Average Salary in China 2026
Currency: CNY · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in China make?
Average Monthly Salary
11,019 CNY
( 132,231 CNY yearly )
~ 1,522 USD per month ( 18,264 USD yearly )
LOW
3,309 CNY
457 USD
AVERAGE
11,019 CNY
1,522 USD
HIGH
33,058 CNY
4,566 USD
A person working in China typically earns around 11,019 CNY per month. Salaries range from 3,309 CNY (lowest average) to 33,058 CNY (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Distribution of Salaries in China
Median and salary distribution monthly China
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What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.
The median (9,919 CNY) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (11,019 CNY) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
- 0–2 Years (Entry Level)66,116 CNY
- 2–5 Years (Junior)85,953 CNY
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)112,394 CNY
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)132,231 CNY
- 15+ Years (Senior)158,679 CNY
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
- High School79,336 CNY
- Certificate92,563 CNY
- Associate105,784 CNY
- Bachelor's132,231 CNY
- Master's158,679 CNY
- PhD185,127 CNY
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High School → Certificate
+17%
Certificate → Bachelor's
+43%
Bachelor's → Master's
+20%
Master's → PhD
+17%
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.
Salary Comparison By Gender
Salary comparison by gender monthly China
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in China earn 11% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in China
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
7%
Average Raise
17 months
Review Frequency
4%
Annualized Increase
Employees in China are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 7% every 17 months.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in China is 4%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in China
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
51%
Received Bonus
49%
No Bonus
51% of surveyed staff in China reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.
Average Bonus Rate
4%
of annual salary
Types of Bonuses Considered:
• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
• Company Performance Bonuses
• Goal-Based Bonuses
• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal178,509 CNY
- Aviation171,899 CNY
- Information Technology171,899 CNY
- Banking165,289 CNY
- Pharmaceuticals165,289 CNY
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 330,578 CNY | 27,548 CNY |
| Pilot | 264,463 CNY | 22,039 CNY |
| Software Developer | 238,015 CNY | 19,838 CNY |
| Data Scientist | 224,795 CNY | 18,730 CNY |
| Financial Manager | 211,567 CNY | 17,629 CNY |
| Database Administrator | 198,347 CNY | 16,529 CNY |
| Engineer | 185,127 CNY | 15,428 CNY |
| Marketing Manager | 171,899 CNY | 14,328 CNY |
| Project Manager | 165,289 CNY | 13,778 CNY |
| Accountant | 145,452 CNY | 12,120 CNY |
| Hotel Manager | 132,231 CNY | 11,019 CNY |
| Nurse | 119,011 CNY | 9,919 CNY |
| Graphic Designer | 112,394 CNY | 9,369 CNY |
| Chef | 99,174 CNY | 8,268 CNY |
| Teacher | 92,563 CNY | 7,711 CNY |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Beijing | 152,069 CNY |
| Shanghai | 138,841 CNY |
| Guangzhou | 138,841 CNY |
| Shenzhen | 138,841 CNY |
| Chengdu | 138,841 CNY |
| Hangzhou | 138,841 CNY |
| Wuhan | 138,841 CNY |
| Nanjing | 138,841 CNY |
| Chongqing | 138,841 CNY |
| Tianjin | 138,841 CNY |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
10,469 CNY
Private Sector
11,570 CNY
Public Sector
+11%
Public sector employees in China earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in China
65 CNY
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in China is 65 CNY. This means that the average person in China earns approximately 65 CNY for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in China
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
847 CNY
/month
Food
268 CNY
/month
Transport
101 CNY
/month
Utilities
138 CNY
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in China and explore top-paying jobs.