China is famous for its cheap labor. Against the background of the annual growth of the country's GDP and multi-billion dollar investments in the economy, many citizens live below the poverty line, agreeing to any job. Therefore, the average salary in China in 2021 in poor provinces remains low. However, across the country, its level has increased to $950 per month, which in comparison with Russian salaries is a decent amount.
Living wage in the country
The living wage in any country is set by the state on the basis of economic and social indicators: the level of unemployment and average wages, the cost of goods, and the general welfare of the state. The peculiarity of China is that its provinces develop at different rates. Therefore, calculating these indicators for the country would not reflect the real situation.
To take into account the characteristics of each region, the minimum living wage in the state is established independently by the provinces. Additional social guarantees apply: local authorities help citizens if the income for each family member is less than the established subsistence level.
As in many Asian countries, the cost of living in China is significantly lower than the minimum wage. This fact does not indicate a high minimum wage; rather, on the contrary, it indicates low social security of the population.
In 2021, the highest cost of living in Shanghai is about 710 yuan; in other regions the situation is worse:
- in Zhejiang about 450–650 yuan depending on the locality;
- in Anhui province - 460 yuan;
- in Sichuan from 340 to 430 yuan per month.
By decision of the Communist Party of China several years ago, a work program was developed to improve the living standards of citizens. Its goal is to equate the entire population of the country to the middle class, ensuring an adequate level of wages and social benefits. It is planned to get closer to this result by the end of 2021.
Minimum wage
The different standards of living in the provinces also became the reason for the differentiated regulation of the minimum wage. Administrative powers have been transferred to local authorities, and the minimum wage in China is set in two groups: monthly, for full-time working citizens, and hourly.
Since April 2021, the highest minimum wage level has been set in Shanghai ($379.44 per month or $3.29 per hour), and the lowest in Guangxi Zhuang AR.
Each province of China is divided into zones (A, B, C, D) depending on the specifics of production; for each of these zones, within a separate territorial entity, its own minimum wage is established.
Systematic increases in the minimum wage vary across the country. Oddly enough, provinces with a favorable economic situation are less likely to raise the minimum wage rate than poor regions. In Shanghai, the growth of the minimum wage has decreased almost threefold over 4 years: from 12.3% in 2014 to 5% in 2021.
But in the Republic of China the situation is much better: the minimum established salary in the region is $735 per month or $4.68 per hour.
average salary
Active economic development, growth and modernization of production have influenced the average wage in China. Of course, cheap labor has not gone away - people in poor provinces are still hired as laborers in agricultural industries for little money. But the economic situation of the country requires highly qualified personnel capable of maintaining modern industrial equipment and establishing effective management.
In 2021, China became the leader among countries in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of average earnings growth.
Thus, over the past year, the salary of the average Chinese increased by 5%, compared to a 1.5% increase in wages in European countries.
In 2021, China for the first time overtook Russia in terms of average wages for workers. The reason largely lies in the large collapse in the value of the ruble against the dollar. The current comparison of the level of earnings in our countries suggests that Russia lags behind China by 1.5 times in terms of wages.
The average salary in China in RMB is now:
- 75 thousand per year ($11,500) for a regular employee;
- 93 thousand per year ($14,500) for highly qualified personnel.
In rural areas the situation is worse. Salaries in Gansu or Jiangxi, where mainly peasants live in agriculture, barely reach 200-300 dollars. An employee paid $500 a month is considered a wealthy citizen. For this reason, there remains a high level of unemployment among the population in rural areas, and young people try to leave for cities in search of big money. But workers at all levels earn the most in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
In Pekin
Residents of Beijing have the highest salaries in the People's Republic of China in 2021. Last year, the income of an ordinary employee was equal to $1,320, in 2021 it is already $1,550. If we remember the average salary in the country, then residents of the capital earn almost twice as much.
In Shanghai
This city has long been recognized as the point of concentration of business and financial assets of many countries. This status also affected the level of average wages. Shanghai has long occupied a leading position in the ranking, surpassing even the capital. But in 2021, it moved to second place, providing earnings of around $1,480.
To Guangzhou
This metropolis attracts Chinese and foreign visitors with its warm climate and career opportunities. A large number of attractive vacancies has led to the concentration of the highly qualified labor force of Southern China in this city. Therefore, in 2021, the average wage was around $1,300, this year - about $1,400.
