This statistic shows the average annual salary of employees in non-private enterprises and organizations in urban China in 2023, by region. In 2023, an employee in the urban regions of the Chinese Jiangsu province earned around 125,100 yuan per annum on average. The national average reached about 120,700 yuan that year. Aside from regional discrepancies, the respective industry had a large influence on the average annual salary of employees in urban China. Employees in the IT sector of China earned about 231,800 yuan on average, whereas people employed in the hotel and catering sector had an average annual salary of about 58,100 yuan in 2023.

Wages in China increased to 120698 CNY/Year in 2023 from 114029 CNY/Year in 2022. This dataset provides - China Average Yearly Wages - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, an employee working for a not privately held company or organization in urban areas of China earned around 120,698 yuan annually on average. That year, the year-on-year growth rate of the average salary ranged at 5.8 percent nominally and 5.5 percent real.

Regional differences in salary levels

Salary levels in urban China have seen a significant rise between 2013 and 2023. During that period, average annual salaries of employees in non-private urban units have grown from around 51,500 to 120,700 yuan per year. Yet as of 2022, large income disparities still existed between different regions in China. While employees in Shanghai enjoyed the highest annual salaries on average, Henan province and Jilin province in central and northeastern China displayed the lowest average annual salaries. Regions with lower income levels are mainly located in central China or in the former centers of steel and heavy industry in Northeast China, whereas the coastal regions and municipalities in general still provide comparatively higher salaries.

Occupational salary differences

Moreover, a considerable salary discrepancy exists between different occupational groups in China. As of 2023, people working in IT services were atop the list earning about 231,800 yuan per year on average, whereas people in the financial service sector reached approximately 197,700 yuan. The hotels and catering sector ranked at the lower end with an average annual salary of around 58,100 yuan.

Key information about China Monthly Earnings

• China Monthly Earnings stood at 1,392 USD in Dec 2023, compared with the previous figure of 1,336 USD in Dec 2022
• China Monthly Earnings data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2000 to Dec 2023, with an average number of 349 USD
• The data reached the an all-time high of 1,393 USD in Dec 2021 and a record low of 83 USD in Jun 2000

CEIC calculates Monthly Earnings from quarterly Earnings divided by 3 and converts it into USD. The National Bureau of Statistics provides year-to-date Average Wage in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Monthly Earnings cover urban population only.


Further information about China Monthly Earnings

• In the latest reports, China Population reached 1,410 million people in Dec 2023
• Unemployment Rate of China dropped to 5 % in Jun 2024
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 66 % in Dec 2023

Wages in Manufacturing in China increased to 103932 CNY/Year in 2023 from 97528 CNY/Year in 2022. This dataset provides - China Average Yearly Wages in Manufacturing - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This statistic shows the average annual salary of employees in not privately held companies and organizations in urban China in 2023, by sector. In 2023, the average annual wage of a construction worker in urban China was around 85,800 yuan, compared to 78,300 in the previous year. IT, research, and financial services are sectors where the average income is the highest.

Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Fujian data was reported at 104.544 Prev Year=100 in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 105.845 Prev Year=100 for 2022. Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Fujian data is updated yearly, averaging 111.200 Prev Year=100 from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 140.600 Prev Year=100 in 1994 and a record low of 104.544 Prev Year=100 in 2023. Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Fujian data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GC: Average Wage Index.

China is the largest labor force market in the world. China’s economic prosperity wouldn’t exist without the large number of people working in this country. With increasing living standards and growing inflation, the wages of employees in China are increasing as well. As of 2022, average wages in China increased to114,029 yuan from 47,593 yuan in 2012.

Wage gap between regions

The wages vary in China depending on sector, position, gender and region like in any other country. Since China’s different regions have developed unequally, the wage gaps between people working in different regions can also be very large. This is a reason for no single minimum wage being set for the entire nation. The local governments set minimum wages based on local living standards. Considering the city tier, the wage standards are higher in cities with higher rankings. Shanghai and Beijing have the highest minimum wage standards in China. Although the minimum wages in China have been increasing, the standards are still lower than in developed countries.

Challenges of increasing labor costs

Increasing wages also make the labor force market less attractive. Affected by increasing labor costs and the China-United States trade war, many companies are transferring their investment destinations, especially in the manufacturing sector. Local governments are also taking measures to ensure the living costs remain at a reasonable level to retain companies and employees. These measures include regulating the residential housing market more strictly.

