China Taiwan

Updated 2026-05-04

China

Minimum Wage

¥25 /hr

$3.68 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

¥10,343 /mo

Taiwan

Minimum Wage

NT$190 /hr

$6.11 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

NT$58,000 /mo

Min wage: -40% China vs Taiwan Avg. salary: -18% China vs Taiwan

The minimum wage in China is 40% lower than in Taiwan in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average salaries are lower in China at $1,522/mo compared to $1,865/mo in Taiwan.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between China and Taiwan
Metric	China	Taiwan	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	¥25 $3.68	NT$190 $6.11	-39.8%
Minimum wage /mo	¥2,740 $403.27	NT$28,590 $919.29	-56.1%
Minimum wage /yr	¥32,880 $4,839.21	NT$343,080 $11,031.51	-56.1%
Avg. gross salary /mo	¥10,343 /mo $1,522.26	NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95	-18.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	¥8,274 /mo $1,217.75	NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79	-25.0%
Median individual income /yr	¥34,707 /yr $5,108.10	NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27	-70.9%

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means China is higher.

Work Week

China: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 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.
Taiwan: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.34x pay

Labour Standards Act sets 40 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Two mandatory rest days per week (one fixed, one flexible). Overtime: first 2 hrs at 1.34x, next 2 hrs at 1.67x. Monthly overtime cap of 46 hours (may be extended to 54 hours with union/labour-management agreement, max 138 hrs/3 months).

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

China Taiwan Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	China (USD)	Taiwan (USD)
2018	$356/hr	—
2019	$365/hr	—
2020	—	$765/hr
2021	$365/hr	$772/hr
2022	$381/hr	$812/hr
2023	$381/hr	$849/hr
2024	$396/hr	$883/hr
2025	$403/hr	$919/hr
2026	$403/hr	—

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in China earns 66% less per hour in USD terms than one in Taiwan.

See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan vs China

Compare China with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in China or Taiwan?

In China, the minimum wage is ¥25/hr ($3.68 USD). In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). Taiwan has the higher rate by 66% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in China may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in China compared to Taiwan?

The average gross salary in China is ¥10,343/mo ($1,522.26 USD), compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in China earn approximately 23% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between China and Taiwan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Taiwan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in China.

How do work hours compare between China and Taiwan?

Both China and Taiwan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.