Average salary in China 2021 for Chinese citizens
China is developing rapidly and is ahead of other developed countries in terms of economic indicators. Wages in China are significantly higher than the world average. At the same time, the level of income largely depends on the place of residence and profession.
average salary in China 2021 by profession
Even ordinary Chinese workers earn many times more than Russian highly qualified specialists. The lowest salary (not minimum wage) in China is 3500-4000 yuan, which in rubles is about 42-50 thousand.
People who do manual labor have this kind of income. With this money they can afford to pay for housing, buy food and clothing, and pay for education. In rural areas, the income of the population is lower than in large cities. Average salary in China in 2020 for 22 cities:
Average salary in China in 2021 by city
Information from ichinese8.ru:
According to labor laws, a Chinese person can work up to 12 hours a day, depending on the contract with the employer. Overtime is paid at an increased rate of 1.5-2 times higher. On weekends the pay is double. Pensions in China, compared to salaries, are low - up to 3,000 yuan (up to 36,000 rubles). The unemployment rate in China is 4.5%.
The highest paying professions
The industrial development of the country requires high results in the scientific field. Therefore, the Chinese authorities pay great attention to scientific industries and developments in the field of IT. Teachers and instructors are valued.
The increased export of Chinese products to almost all developed countries of the world has become the reason for the demand for specialists in the trade and financial spheres. Therefore, the ranking of professions with high average salaries in China in dollars is as follows:
- IT developers, programmers;
- Managers and managers;
- Tax specialists, financiers and economists;
- Teachers and university lecturers;
- Chemists, engineers, physicists, scientists in the field of medicine and mechanical engineering;
- Doctors;
- Engineers and insurers.
Working as a teacher in China is much more profitable than in Russia. Typically, our citizens are hired to teach foreign languages with a salary of 700-1000 dollars per month.
The cultural sphere and real estate trade in China are not so developed, so salaries in these areas are low.
The lowest wages in China are for unskilled workers engaged in manual labor in forestry, fishing or agriculture.
Average salaries in Beijing by profession
The average monthly amount that Chinese people earn for their work in many professions in Beijing.
| Profession | Monthly in RMB | Dollar equivalent | Equivalent in rubles |
| Auditor | ¥ 6 500 | $ 982 | ₽ 74 868 |
| Senior Auditor | ¥ 10 000 | $ 1 511 | ₽ 115 182 |
| Auditor trainee | ¥ 2 500 | $ 377 | ₽ 28 795 |
| Tax consultant | ¥ 17 500 | $ 2 644 | ₽ 201 569 |
| Tax Advisor Assistant | ¥ 8 500 | $ 1 284 | ₽ 97 905 |
| Accountant | ¥ 6 750 | $ 1 019 | ₽ 77 748 |
| Financial Manager | ¥ 110 000 | $ 16 621 | ₽ 1 267 000 |
| Financial assistant | ¥ 7 625 | $ 1 152 | ₽ 87 826 |
| Financial cashier | ¥ 5 000 | $ 755 | ₽ 57 591 |
| Salesman-cashier | ¥ 4 875 | $ 736 | ₽ 56 151 |
| Salesman | ¥ 5 833 | $ 881 | ₽ 67 186 |
| Waiter | ¥ 4 850 | $ 732 | ₽ 55 863 |
| Food delivery man | ¥ 10 500 | $ 1 586 | ₽ 120 941 |
| Cook | ¥ 5 875 | $ 887 | ₽ 67 669 |
| Chef | ¥ 10 325 | $ 1 560 | ₽ 118 926 |
| Real Estate Seller | ¥ 16 000 | $ 2 417 | ₽ 184 292 |
| Sales consultant | ¥ 10 250 | $ 1 548 | ₽ 118 062 |
| Security guard | ¥ 4 262 | $ 643 | ₽ 49 090 |
| Nanny | ¥ 10 750 | $ 1 624 | ₽ 123 821 |
| Housemaid | ¥ 7 500 | $ 1 133 | ₽ 86 386 |
| Cleaning woman | ¥ 3 275 | $ 494 | ₽ 37 722 |
| Masseur | ¥ 10 833 | $ 1 636 | ₽ 124 777 |
Salaries by industry
The salary level for specialists in China depends on the region where the organization is located and the demand for the area of activity. Foreign companies and production centers should not be taken into account, since their salaries depend more on annual results and total revenue.
