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 2024, the average annual per capita disposable income of households in China amounted to approximately 41,300 yuan. Annual per capita income in Chinese saw a significant rise over the last decades and is still rising at a high pace. During the last ten years, per capita disposable income roughly doubled in China. Income distribution in China As an emerging economy, China faces a large number of development challenges, one of the most pressing issues being income inequality. The income gap between rural and urban areas has been stirring social unrest in China and poses a serious threat to the dogma of a “harmonious society” proclaimed by the communist party. In contrast to the disposable income of urban households, which reached around 54,200 yuan in 2024, that of rural households only amounted to around 23,100 yuan. Coinciding with the urban-rural income gap, income disparities between coastal and western regions in China have become apparent. As of 2023, households in Shanghai and Beijing displayed the highest average annual income of around 84,800 and 81,900 yuan respectively, followed by Zhejiang province with 63,800 yuan. Gansu, a province located in the West of China, had the lowest average annual per capita household income in China with merely 25,000 yuan. Income inequality in China The Gini coefficient is the most commonly used measure of income inequality. For China, the official Gini coefficient also indicates the astonishing inequality of income distribution in the country. Although the Gini coefficient has dropped from its high in 2008 at 49.1 points, it still ranged at a score of 46.5 points in 2023. The United Nations have set an index value of 40 as a warning level for serious inequality in a society.

Key information about China Household Income per Capita

• China Annual Household Income per Capita reached 4,805.935 USD in Dec 2013, compared with the previous value of 4,273.467 USD in Dec 2012.
• China Annual Household Income per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1985 to Dec 2013, with an averaged value of 711.353 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 4,805.935 USD in Dec 2013 and a record low of 262.918 USD in Dec 1986.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of China grew 12.700 % YoY in May 2023.

CEIC converts Annual Household Income per Capita into USD. The National Bureau of Statistics provides Average Household Income per Capita in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Household Income covers urban area only.

The statistic shows the average annual salary of employees working for urban non-private companies and organizations in China between 2013 and 2023, by geographic region. In 2023, the average income of an employee working at an urban unit in West China ranged at approximately ******* yuan per year.

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

In 2023, an employee working for a not privately held company or organization in urban areas of China earned around ******* yuan annually on average. That year, the year-on-year growth rate of the average salary ranged at *** percent nominally and *** 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 ****** to ******* 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 ******* yuan per year on average, whereas people in the financial service sector reached approximately ******* yuan. The hotels and catering sector ranked at the lower end with an average annual salary of around ****** yuan.

China Disposable Income per Capita: Median data was reported at 34,707.000 RMB in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 33,036.000 RMB for 2023. China Disposable Income per Capita: Median data is updated yearly, averaging 25,429.800 RMB from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2024, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 34,707.000 RMB in 2024 and a record low of 15,632.085 RMB in 2013. China Disposable Income per Capita: Median data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table CN.HD: Income per Capita.

This statistic shows the average annual per capita disposable income of rural households in China from 1990 to 2024. In 2024, per capita disposable income of rural households in China amounted to around ****** yuan.

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.

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 to ******* yuan from ****** 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. ******** and ******* 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.

China Disposable Income per Capita: Year to Date: Median data was reported at 9,939.286 RMB in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 34,707.000 RMB for Dec 2024. China Disposable Income per Capita: Year to Date: Median data is updated quarterly, averaging 14,897.000 RMB from Mar 2013 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 49 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 34,707.000 RMB in Dec 2024 and a record low of 4,117.200 RMB in Mar 2013. China Disposable Income per Capita: Year to Date: Median data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table CN.HD: Income per Capita.

Disposable Personal Income in China increased to 54188 CNY in 2024 from 51821 CNY in 2023. This dataset provides - China Disposable Income per Capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The annual per capita disposable income of households in China varies greatly in different geographic regions of the country. In 2023, the disposable annual income of residents in Eastern China reached around ****** yuan.

