Today, the level of salaries in China is comparable to that of some EU member states and significantly exceeds the indicators of most of the CIS countries. The Chinese economy is one of the most powerful in the world, and the local government is helping to attract foreign investment, trade ties are actively expanding and modern technologies... All this has a positive effect on the incomes of the local population and increases the well-being of the country as a whole.
Many Chinese companies are in need of skilled labor from overseas, so jobs in China are now in high demand. Such large cities as Beijing and Shanghai are especially popular with labor migrants. Despite a certain slowdown economic growth state, according to experts, the wages of Chinese workers in the coming years will only increase. Next, let's find out what the minimum and average wages in China are in 2019.
Minimum wage in China
In matters of setting official rates minimum wage Labor Ministry of Human Resources and social security(MLRS) of China has endowed the regions with a fair amount of independence. Local authorities take into account many indicators, including economic growth, average wages, living standards, unemployment, food prices and real estate prices. A detailed analysis is carried out, and then a decision is made on the advisability of raising the minimum wage.
Depending on the region, the official minimum wage in China in 2019 ranges from RMB 1,000 to RMB 2,480 per month, which is equivalent to 145-360 US dollars. Regional and city authorities are required by law to revise minimum wage rates at least once every two years. In 2019, the highest wages at the minimum level are received in Shanghai (2,480 yuan), and the least in the Guangxi area (between 1,000 and 1,680 yuan).
According to the official data of the National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of China, in 2014, 19 regions increased the minimum wage, in 2015 - 27, in 2016 - 9, in 2017 - 20, in 2018 - 10, and in the six months of 2019, 4 provinces of China increased their minimum wages: Beijing, Chongqing, Shaanxi and Shanghai.
| Province / city | RMB per month | Dollars per month |
| Shanghai | 2 480 | 360 |
| Beijing | 2 200 | 320 |
| Tianjin | 2 050 | 295 |
| Zhejiang | 2 010 | 290 |
| Shandong | 1 910 | 275 |
| Henan | 1 900 | 275 |
| Jirin | 1 780 | 255 |
| Inner Mongolia | 1 760 | 255 |
| Hubei | 1 750 | 255 |
| Fujian | 1 700 | 245 |
| Shanxi | 1 700 | 245 |
| Heilongjiang | 1 680 | 245 |
| Guizhou | 1 680 | 245 |
| Ningxia Hui AR | 1 660 | 240 |
| Gansu | 1 620 | 235 |
| Hunan | 1 580 | 230 |
| Qinghai | 1 500 | 215 |
Note. Depending on the class (A, B, C, D) in some provinces of China, the minimum wage rates may be adjusted.
Average salary in China
Over the past years, salaries in China have been growing faster than in the vast majority of countries. Asia Pacific(APR) and the world in general. For example, according to research by the international consulting company ECA International, only by the end of 2017, the actual increase in the average wage in the Chinese state, that is, taking into account inflation, amounted to 4.7%, while in all APR countries it was about 2.6%, and in the world in the region of 1.5%. The nominal growth of the average wage in China is estimated at 7%.
According to official data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, the average salary in China in 2019 (in cities) is 82,461 yuan per year($ 11,910) or RMB 6,872 per month($ 995). At the same time, the average monthly income of skilled workers in the 37 largest settlements is estimated at RMB 7,629($ 1,175). The city with the highest salary is Beijing, where the average skilled worker earns 10,157 yuan ($ 1,565). In Shanghai, they earn 9,621 yuan ($ 1,480), in Shenzhen, 9,134 yuan ($ 1,405), and in Guangzhou, 7,965 yuan ($ 1,225).
For example, the average salary in Bulgaria is $ 695 per month, which means that the Chinese already have a higher income level. In addition, according to a large recruiting company from China ZW HR Consulting, foreign specialists with work experience, in-demand skills, who are fluent in English and Chinese, can count on a salary that is at least 15-25% higher than the national average.
