municipalities set their own standards and divide their territory into wage tiers. The applicable rate depends on the location of the employer, not simply on the province named in a contract.
Minimum wage is a legal floor for normal working time, not an average salary or a market rate for skilled professionals. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security publishes the standards by region; some provinces use up to four separate monthly tiers.
IMPORTANT
The table below covers mainland China. Shenzhen is shown separately because it sets its own municipal rate. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have separate labour-law systems and are not included.
Minimum wage by province and municipality
The figures below are monthly minimum-wage standards published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security as at 1 January 2026. A dash means that the region does not use that tier.
Monthly minimum wage by regional tier
| Province, autonomous region or municipality | Tier I, CNY | Tier II, CNY | Tier III, CNY | Tier IV, CNY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anhui | 2,320 | 2,170 | 2,100 | 2,000 |
| Beijing | 2,540 | — | — | — |
| Chongqing | 2,330 | 2,200 | — | — |
| Fujian | 2,265 | 2,195 | 2,045 | 1,895 |
| Gansu | 2,200 | 2,130 | 2,080 | — |
| Guangdong, excluding Shenzhen | 2,500 | 2,080 | 1,850 | 1,750 |
| Guangxi | 2,200 | 2,040 | 1,870 | — |
| Guizhou | 2,130 | 1,980 | 1,890 | — |
| Hainan | 2,250 | 2,070 | — | — |
| Hebei | 2,380 | 2,230 | 2,080 | — |
| Heilongjiang | 2,270 | 2,010 | 1,910 | — |
| Henan | 2,350 | 2,150 | 2,000 | — |
| Hubei | 2,400 | 2,130 | 1,970 | — |
| Hunan | 2,200 | 2,000 | 1,800 | — |
| Inner Mongolia | 2,380 | 2,310 | 2,250 | — |
| Jiangsu | 2,660 | 2,430 | 2,180 | — |
| Jiangxi | 2,240 | 2,090 | 1,950 | — |
| Jilin | 2,230 | 2,020 | 1,870 | — |
| Liaoning | 2,230 | 2,080 | 1,930 | — |
| Ningxia | 2,235 | 2,080 | — | — |
| Qinghai | 2,080 | — | — | — |
| Shaanxi | 2,376 | 2,250 | 2,140 | — |
| Shandong | 2,400 | 2,210 | 2,020 | — |
| Shanghai | 2,740 | — | — | — |
| Shanxi | 2,150 | 2,050 | 1,950 | — |
| Shenzhen | 2,520 | — | — | — |
| Sichuan | 2,330 | 2,200 | — | — |
| Tianjin | 2,510 | — | — | — |
| Xinjiang | 2,070 | 1,890 | 1,750 | — |
| Tibet | 2,360 | — | — | — |
| Yunnan | 2,170 | 2,020 | 1,870 | — |
| Zhejiang | 2,660 | 2,430 | 2,180 | — |
Using an ECB reference rate of about CNY 7.80 per euro, Shanghai’s minimum wage is approximately €351 per month. The Tier I rates in Jiangsu and Zhejiang are roughly €341. Currency conversions are indicative only and should not replace the salary amount stated in yuan in an employment contract.
Average salary in China
The National Bureau of Statistics released its latest nationwide wage data in May 2026, covering 2025. These are annual gross-pay figures for employees in urban units; they are not a national median and do not describe every worker, self-employed person or individual vacancy.
Official annual average earnings
| Employee group | CNY per year | CNY per month | Approx. EUR per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban non-private units | 129,441 | 10,787 | 1,383 |
| Urban private units | 71,590 | 5,966 | 765 |
| Enterprises above designated size | 106,080 | 8,840 | 1,133 |
The official wage definition includes salary, bonuses, allowances and amounts withheld for personal income tax, social insurance and the housing provident fund. It is therefore a gross figure, not take-home pay. The broad employment picture, including shortage occupations in China, is more useful for judging what a qualified foreign applicant might realistically earn.