China Average Monthly Income: Migrant Worker: Secondary Industry: Manufacturing data was reported at 4,978.000 RMB in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,780.000 RMB for Dec 2023. China Average Monthly Income: Migrant Worker: Secondary Industry: Manufacturing data is updated quarterly, averaging 3,444.000 RMB from Dec 2009 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,978.000 RMB in Dec 2024 and a record low of 1,331.000 RMB in Dec 2009. China Average Monthly Income: Migrant Worker: Secondary Industry: Manufacturing 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 Income: Migrant Worker.

Disposable Income per Capita: Urban: Middle Income data was reported at 48,508.000 RMB in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 46,276.000 RMB for 2023. Disposable Income per Capita: Urban: Middle Income data is updated yearly, averaging 8,678.295 RMB from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2024, with 40 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48,508.000 RMB in 2024 and a record low of 737.280 RMB in 1985. Disposable Income per Capita: Urban: Middle Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table CN.HD: Income by Income Level. Since 2013, All households in the sample are grouped, by per capita disposable income of the household, into groups of low income, lower middle income, middle income, upper middle income, and high income, each group consisting of 20%, 20%, 20%, 20%, and 20% of all households respectively.

This statistic shows the average annual disposable income per capita of households in China in 2023, by region. In 2023, disposable per capita income in Gansu province amounted to approximately ****** yuan.

CN: Disposable Income per Capita: YoY: ytd: Wage and Salary data was reported at 5.929 % in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.800 % for Dec 2024. CN: Disposable Income per Capita: YoY: ytd: Wage and Salary data is updated quarterly, averaging 8.600 % from Mar 2014 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.400 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 1.200 % in Mar 2020. CN: Disposable Income per Capita: YoY: ytd: Wage and Salary data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table CN.HD: Income per Capita.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents median income data over a decade or more for males and females categorized by Total, Full-Time Year-Round (FT), and Part-Time (PT) employment in China. It showcases annual income, providing insights into gender-specific income distributions and the disparities between full-time and part-time work. The dataset can be utilized to gain insights into gender-based pay disparity trends and explore the variations in income for male and female individuals.

Key observations: Insights from 2023

Based on our analysis ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, we present the following observations: - All workers, aged 15 years and older: In China, the median income for all workers aged 15 years and older, regardless of work hours, was $58,750 for males and $30,313 for females.

These income figures highlight a substantial gender-based income gap in China. Women, regardless of work hours, earn 52 cents for each dollar earned by men. This significant gender pay gap, approximately 48%, underscores concerning gender-based income inequality in the city of China.

- Full-time workers, aged 15 years and older: In China, among full-time, year-round workers aged 15 years and older, males earned a median income of $62,188, while females earned $69,375

Surprisingly, within the subset of full-time workers, women earn a higher income than men, earning 1.12 dollars for every dollar earned by men. This suggests that within full-time roles, womens median incomes significantly surpass mens, contrary to broader workforce trends.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. All incomes have been adjusting for inflation and are presented in 2023-inflation-adjusted dollars.

Gender classifications include:

• Male
• Female

Employment type classifications include:

• Full-time, year-round: A full-time, year-round worker is a person who worked full time (35 or more hours per week) and 50 or more weeks during the previous calendar year.
• Part-time: A part-time worker is a person who worked less than 35 hours per week during the previous calendar year.

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column presents the data year. Expected values are 2010 to 2023
• Male Total Income: Annual median income, for males regardless of work hours
• Male FT Income: Annual median income, for males working full time, year-round
• Male PT Income: Annual median income, for males working part time
• Female Total Income: Annual median income, for females regardless of work hours
• Female FT Income: Annual median income, for females working full time, year-round
• Female PT Income: Annual median income, for females working part time

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 median household income by race. You can refer the same here

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in China was last recorded at 13121.68 US dollars in 2024. The GDP per Capita in China is equivalent to 104 percent of the world's average. This dataset provides - China GDP per capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This statistic shows the per capita disposable annual income of households in Beijing from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, per capita disposable income of households in China's capital city amounted to around ****** yuan, increased by *** percent in real terms compared to the previous year.