| Industry | RMB per year | Dollars per year |
| Financial activities | 122 851 | 17 745 |
| Information Technology | 133 150 | 19 235 |
| Professional and scientific and technical activities | 107 815 | 15 575 |
| Supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning | 90 348 | 13 050 |
| Healthcare and social work | 89 648 | 12 950 |
| Culture, sports and entertainment | 87 803 | 12 685 |
| Education | 83 412 | 12 050 |
| Leasing and business services | 81 393 | 11 760 |
| Transportation, logistics and storage | 80 225 | 11 590 |
| Wholesale and retail trade | 71 201 | 10 285 |
| Mining | 69 500 | 10 040 |
| Production | 64 452 | 9 310 |
| Construction | 55 568 | 8 025 |
| Water supply, sewerage and waste management | 52 229 | 7 545 |
| Accommodation and meals | 50 552 | 7 305 |
| Fishing, agriculture and forestry | 36 504 | 5 275 |
Note. * Average salary in China by industry is based on official data from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
In the context of individual professions, the highest salaries in China are for financiers, bankers, investment brokers and lawyers, who, on average, receive 9,000-10,000 yuan per month ($ 1,300 - $ 1,445). Heads of companies and large projects in the field information technologies earn monthly from RMB 14,000 to RMB 19,000($ 2,020 - $ 2,745).
In 2016, the level of average wages of Russian workers in manufacturing was lower than Chinese ones, the international research organization Euromonitor International reported. At the same time, Russia has significantly overtaken China in the ranking of the happy countries. /site/
Between 2005 and 2016, Chinese workers' wages tripled to $ 3.6 per hour, according to Euromonitor International. Taking into account all sectors of the economy in terms of wages, China has overtaken Latin America, with the exception of Chile. However, so far the PRC has not been able to catch up with Greece and Portugal, whose salaries are 30% higher.
In Russia, over the past three years, workers' wages at enterprises have decreased from $ 3.5 to $ 2.7 per hour.
In 2016, wages in manufacturing in Portugal amounted to $ 4.5 per hour, in Brazil - $ 2.7, in Mexico - $ 2.1, in South Africa - $ 3.6, in India, since 2007, workers have been paid $ 0.7 per hour.
The average salary in both Russia and China is approximately $ 3.3 per hour. According to Rosstat, in January 2016 the average monthly accrued wage in the Primorsky Territory it was 33 469 rubles, and in November - 36 413 rubles. These figures (excluding December, when the annual bonuses were paid) are comparable to the average salary in the PRC.
Standard Life Investments economist Alex Wolfe explained that China's closer integration into world economy after joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. However, due to the rapid rise in wages, China may lose jobs, losing in this to other developing countries.
Euromonitor relied on numbers The International Organization Labor, Eurostat and national statistical offices, and then converted them into US dollars and adjusted for inflation. The results obtained, however, do not take into account the difference in the cost of living.
World Living Standards Ranking
The Legatum Prosperity Index agency has compiled a rating of countries in the world in terms of living standards in 2016-2017. It takes into account not only national indicators, but also the quality of life of the population (salary levels, the educational system, the ratio of prices in the state and the real financial situation of the average citizen).
Russia's happiness index
Despite lagging behind China in terms of wages and living standards, the happiness index of Russians was higher than that of the Chinese. This indicator reflects the well-being of people and the state of the environment in different countries the world. It takes into account the values of GDP per capita, life expectancy, the presence of civil liberties, a sense of security and confidence in the future, family stability, job security, the level of corruption, as well as categories such as the level of trust in society, generosity and generosity.
According to the UN for 2016, out of 157 countries, Russia took 56th place, China - 83rd place.
“Data on the measurement of subjective happiness and the achievement of well-being should be on the agenda of every nation, thus, it begins to strive to achieve goals sustainable development"- quotes glosense.ru as the words of Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, which was developing the rating of happiness.
The average salary in Russia in 2015 is about 33 thousand rubles and has significantly decreased in real terms compared to last year. But a much more interesting statistical observation is that for the first time in history, Russians' incomes were lower than those of people in China, a country that is a textbook example of a "labor reservoir."
The collapse of the ruble against the dollar in the past year has led to a sharp depreciation of Russian wages in hard currency terms. Back in early 2014, the average working Russian received about $ 900. In mid-2015, his salary was about 33 thousand rubles (exact statistics will be published for the whole year), which is about $ 500 based on an average rate of 65 rubles per dollar.
The ruble may strengthen, and Russian wages in dollars will rise again. But even in this case, they are unlikely to catch up with the indicators of China - a country where, according to the stereotype existing in Russia, citizens work for a cup of rice. In 2014, the average Chinese earned 8,800 yuan a month, which at the current exchange rate (the dollar rose against the yuan too, but not so much) is 733 dollars. Thus, we are already one and a half times behind China by this criterion.