Highly qualified specialists receive high salaries in almost all fields. But it should be remembered that in poor regions, the earnings of even professional employees are significantly lower than in megacities.
The ranking of attractive and highly paid industries in China is as follows:
- economics and finance;
- education and science;
- programming and software development;
- IT direction;
- medicine and sports.
Sectors with the lowest wages: agriculture and fishing. This is largely due to the lack of jobs requiring highly qualified employees. Due to the active use of blue-collar labor, many manufacturing industries are not as attractive as in other countries.
Additional payment for processing
Chinese law provides for additional pay on weekends, night shifts and additional working hours. The rule applies: payment is multiplied 1.5 times for the first two hours, 2 times for all subsequent hours. When working on weekends and holidays, employees receive double pay.
Additional work time, schedule and procedure for calculating the increased rate are discussed with the employer in advance. Otherwise, the employee may lose additional payment.
Chinese salaries in 2021
China belongs to the category of rapidly developing countries that attract foreigners with a chance to improve their financial situation. Professionals are sent to the country with salaries of $1,200; workers ready for “low” positions in the hierarchy of the labor ladder. “Guest workers” with a diploma in financier or English teacher are employed. Workers live comfortably on the subsistence level.
The Chinese and the “minimum wage”
In terms of wages, China prevails compared to Ukraine and Russia. Minimum earnings - 30 thousand rubles . The advantage of a non-prestigious job: residents do not save money when paying for utilities, children’s education, or grocery shopping. The provinces of China differ from cities in prices and low salary levels. Seasonal agricultural workers are paid $1,000 monthly. China's demand for engineers, managers, marketers, and fashion designers has increased: annual salary = 17,000 euros.
Salaries in China are higher than in Russia
Peculiarities of life for workers with average wages
The public economic sector is aimed at improving life.
The Chinese live by the principle: “The middle class must rule” and the government intends to achieve this goal in the near future. Translators and citizens with skill and technical knowledge in the field of automotive industry are valued. Their salary is 120 thousand rubles. Migrants rent comfortable housing, buy unlimited food from supermarkets, pay for medical services, and satisfy basic needs.
Children receive paid education. For a university graduate, an income of 3,500 yuan per month of work is provided. A foreign trade specialist will be employed in China for a salary of three thousand dollars.
There is a misconception around the world: China produces cheap products. The country has set up a production line for the production of Mercedes, BMW, and Hummers, which are sold at high prices, with a degree of assembly according to quality standards. Consumer demands are growing, motivating manufacturers to supply vehicles that meet the needs of the consumer market. For this reason, factories require literate workers: they do not regret paying large salaries to them. Mind, “golden” hands are welcome.
About benefits for migrant workers
Migrants are attracted by the availability of housing, prices in supermarkets, and salary levels. Chinese employers provide working people from abroad with housing, pay for air travel, and help them adapt during migration. Compared to world powers, China occupies a priority position in attracting personnel and remuneration.
China's middle class is growing
Foreign experience is invaluable for employees. China attracts industrialists and IT professionals. They will be accepted into the workforce, preparing to pay 80,000 rubles a month. Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians have chosen China as a “platform” for potential earnings. Finance gives you the chance to comfortably stay in a foreign country, saving money to return home not with an empty wallet. Similar amounts are paid to Chinese web designers.
The professions of teachers, dancers, and musicians are in demand. Having got a job as an English teacher in a Chinese school, a person will receive 50,000 rubles. Chinese salaries in 2021 for dancers are 60,000 rubles.
Service sector – who will be accepted into the workforce with “open arms”?
Women with Slavic appearance are willingly accepted for the position of hotel staff. The earnings are enough to pay for housing, food, and a comfortable existence. Maids in hotels receive 45 thousand rubles. If they want to earn more money, they get a job as a housekeeper in private houses with a salary of 52,000 rubles.
