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 ******* 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.

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.

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

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.

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: Hubei data was reported at 107.732 Prev Year=100 in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 104.530 Prev Year=100 for 2022. Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Hubei data is updated yearly, averaging 111.298 Prev Year=100 from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 138.100 Prev Year=100 in 1994 and a record low of 104.530 Prev Year=100 in 2022. Average Wage Index: Urban Non-private: Hubei 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 Central Department Management SOE: Average Salary data was reported at 132,695.700 RMB/Person in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 128,510.200 RMB/Person for 2019. China Central Department Management SOE: Average Salary data is updated yearly, averaging 55,668.600 RMB/Person from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2020, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 132,695.700 RMB/Person in 2020 and a record low of 16,253.300 RMB/Person in 2002. China Central Department Management SOE: Average Salary data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Business and Economic Survey – Table CN.OE: Non-financial Enterprise: State Owned and Holding: Central Management.

In 2025, the minimum hourly wage in Beijing was the highest in China at 26.4 yuan per hour. In the past decade, China has been shifting from a cheap labor driven economy to more matured, service-oriented markets and industries. While the economy continues to grow, prices and wages keep on increasing as well. How do wages differ across the country? China’s provinces and municipalities are divided into districts of different levels. Most provinces set different minimum wages for different districts depending on the cost of living and level of development. Usually, provincial capitals and major cities enjoy higher hourly wages than smaller towns and rural areas of the same province. In 2025, the highest minimum hourly wages in China were to be found in Beijing and Tianjin municipalities with 26.4 and 24.4 yuan respectively, whereas employees in Hainan province who received a minimum wage were paid the least – between 16.3 and 17.9 yuan per hour. Minimum monthly wages that year were the highest in Shanghai and the lowest in Qinghai province. The average annual salary in urban China was around 120,700 yuan in 2023. What are the prospects? Regional governments in China are required to update their minimum wages at least every few years. Hebei, Fujian, and Guangdong – provinces that have not adjusted minimum wages in the past two years – are likely to do so in 2025. Along with economic development, increasing living standards, increasing prices and a shrinking labor force, overall minimum wages will likely continue growing in China.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Labour Compensation in GDP at Current National Prices for China (LABSHPCNA156NRUG) from 1952 to 2019 about compensation, China, labor, and GDP.

Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 53.32 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Wage and salary workers; male (% of males employed) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

China Central Management SOE: Average Salary data was reported at 176,599.300 RMB/Person in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 165,579.300 RMB/Person for 2021. China Central Management SOE: Average Salary data is updated yearly, averaging 72,481.150 RMB/Person from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2022, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 176,599.300 RMB/Person in 2022 and a record low of 20,987.500 RMB/Person in 2002. China Central Management SOE: Average Salary data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Business and Economic Survey – Table CN.OE: Non-financial Enterprise: State Owned and Holding: Central Management.

China Average Wage: SOU: Manufacturing data was reported at 109,987.000 RMB in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 118,127.000 RMB for 2022. China Average Wage: SOU: Manufacturing data is updated yearly, averaging 9,072.000 RMB from Dec 1978 (Median) to 2023, with 46 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 118,127.000 RMB in 2022 and a record low of 663.000 RMB in 1978. China Average Wage: SOU: 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 Wage: by Industry: Urban State Owned Unit.

Average Wage: On Duty: Guangxi: Beihai data was reported at 90,759.650 RMB in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 85,954.000 RMB for 2021. Average Wage: On Duty: Guangxi: Beihai data is updated yearly, averaging 24,761.280 RMB from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2022, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 90,759.650 RMB in 2022 and a record low of 5,650.000 RMB in 1996. Average Wage: On Duty: Guangxi: Beihai data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Beihai Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GG: Average Wage: On Duty: Prefecture Level City.

Income share held by lowest 10% in China was reported at 3.2 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Income share held by lowest 10% - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Average Wage: On Duty: Shandong: Yantai data was reported at 96,568.000 RMB in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 88,339.000 RMB for 2020. Average Wage: On Duty: Shandong: Yantai data is updated yearly, averaging 29,958.705 RMB from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2021, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 96,568.000 RMB in 2021 and a record low of 5,603.000 RMB in 1996. Average Wage: On Duty: Shandong: Yantai data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Yantai Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GG: Average Wage: On Duty: Prefecture Level City.

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.

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

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.