One could, of course, argue that the comparison in foreign currency does not reflect the real state of affairs with respect to welfare, as prices differ from country to country. Nevertheless, before the crisis began, the difference in the value of currencies at purchasing power parity was about 25 percent in favor of China (that is, on average, prices there were a quarter lower). Now the ruble has depreciated sharply (by about two times), and prices in Russia have grown by only 20 percent. But even with this amendment, the PPP value of the currency in China has become only slightly higher than in Russia, and does not compensate for the 1.5-fold difference in earnings.
Indeed, even ten years ago, a $ 300 salary was considered normal for China, if not good. Times, however, are changing. The real incomes of the PRC population have grown by about 150 percent over the decade - last year, for example, the growth was 12 percent. Economists often point out this circumstance as a reason that should significantly slow down the development of China, because the success of the second economy in the world was largely ensured by cheap labor. The real picture is much more complicated, but this is a separate topic for conversation.
In fact, the increase in Chinese wages was in line with both the rate of economic growth and the increase in labor productivity. GDP in 2005-2014 grew by an average of 8-9 percent per year. At the same time, over ten years, productivity in China has increased by almost 18 percent annually (which, by the way, is extremely uncharacteristic for low-income countries, to which China was only recently).
For comparison: in 2003-2008, Russia demonstrated an annual growth of labor productivity of 7-7.5 percent. After the crisis, growth slowed significantly and finally fell to 1.8 percent by 2013. As a result, the rate of growth of wages has also slowed down, and in the last year and a half it has sagged significantly more than the economy as a whole. Employers felt that the best way to cut costs was to save on labor.
Of course, the somewhat lesser stratification of the population in terms of income may testify in favor of Russia. The Gini coefficient, which shows the difference between the incomes of the richest and the poorest citizens, is 47 in China and 42 in Russia. However, these figures take into account all incomes, not just wages. In addition, the difference is in any case not large enough to compensate for the large gap that now exists in wages in dollar terms.
Workers at the construction site of the Ramenki station of the Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya metro line. Photo by ITAR-TASS / Artem Korotaev
The lag in labor productivity growth rates is easy to explain. First and second, productivity is technology and technology. But Russian business is very slowly and unhurriedly investing in the modernization of production and services - just look at the statistics of the industrial robots market in recent years. China's share in world purchases is almost a third (with an economy of about 15 percent of the world), while Russia purchases about a percent of the world robot market, which is significantly lower than the country's share in global GDP (about 1.5-2.5 percent, depending on from the counting method).
Why it happens? Firstly, modernization is expensive, and now there will be problems with investments because of the sanctions. The share of investment in Russia's GDP is slightly more than 20 percent - against 45 percent for China. And these costs, judging by the growth in purchases of high-tech equipment, will inevitably bring an effect. Second, there are no normal mechanisms for financing modernization in the form of targeted tax relief in Russia. Thirdly, the country has a large number of cheap workers from the near abroad, on which you can save well. As they say, two soldiers from the construction battalion are replacing the excavator. Finally, modernization will inevitably entail the destruction of jobs (new ones may appear later, but this is already in the future), and the rise in unemployment is guaranteed to mean the loss of the stability that has been nurtured for so long. The state does not need this at all, so it is afraid to encourage business in this direction.
Be that as it may, low salaries are not only a problem, but also an opportunity. For Russia in this case this means the possibility of transferring to oneself the industries that previously worked abroad. In this way, economic growth can be given a boost. Of course, this means that the country will develop along the path adopted in the states of the "third world", but now there is no need to talk about anything else.
Although even for such an extensive development, money is still needed. But loans and investments from abroad are reluctant, including due to political tension, and domestic Russian rates are punishing for any domestic non-financial business. To get out of the situation, the state needs to carry out reforms to support economic growth, which has been talked about for several years now. Unfortunately, little is being done.
The unfavorable economic situation in our country has led to a significant drop in the exchange rate of the national currency. Thus, the average salary in Russia has become less than the income of Chinese residents. The Celestial Empire has always been a shining example of cheap labor and occupied one of the lowest places in the ratings of the general standard of living of the population.