Secrets of a Guangzhou worker
We are not talking about penny salaries at Guangzhou enterprises. Seventy years ago, the situation of workers in the Chinese city was unenviable. The situation in Guangzhou has changed: the city is considered to be the “capital” of the Chinese automobile industry. Employers are ready to pay representatives of the middle class $1,100 per person. Big cities are ahead of Russian cities in terms of living standards. In stores, a kilogram of beef costs $11, and potatoes are bought for a dollar. Employees of most companies are able to have lunch at a restaurant for $3.5. By forcing them to work above the norm, employers do not forget to reward employees who wish to work above the norm.
China is more powerful than ever
About processing
According to labor legislation, incentives are generous.
- When performing work duties beyond the established regulations for the first two hours, an employee of Chinese corporations is entitled to a payment according to a coefficient of 1.5.
- Double salary is due for subsequent hours of work.
- Having asked to work on the weekend, the employer of a Chinese company is obliged to pay double the labor rate.
The work shift lasts 8 hours . Residents of the Middle Kingdom try to volunteer for part-time work themselves.
About tax policy and price tags in stores
The tax scale is progressive. The government has provided a tax rate of 5%, this is personal income tax. The Chinese tax system is different from the Russian one. Chinese salaries not exceeding 4,000 yuan per month are subject to taxation. Of the salaries of wealthy workers, 45% goes to tax costs.
The Chinese spend a quarter of their profits on the treasury - a figure lower than in America and Europe. To understand the peculiarities of life and Chinese salaries in 2021, information on prices in stores is useful for workers. Chicken fillet lovers will spend 120 rubles, a price familiar to Russians. 45% of the income is paid for the apartment, 15 percent of the salary will be spent on children’s education.
Who can live well in Beijing?
Representatives of the media “machine”, mass media, advertisers, and graphic designers live at ease. Their budget is replenished by $10,000 monthly. A lawyer with an income of $7,300 feels comfortable in China.
Finding a job is difficult: job seekers face tough interviews in English or Chinese. The main thing is to come to an interview according to the dress code, having learned about the progress of the enterprise and its direction. Employers look at shoes and the strict cut of clothes. When writing a resume, it is recommended to indicate people who participated in career growth, writing down their names and positions. The employer will not want to read long resumes: brevity, conciseness of presentation are the principles of drafting.
When working at enterprises in Chinese provinces, there is no point in counting on large incomes: workers receive 4,000 yuan in Karashar. Benefit - salaries are not taxed.
Foreigners intending to receive Chinese salaries in 2020 are attracted by programs developed by the Chinese government aimed at attracting students, industrial workers, and businessmen.
Tax deductions
Income taxes are paid by all employed citizens: both the Chinese themselves and foreign specialists. The main taxes in China are as follows:
- for business (from 3 to 10% of profit, set for companies with foreign investment);
- income tax - from 10 to 15%;
- additional tax income paid by foreign citizens who live in China for a long time but receive income from their home country;
- consumer - paid when purchasing excise goods.
China has a child tax: it is paid by citizens who have two or more children. Its introduction is associated with the overpopulation of the country.
Remuneration of foreigners
The qualifications of foreign citizens affect how much they will earn in China. The payment procedure does not differ in comparison with Chinese workers. As mentioned above, it is better for foreigners to look for work in megacities, since highly qualified personnel are more often required there, and their wages are higher.
High salaries in China in 2021 for foreign citizens were for translators (about $3,000 per month) and financiers (about $1,400 per month).
Salaries in cities and provinces
Salary in China depends on specialty, length of service, knowledge of language and, of course, locality. For those planning to move, experts recommend considering Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Guangzhou. The average salary in Beijing and Shanghai is higher than in the provinces. This is explained by the fact that in large settlements there are many vacancies and the flow of clients is huge.
The average salary in China in different regions in US currency looks like this:
| Shanghai | 712 |
| Beijing | 705 |
| Tibet | 663 |
| Tianjin | 536 |
| Zhejiang | 446 |
| Guangzhou | 445 |
| Jiangsu | 430 |
| Liaoning, Chongqing | 372 |
| Yinchuan | 402 |
| Qinghai | 396 |
For those planning to move for permanent residence to the Celestial Empire, it is better to choose large cities to live and work: in rural areas there are almost no prospects for a migrant.