Pay by economic sector and income tax
The table below uses the National Bureau of Statistics series for urban non-private units in 2025. It shows averages across each sector, not guaranteed pay for an individual role.
Average annual earnings by sector
| Sector | CNY per year | CNY per month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information transmission, software and IT services | 248,752 | 20,729 | |
| Financial services | 211,164 | 17,597 | |
| Scientific research and technical services | 182,064 | 15,172 | |
| Electricity, heat, gas and water supply | 160,897 | 13,408 | |
| Healthcare and social work | 146,266 | 12,189 | |
| Mining and quarrying | 143,361 | 11,947 | |
| Wholesale and retail trade | 135,749 | 11,312 | |
| Education | 133,539 | 11,128 | |
| Transport, storage and postal services | 133,981 | 11,165 | |
| Manufacturing | 113,594 | 9,466 | |
| Construction | 92,036 | 7,670 | |
| Accommodation and food services | 62,461 | 5,205 |
For tax residents, employment income is generally included in annual comprehensive income. A standard deduction of CNY 60,000 per year applies before permitted additional deductions. The tax brackets run from 3% to 45%; social-insurance and housing-fund contributions are separate and vary locally.
Personal income-tax bands for comprehensive income
| Annual taxable income | Tax rate | Quick deduction, CNY |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 36,000 | 3% | 0 |
| 36,001–144,000 | 10% | 2,520 |
| 144,001–300,000 | 20% | 16,920 |
| 300,001–420,000 | 25% | 31,920 |
| 420,001–660,000 | 30% | 52,920 |
| 660,001–960,000 | 35% | 85,920 |
| Over 960,000 | 45% | 181,920 |
For example, a gross salary of CNY 10,000 per month equals CNY 120,000 a year. With only the standard CNY 60,000 deduction and no other deductions, annual income tax would be CNY 3,480, or CNY 290 a month. This excludes social-insurance, housing-fund and personal circumstances, so use the net salary calculator for an individual estimate.
Comparing offers and living costs
A higher salary in Shanghai, Beijing or Shenzhen does not automatically produce a better monthly outcome. Rent, the location of the office, private health cover, family costs and the employer’s housing or relocation package can matter more than a modest difference in gross pay.
Living expenses vary widely across the country: China’s largest cities are often the most expensive, while many inland cities have lower housing and day-to-day costs. The practical budget should reflect the specific city, not a national average. The cost of living in China is therefore best assessed alongside the actual location in the contract.
Use the savings calculator to test expected rent and regular expenses, then compare the result with another destination through the country salary comparison tool.
Sources
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China
- National Bureau of Statistics of China
- State Taxation Administration of China
- Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China
- European Central Bank
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in China in 2026?
There is no single national rate. Published monthly standards range from CNY 1,750 to CNY 2,740, depending on the province, municipality and local wage tier.
Which part of China has the highest minimum wage?
Shanghai has the highest published monthly minimum wage at CNY 2,740. Jiangsu and Zhejiang each have a Tier I rate of CNY 2,660.
What is the average salary in China?
For 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics reported average annual earnings of CNY 129,441 in urban non-private units and CNY 71,590 in urban private units. These are gross annual averages, not median take-home pay.
Which sectors have the highest average pay?
Official data for urban non-private units show the highest average annual earnings in information and IT services, financial services, and scientific research and technical services.
How is salary taxed in China?
Tax residents generally pay progressive personal income tax on annual comprehensive income, with rates from 3% to 45% after the standard and other eligible deductions. Social-insurance and housing-fund contributions are separate.
Does a salary offer in Shanghai go further than one in a smaller city?
Not necessarily. Shanghai’s higher pay often comes with higher rent and daily expenses. Compare estimated net pay, housing and the employer’s benefits package before choosing between offers.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WageCentre, with a degree in finance and 15+ years of professional experience. He writes about salaries, taxes, labour markets, immigration and financial planning for relocation.
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