Key Facts: China Wages
- Country
- China (CHN)
- Continent
- Asia
- Currency
- Chinese Yuan (CNY)
- Minimum Wage
- ¥25 /hr ($3.68 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥10,343 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- ¥124,110 /year
- Median Individual Income
- ¥34,707 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 40 hours
- Data Source
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS); regional rates verified via china-briefing.com aggregator (April 2026)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-04
China — Average Salary & Wages
Chinese Yuan (CNY) Data verified Jan 2026 Sources
The average salary in China is
¥124,110 a year
But half of all workers earn less than ¥34,707 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in China is ¥25/hr ($3.68 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is ¥10,343 ($1,522.26 USD). The median monthly income is ¥2,892.25 ($425.68 USD).
China has no national minimum wage; rates are set by 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, each with multiple tiers. Shanghai leads at CNY 2,740 per month (July 2025) while the lowest provincial rates start at CNY 1,750 per month, a gap of over 55% within a single country. The urban-rural income divide is the widest in the G20; urban median income is roughly 2.4 times the rural median. A large informal economy means many workers earn outside the formal minimum wage framework.
Average annual wage of urban non-private sector employees (2024). Private-sector averages are significantly lower (about ¥69,000/yr). Enormous variation between coastal cities and inland provinces.
About the China economy
China is the world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP, valued at $18.744 trillion in 2024, and the largest by purchasing power parity at $33.6 trillion. The economy continues to shift from industry toward services. In 2024, services contributed 56.7 percent of GDP, industry 36.5 percent, and agriculture 6.8 percent. Real GDP grew 5 percent in 2024 and 5.4 percent in 2023, a deceleration from pre-pandemic rates. Top exports include broadcasting equipment, computers, integrated circuits, garments, and machine parts. The United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, and South Korea were the largest export destinations in 2023, with the US absorbing 13 percent.
China has the world's largest workforce. The labor force totaled 773.88 million in 2024. Unemployment held at 4.6 percent through 2024 and 2025. The working-age population aged 15 to 64 is 69.3 percent of the total but is contracting as the population ages. The median age has reached 40.8 years and the elderly dependency ratio is 21. Youth unemployment for workers aged 15 to 24 was 15.2 percent in 2024. The hukou household registration system continues to constrain rural-to-urban labor mobility and access to urban services.
China has no national minimum wage. Each of the 31 provinces and municipalities sets its own rates across multiple tiers, reflecting wide gaps in regional GDP, cost of living, and local labor market conditions. Coastal economies such as Shanghai and Beijing post the highest floors, while inland provinces set lower tiers. For wages in China, provincial variation matters more than any national average.
• SECTOR RATES
Shanghai
¥25 /hr
Since 2025-07-01
Highest monthly minimum wage in China. Raised from ¥2,690 effective July 2025.
Beijing
¥27.70 /hr
Since 2025-09-01
Highest hourly part-time rate nationally at ¥27.7/hr. Raised from ¥2,420 / ¥26.4/hr effective September 2025.
Shenzhen
¥2,520 /mo
Since 2025-01-01
Shenzhen has its own minimum wage separate from Guangdong province. Raised from ¥2,360.
Guangdong Tier 1 (Guangzhou)
¥23.70 /hr
Since 2025-04-01
Guangdong first-tier cities. Raised from ¥2,300.
Lowest provinces (Tier 4 areas)
¥1,750 /mo
Since 2026-01-01
Lowest-tier areas in provinces such as Anhui, Hunan, Guangxi. Raised from approximately ¥1,420 in 2024.