Average Wage: Urban Non-private: ytd: Health Care and Social Work data was reported at 143,818.000 RMB in Dec 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 135,222.000 RMB for Dec 2022. Average Wage: Urban Non-private: ytd: Health Care and Social Work data is updated quarterly, averaging 67,445.500 RMB from Mar 2012 (Median) to Dec 2023, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 143,818.000 RMB in Dec 2023 and a record low of 11,997.000 RMB in Mar 2012. Average Wage: Urban Non-private: ytd: Health Care and Social Work data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GC: Average Wage: by Industry: Urban Non-private.

Minimum Wages in China increased to 2690 CNY/Month in 2025 from 2590 CNY/Month in 2024. This dataset provides - China Minimum Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Anhui data was reported at 105.108 Prev Year=100 in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 105.101 Prev Year=100 for 2022. Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Anhui data is updated yearly, averaging 112.300 Prev Year=100 from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 136.900 Prev Year=100 in 1994 and a record low of 103.000 Prev Year=100 in 1998. Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Anhui data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GC: Average Wage Index.

This statistic shows the average yearly wage growth in China from 2010 to 2021. As of 2021, the average wages in China increased by 9.7 percent compared to the previous year.

Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Shandong data was reported at 104.777 Prev Year=100 in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 107.892 Prev Year=100 for 2022. Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Shandong data is updated yearly, averaging 112.100 Prev Year=100 from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 137.800 Prev Year=100 in 1994 and a record low of 104.400 Prev Year=100 in 1998. Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Shandong data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GC: Average Wage Index.

Average wage of employed persons of Shanghai jumped by 11.61% from 171,884 yuan in 2020 to 191,844 yuan in 2021. Since the 14.33% surge in 2011, average wage of employed persons shot up by 153.79% in 2021. Average Wage refers to the average per capita wage in money terms during a certain period of time for employed persons. It shows the general level of wage income of staff and worker during a certain period of time, one major indicator to reflect the wage level. It is calculated as follows: average wage = total wage bill of employed persons at reference time / averaged number of persons employed at reference time

Average Wage: Urban Non-private: ytd: Wholesale & Retail Trade data was reported at 124,362.000 RMB in Dec 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 115,408.000 RMB for Dec 2022. Average Wage: Urban Non-private: ytd: Wholesale & Retail Trade data is updated quarterly, averaging 32,375.000 RMB from Dec 2007 (Median) to Dec 2023, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 124,362.000 RMB in Dec 2023 and a record low of 7,488.000 RMB in Mar 2010. Average Wage: Urban Non-private: ytd: Wholesale & Retail Trade data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GC: Average Wage: by Industry: Urban Non-private. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

The graph shows average monthly salaries of college and university graduates in China until 2023. In 2023, the average monthly salary of bachelor graduates in China had ranged at 6,050 yuan.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents the mean household income for each of the five quintiles in China, Maine, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The dataset highlights the variation in mean household income across quintiles, offering valuable insights into income distribution and inequality.

Key observations

• Income disparities: The mean income of the lowest quintile (20% of households with the lowest income) is 21,283, while the mean income for the highest quintile (20% of households with the highest income) is 236,557. This indicates that the top earners earn 11 times compared to the lowest earners.
• *Top 5%: * The mean household income for the wealthiest population (top 5%) is 401,757, which is 169.84% higher compared to the highest quintile, and 1887.69% higher compared to the lowest quintile.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Income Levels:

• Lowest Quintile
• Second Quintile
• Third Quintile
• Fourth Quintile
• Highest Quintile
• Top 5 Percent

Variables / Data Columns

• Income Level: This column showcases the income levels (As mentioned above).
• Mean Household Income: Mean household income, in 2023 inflation-adjusted dollars for the specific income level.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for China town median household income. You can refer the same here

Average Wage: Urban Non-private: ytd: International Organization data was reported at 0.000 RMB in Mar 2008. Average Wage: Urban Non-private: ytd: International Organization data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.000 RMB from Mar 2008 (Median) to Mar 2008, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 RMB in Mar 2008 and a record low of 0.000 RMB in Mar 2008. Average Wage: Urban Non-private: ytd: International Organization data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GC: Average Wage: by Industry: Urban Non-private.

The statistic shows the average nominal monthly income of migrant workers in China from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, a migrant worker in China on average earned 4,961 yuan per month.

This statistic shows the average yearly wages in the manufacturing sector in China from 2012 to 2022. In 2022, the average wages in manufacturing in China increased to approximately 97,500 yuan from 92,500 yuan in the previous year.