Indeed, back in 2003, an income of $ 300 was considered acceptable for most Chinese families. Our compatriots are interested in the latest statistics obtained in 2019, or rather, what is the salary of the Chinese.
Over the past 10 years, there has been a significant increase in real earnings. At the end of 2018, the average salary was $ 740 per month. The following reasons for this trend can be distinguished:
- a steady increase in the productivity of technological capacities in China (by 12% annually);
- modernization of production facilities through the introduction of automated mechanisms and the latest developments;
- an increase in the degree of participation of Chinese businessmen in world purchases (today China accounts for 16% of this area);
- an increase in GDP by 9% per year;
- significant investments in the development of science and technology.
There is a special coefficient that displays the difference between the incomes of different segments of the population in China in 2018, it is equal to 48%. Such a parameter takes into account absolutely all incomes and does not focus only on wages.
How much is paid to representatives of various professions in China
Experts note an increase in monthly payments in all areas of work. Thus, the national average minimum wage is $ 325. However, citizens complain about a proportional increase in the cost of essential goods and a decrease in purchasing power.
- The professionals involved in the pharmaceutical industry are highly regarded by employers. For drug manufacturers, the average salary ranges from $ 9,000 to $ 10,000 per year.
- Internet commerce is booming in China, and although only 21% of workers have a college degree economic Education, the annual income is $ 12,000.
- China is a country with a developed industrial complex. The state is sensitive to the protection of the environment from the negative impact of human activity. According to statistics, in 2018, the average salary of employees of environmental structures was $ 14 thousand.
- Imports and exports play a leading role in the formation of GDP, therefore, qualified customs officers had an average income of $ 1,300 per month in 2019. Due to the acceleration of the rate of turnover, such specialists are extremely in demand.
- A chartered accountant in China has about 17 thousand a year. Specialists with experience in doing business with foreign investors, analysts of international economic trends and financial auditors are especially in demand.
- Website editors' salaries range from 17,000 to 20,000.
- Insurers in China received an average of $ 2,000 a month this year.
- Telecommunications in 2019 took the path of active development. The income of engineers specializing in integrating networks and adapting them to international standards quality. The average salary in this sector was $ 2,500 for one settlement month.
- 3G workers are in demand all over the world, and China is no exception. The monthly income of a highly specialized employee starts at $ 3,000.
- Translators are the undoubted leaders among the highest paid professions. Close cooperation with foreign business partners involves overcoming the language barrier. The median salary for simultaneous interpreters in 2019 is $ 3,400.
If we consider the statistics of income in large cities for various industries, then the maximum possible salary in 2019 is distributed as follows (in US dollars for one billing month):
- finance and accounting - 2700;
- the sphere of integrated technologies - 3500;
- electric power industry - 2920;
- science and education - 3430;
- healthcare - 2460;
- culture and entertainment - 1300;
- wholesale and retail trade - 1530;
- mining operations - 4080;
- social sector - 1620;
- transport services - 1306;
- real estate - 1089;
- construction - 1780;
- production - 2450;
- agriculture - 980;
- services - 1420;
- public catering - 2320.
But this is statistical data for Beijing, and in order to obtain real information on the country, it is necessary to divide the above figures at least in half. In China, the minimum income in 2018 barely reached 21% of the global average, placing the country 159th in terms of wages. There is a large gap between the salaries of different social classes.
Recently, many began to say that the level of wages in China is growing and production in China is no longer so profitable. Many predict the exodus of industry to the countries of Southeast Asia.
I decided to leave aside the issue of transferring production for now and just check on the Chinese Internet the average size salaries by region.
You can compare the Chinese realities with the Russian ones yourself.
So, to begin with, let's discuss that taking a salary in one city is not entirely correct. China is unevenly developed. There are industrial regions of the south and southeast, traditionally the most monetary regions, where traditionally there are many industries and there is always a need for workers, but it is here that the process of rising labor costs is gaining momentum. There is the North of China where the heavy industry is concentrated, including the coal industry, which I attribute to the average level of earnings. And finally, the central and western regions, where labor is as cheap as possible relative to the rest of China, and where many southern industries go.
How real is the average salary?
Let's just say - unskilled manual labor of the lowest level is equal to half of the average salary. This is a personal observation. If, for example, in Beijing the average salary is 5,000 yuan, then an ordinary worker will receive 2,500-3,000 yuan, plus he is often given a bed in a dormitory and three meals a day in the canteen. The same rule applies to all other regions.