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2018, the minimum wage has grown +13% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In China, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $7.08/hr in the United States, adjusted for local cost of living using the World Bank PPP conversion factor.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in China earns ¥4,333/mo. That is 42% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- ¥4,333 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 42% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $637.72/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +13% since 2018
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- ¥25
- Monthly
- ¥2,740
- Annual
- ¥32,880Based on 12 monthly payments
China's minimum wage is set at the provincial/municipal level with massive regional variation. Rates are divided into monthly minimums for full-time workers and hourly minimums for part-time workers. Shanghai has the highest monthly rate at ¥2,740/mo (effective July 2025, raised from ¥2,690), while Beijing has the highest hourly rate at ¥27.7/hr (effective September 2025). The lowest-tier monthly rates rose to approximately ¥1,750/mo from January 2026. Minimum wages must be adjusted at least every 2-3 years per national guidelines, but in practice major cities update more frequently.
Work Week
- Standard
- 40 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 44 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 40 hours/week standard (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Overtime limited to 36 hours/month. Weekday overtime: 150%, rest day overtime: 200%, statutory holiday overtime: 300%. The '996' culture (9am-9pm, 6 days/week) is widespread in tech but was ruled illegal by the Supreme People's Court in 2021.
How China Compares
| Metric | China | Asia Avg. | Asia Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $3.68/hr | $2.61/hr | $11.89/hr (Israel) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $1,522.26/mo | $1,185.31/mo | $4,472.55/mo (Singapore) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | $3.53 |
| Albania | $3.51 |
| Marshall Islands | $3.50 |
| Palau | $3.50 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | $3.46 |
| China | $3.68 |
Related Wage Comparisons
• NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
Afghanistan؋5,500/mo-85%
BhutanNu3,250/mo-94%
MyanmarK975/hr-87%
Hong KongHK$42.1/hr+46%
India₹4,628/mo-92%
Kazakhstan₸496/hr-71%
NepalRs112.81/hr-78%
North Korea
Kyrgyzstanсом17.16/hr-95%
Laos₭10,417/hr-87%
MacauMOP$35/hr+18%
Mongolia₮4,714/hr-64%
Pakistan₨160/hr-84%
Russia₽156.31/hr-56%
TajikistanSM600/mo-91%
Vietnam₫25,500/hr-73%Compare China
India 
Japan 
South Korea 
Indonesia 
United States 
United Kingdom Popular Comparisons
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Bangladesh Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for China on our sister site.
Cost of living in China on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in China?
The minimum wage in China is ¥25/hr (approximately $3.68 USD), effective since 2025-07-01. China's minimum wage is set at the provincial/municipal level with massive regional variation. Rates are divided into monthly minimums for full-time workers and hourly minimums for part-time workers. Shanghai has the highest monthly rate at ¥2,740/mo (effective July 2025, raised from ¥2,690), while Beijing has the highest hourly rate at ¥27.7/hr (effective September 2025). The lowest-tier monthly rates rose to approximately ¥1,750/mo from January 2026. Minimum wages must be adjusted at least every 2-3 years per national guidelines, but in practice major cities update more frequently.
What is the average salary in China?
The average gross monthly salary in China is ¥10,343 (approximately $1,522.26 USD). Average annual wage of urban non-private sector employees (2024). Private-sector averages are significantly lower (about ¥69,000/yr). Enormous variation between coastal cities and inland provinces. Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in China?
The standard work week in China is 40 hours, with a legal maximum of 44 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Labour Law sets 40 hours/week standard (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Overtime limited to 36 hours/month. Weekday overtime: 150%, rest day overtime: 200%, statutory holiday overtime: 300%. The '996' culture (9am-9pm, 6 days/week) is widespread in tech but was ruled illegal by the Supreme People's Court in 2021.
How has the minimum wage in China changed over time?
The minimum wage in China has changed as follows: ¥2,420 in 2018, ¥2,480 in 2019, ¥2,480 in 2021, ¥2,590 in 2022, ¥2,590 in 2023, ¥2,690 in 2024, ¥2,740 in 2025, ¥2,740 in 2026. This represents 8 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in China in USD?
The minimum wage in China converts to approximately $3.68/hr in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
What is the average salary in China in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in China is approximately $1,522.26 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does China's minimum wage compare to the Asia average?
China's minimum wage ranks #10 out of 34 countries with statutory minimum wages in Asia, placing it above the median for Asia.
From Insights
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