Of the countries that have a common border with the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China is the largest. Therefore, mutual labor migration reaches a fairly high level. It is clear that many Russians are interested in what is the average salary in China in 2021. Due to the rapid development of the Chinese economy in the last decade, the demand for highly qualified specialists has noticeably increased. Their salaries are higher than in many countries of the world, including the Russian Federation.
Economic situation and the level of income of the population
Although the growth of the PRC's economy is slowing down, the indicators of relatively developed countries are still extremely high. In 2021, according to experts, GDP growth will be 6.3-6.4%.
The Chinese authorities are taking measures aimed at encouraging domestic demand, providing lucrative loans domestically for business development, lowering taxes and supporting their manufacturers in the international market. In general, the slowdown in the economic development of the Celestial Empire is not a consequence of government mistakes or the crisis. This is only a transitional stage from the stage of a developing economy to the stage of a developed one.
The decline in GDP growth, along with the demand for China's currency, give analysts reason to argue that the yuan will be stable in 2021.
The optimism in assessing the economic situation in China is added by the fact that the government's forecasts regarding the unemployment rate did not come true. At the end of 2021, this figure was 3.8%, while the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the PRC assumed that the number of Chinese who lost their jobs would reach 4.5% of the total working-age population of the country.
PRC labor market prospects
The slowdown in economic growth, coupled with US intentions to pursue trade pressure, could lead to widespread job cuts in China. In addition, the combination of these factors negatively affects consumer spending and contributes to the deterioration of the social climate in the country.
Employment growth in Q4 2021 slowed in all major sectors and in virtually all provinces. The private sector of the economy suffered the most. The reason was Beijing's measures aimed at eliminating the main source of financing for private enterprises - the shadow banking system. The largest state-owned banks prefer to provide loans to state-owned enterprises, as they consider them to be more reliable borrowers.
If we analyze information from external sources, forecasts for the future regarding the state of the labor market in the PRC as a whole, although they do not demonstrate clear optimism, look at least fairly balanced.
Minimum wage
At the national level, the minimum wage in China has not been introduced. This is the prerogative of the municipal authorities. They distribute urban areas and counties into a number of categories and set the value of this indicator for each territorial unit.
The Chinese officials explain this campaign simply: how much it is enough to pay the workers, the local people know better. The values of the minimum wage per month for some cities are presented below.
- Shanghai - ¥ 2,480 (₽ 24,116.5);
- Shenzhen - ¥ 2,200 (₽ 21,392.6);
- Beijing - ¥ 2,120 (₽ 20,615);
- Tianjin - ¥ 2,050 (₽ 19,934).
Returning to the conversation about the distribution of urban areas and counties into categories, let us pay attention to the fact that the incomes of the population, although they differ, are not significantly different. For example, the minimum wage in Guangzhou city (1st category of Guangdong province) is ¥ 2,100 (₽ 20,421), and in Dongguan (2nd category of the same province) - ¥ 1,510 (₽ 14,683).
The minimum wage in China differs significantly from region to region. Moreover, the difference in income between workers in large cities such as Shanghai or Beijing, and those working in agricultural provinces, is simply colossal.
An important role is also played by the economic condition of the organization providing the workplace, the position occupied by the employee and the type of occupation.
According to the latest statistics, the minimum monthly wage in China in 2021 in some regions reaches $ 325 - that's 2,182.88 yuan or 21,222.5 rubles. And in a number of provinces it hovers around $ 190.
Many foreigners planning to find work in the Celestial Empire come not so much for the purpose of earning money as wanting to get to know more about Chinese history and culture. The presence of people willing to work "for food" largely determines the low salaries.
What is the average salary in the PRC
In terms of the growth rate of the average wage, China in 2021 became the leader among the states of the Asia-Pacific region. For example, last year, the average Chinese worker's income from work increased by 5%. For comparison: over the same period, the growth of this indicator in European countries was 1.5%.
The average wages in China before taxes and social security contributions of all types at the end of 2021 reached ¥ 78,324 / year or $ 11,657 / year, which is 6% higher compared to the previous year.
Information on the value of this indicator in large cities of the republic is posted somewhat below. Let us clarify that in the more familiar for an ordinary Russian, the idea of the level of income not per year, but per month, these figures look as follows: ¥ 6 527 and $ 950, respectively.
