MINIMUM AND AVERAGE SALARY IN CHINA

Today, the level of salaries in China is comparable to some EU member states and significantly exceeds the indicators of most Asian countries. The Chinese economy is one of the most powerful in the world, the local government promotes the attraction of foreign investment, trade relations are actively growing and modern technologies are being introduced. All this has a positive impact on the incomes of the local population and increases the welfare of the country as a whole.

Salary in China

Many Chinese companies need skilled labor from abroad, so work in China is currently in high demand. Major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are especially popular with migrant workers. Despite a certain slowdown in the economic growth of the state, according to experts, the remuneration of Chinese workers in the coming years will only increase. Next, let's find out what is the minimum and average salary in China in 2023.

Minimum salary in China

China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS) has given regions a fair amount of independence in setting official minimum wage rates. Local authorities take into account many indicators, including economic growth, average wages, living standards, unemployment, food prices and real estate prices. A detailed analysis is carried out and then a decision is made as to whether the minimum wage should be raised.

Depending on the region, China's official minimum wage in 2023 ranges from 1,420 to 2,590 yuan per month, equivalent to 205 to 375 U.S. dollars. By law, regional and city governments must revise minimum wage rates at least once every two years. In 2023, the highest minimum wage is in Shanghai (2,590 yuan) and the lowest is in Liaoning province (1,420 yuan).

According to official data from China's National Bureau of Statistics and MHRSS, 19 regions increased the minimum wage in 2014, 27 in 2015, 9 in 2016, 20 in 2017, 15 in 2018, 7 in 2019, 3 in 2020, 20 in 2021, and 7 in 2022.

Hebei Province raised the minimum wage from January 1, 2023, and Qinghai and Anhui from February 1 and March 1, respectively. Eight regions – Shanghai, Guangdong, Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hubei and Zhejiang – have surpassed the 2,000 yuan ($315) mark in their monthly minimum wage standards.

Important. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, most regions in China have postponed their plans to adjust their minimum wages. Only three provinces – Fujian, Qinghai and Guangxi – have raised their minimum wages.

CHINA'S MINIMUM WAGE BY PROVINCE/CITY

Province/city Yuan per month Dollars per month
Shanghai 2,590 375
Beijing 2,320 340
Guangdong 1,620-2,300 235-335
Jiangsu 1,840-2,280 270-330
Zhejiang 1,840-2,280 270-330
Hebei 1,800-2,200 260-320
Tianjin 2,180 315
Chongqing 2,000-2,100 290-305
Shandong 1,700-2,100 250-305
Sichuan 1,870-2,100 270-305
Anhui 1,780-2,060 260-300
Fujian 1,660-2,030 240-295
Hubei 1,520-2,010 220-295
Henan 1,600-2,000 235-290
Inner Mongolia 1,850-1,980 270-290
Shaanxi 1,750-1,950 255-285
Ningxia-Hui AR 1,750-1,950 255-285
Hunan 1,550-1,930 225-280
Liaoning 1,420-1,910 205-280
Xinjiang Uygur AR 1,540-1,900 225-275
Yunnan 1,600-1,900 235-275
Qinghai 1,880 275
Jilin 1,540-1,880 225-275
Shanxi 1,630-1,880 235-275
Heilongjiang 1,450-1,860 210-270
Tibetan AP 1,850 270
Jiangxi 1,610-1,850 235-270
Hainan 1,680-1,830 245-265
Gansu 1,670-1,820 245-265
Guangxi 1,430-1,810 210-265
Guizhou 1,570-1,790 230-260

Note. Depending on the grade (A, B,C,D) in some provinces in China, the minimum wage rates may be adjusted.

Average salary in China

According to official data from China's National Bureau of Statistics and MHRSS, the average salary in China in 2023 (in urban areas) is 106,837 yuan per year ($15,555) or 8,905 yuan per month ($1,295). The eastern region has the highest annual salary and growth rate at 124,019 yuan (10.4%). The city with the highest monthly salary is Beijing, where experienced professionals earn 11,521 yuan ($1,675) on average. Shanghai earns 10,967 yuan ($1,595) and Shenzhen 10,477 yuan ($1,525).

Over the past few years, wages in China have been rising faster than in the vast majority of countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and the world at large. In the last year alone, the incomes of local workers have increased by 9.7%. The highest average salary in China is recorded in the field of information transmission, software and information technology services (201,506 yuan per year), and the lowest earnings are in accommodation and food (53,631 yuan per year).

To give you an example, the average salary in Bulgaria is $1,035 per month, meaning the Chinese already have a higher income level. In addition, according to ZW HR Consulting, a large recruiting company from China, foreign specialists with work experience, in-demand skills, English and Chinese language skills can expect a salary that is at least 15-25% higher than the national average.

AVERAGE SALARY IN CHINA BY INDUSTRY*

Industry Yuan per year Dollars per year
Information Technology 201,506 29,340
Scientific research and technical services 151,776 22,100
Financial activities 150,843 21,965
Health care and social work 126,828 18,465
Supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning 125,332 18,250
Culture, sports and entertainment 117,329 17,085
Education 111,392 16,220
Transportation, logistics and storage 109,851 15,995
Mining and quarrying 108,467 15,795
Wholesale and retail trade 107,735 15,685
Leasing and business services 102,537 14,930
Manufacturing 92,459 13,460
Construction 75,762 11,030
Water, sewerage and waste management 65,802 9,580
Fishing, agriculture and forestry 53,819 7,835
Accommodation and food 53,631 7,810

Note. *Average wages in China by industry are based on official data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics and MHRSS.

In terms of individual professions, the highest salaries in China are for financiers, bankers, investment brokers and lawyers, who on average receive 9,000-10,000 yuan per month ($1,310-1,455). Managers of companies and large IT projects earn between 14,000 and 19,000 yuan ($2,040-2,765) per month.

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