Low-level office plankton also work for 2000-3000 thousand. The middle tier is 5000-8000, the top tier is from 10,000 and above.
A skilled worker earns from RMB 8,000 and up, up to approximately 15,000. Depending on the region. So the average salary is quite real.
How to compare Chinese salaries with Russian ones?
RMB exchange rate. So that you understand what the yuan numbers mean. One yuan is ten rubles. This is today's course. Six months ago, before the depreciation of the ruble, one yuan was worth five rubles. Accordingly, we mentally multiply all salaries by 10 to get the salary in rubles at the current exchange rate and by 5 to get the salary at the old exchange rate.
So the latest data for 2014
1 column 2 column 3 column 4 column 5 column
City \ Province Average salary Percentage with a salary of 2k-3k Percentage with a salary of 4.5k-6k growth by 2013 
First two lines Beijing and then Shanghai
What is this, it turns out the average salary in large city is 5,000 yuan, or 50,000 rubles? And why pay more than us? Of course, not everything is so simple.
Now let's talk about what you can buy with this money.
As I noted above, very, very many Chinese companies work according to the scheme - the provision of housing and food. It is cheaper for them to rent a hostel (or even build) than pay workers extra. Money for them to look for housing for themselves. And it's more convenient to go to work.
However, especially cunning businessmen manage to sell common food and a bed to their own workers.
Many companies lure even quite the middle class in this way. Here we are already talking about a corporate apartment and a car.
If housing is not provided, then you need to look at the cost of housing by region.
Renting a one-room apartment in metropolitan areas such as Beijing-Shanghai-Guangzhou costs 3000 yuan per month. It is neither in the center nor on the outskirts. Something in between. Many migrant workers rent an apartment in a crowd and sleep on bunks. Then a few hundred yuan comes out of the nose. Another option is to live in the basement. In China, many houses have three-story basements. Without sunlight, in dampness and with rats, millions of Chinese live like rats. But such housing costs a couple of hundred yuan a month.
In the provinces, housing is cheaper. Here it is already necessary to look at what kind of city. I think I won't be mistaken if I say that the apartment costs 1000-2000 yuan per month.
Communal - one apartment is able to burn off light and pour water for 100-300 RMB per month, depending on the location. All utilities can be safely pledged 500 yuan, along with the Internet. This will be enough in any metropolis for the eyes, regardless of the price level.
Food - again, you have to look where. If you cook at home, two people eat 100 yuan worth of food in 1-2 days. This is when it comes to good nutrition, without self-restraint. That is, vegetables, fruits, meat, sweets, anything within reasonable limits.
If there is outside (in China there are a bunch of small restaurants and eateries with cheap food), then in a metropolis one person eats 30-50 yuan in one sitting. In principle, this is not very much, so many people do not cook at all and only eat outside. But this is unhealthy because restaurant owners are saving on quality.
Transport - public transport- Metro 3-5 yuan at a time, depending on the distance. Bus - 1-2 RMB. Taxis 20-30 and up to 50 yuan (long distances about 100, this is a guaranteed outskirts of any city).
Gasoline - depending on the brand from 6.5 to 8 yuan a liter
As we can see, it is difficult to call Chinese life a paradise. Multiply this all by weak social security.
State pensions are only for state employees. For everyone else, pension insurance for their own money (you need to look for a company with conditions such as insurance provided).
Medicine is paid.
Education is paid. Moreover, there is a huge competition in universities and it is difficult to get even for money. With a foreign passport, getting into a Chinese university is very easy, you pay money and study at a foreign department. Ordinary Chinese can only dream about it.
Even in spite of all the liberal reforms, the heavily "defeated" Soviet social guarantees remain an unattainable peak for socialist China.
But at the same time, talking about the Chinese as beggars is no longer relevant either. The standard of living is quite tolerable. Compared to what happened 25 years ago, it's generally incredible for Chinese history. And this is an undoubted merit of the CCP, no matter how you find fault with it.
At the moment, further growth in wages and living standards is expected, with a decrease in GDP growth rates. Smooth transition of China to the major league of Asian countries, such as South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. If no force majeure occurs, then this is quite possible by 2025.
Alexey Popov
For Chinese CB cell