Such an average wage in China allows the country's residents to have a good rest, travel and sometimes even procrastinate.
Overtime pay in China
Overtime hours in the PRC are subdivided into:
- additional work time agreed by both parties - the employee and the employer;
- working hours of an employee on his day off.
In the first option, the following payment procedure usually operates: the tariff for the first two hours increases by 1.5 times, and for each subsequent hour - 2 times. Weekend work is payable double
When applying for a job, it is recommended to carefully study the employment agreement. The fact is that each organization has the right to establish its own terms of payment for overtime.
Salaries by specialties
The amount of income from employment depends on the work experience of a specialist, his education and qualifications. Let's take a quick look at the average salaries in China by occupation.
- Programmer. Finding a job for Russian-speaking programmers - Ukrainians, Russians, Belarusians - in the Celestial Empire is relatively easy. And given the fact that most of the representatives of this specialty know English, there are no special problems in communicating with Chinese colleagues. Below are indicative figures.
- A Java programmer can qualify for salaries ranging from ¥ 10,270 (₽ 100,000) to ¥ 30,810 (₽ 300,000).
- Masters of WEB-design are paid on average from ¥ 6,162 (₽ 60,000) to ¥ 35,945 (₽ 350,000) per month.
- People working with Visual Basic and C ++ get from ¥ 4,621.5 (₽45,000) to ¥ 35,945 (₽350,000).
- Teacher. English teachers in the PRC are in great demand. Such specialists are needed by institutions of all levels of the Chinese education system - from kindergartens to universities. The salary of a teacher in China ranges from:
- from ¥ 60 45 (₽ 58 859) to ¥ 8 060 (₽ 7 8 479) - in a public school;
- from ¥ 9,067 (₽ 88,289) to ¥ 1,5,280 to (₽ 14 8781) - in a private secondary educational institution.
- Police officer. The monthly salary of a law enforcement officer of the PRC with 5 years of experience fluctuates around the mark of ¥ 4,500 (₽ 43,816.5). At the same time, a police officer can take a certain number of days off per month, the dates of which are negotiated in advance.
- Doctor. For Russian doctors, the advantage of employment in China lies not only in a good salary, but also in the relative cheapness of housing (in comparison with European prices). Along with doctors, junior medical personnel are also in demand. To fill a vacancy, an applicant from the Russian Federation must provide, along with a diploma, his notarized translation into English and Chinese.The minimum salary for a doctor in China is ¥ 6,984 (₽ 68,000), and the maximum salary is ¥ 10,270 (₽ 100,000).
- Interpreter. A foreign citizen who flawlessly performs the functions of a translator can claim a high salary even by the standards of Western countries - up to $ 3,000. This is due to the specifics of the Chinese language.
- Engineer. The fact that the standard of living in the PRC is improving, among other things, is also confirmed by the large earnings of people with an engineering degree. Of course, the requirements for them are increased. In particular, to obtain a highly paid position, only a document confirming the availability of higher technical education is not enough. You need to have the skills to work with software such as Solid Works, Compass 3D, Auto Cad and the like.
The salary of an engineer in China is characterized by the following figures:
- Mid-level professionals earn from ¥ 6,716.5 (₽ 65,399) to ¥ 13,433 (₽ 130,798) monthly.
- Highly qualified engineers have salaries ranging from ¥ 30,224 (₽ 299 4295) to ¥ 40,300 (₽ 392 401).
It makes no sense to go to the PRC, planning to find a job at the plant as a simple worker. The point is the high competition from local residents. Chinese law obliges human resources departments of companies to employ primarily indigenous people.
The level of wages of an ordinary worker also depends on the region. For example, his salary at a plant in Beijing can be as high as ¥ 4,702 ($ 700). At the same time, a worker with the same qualifications in a provincial town receives approximately ¥ 1,679 ($ 250).
Payment for labor activity by cities and regions of China
Russian citizens come for employment most often in the largest megacities of the PRC, where the salary level there exceeds the national average.
In Shanghai
The average salary in Shanghai, the financial and business center of the country, is significantly higher than in other large cities. Local authorities closely monitor the level of the subsistence minimum and constantly adjust the minimum wage.
The last time this happened was in April 2021. The Xinhua News Agency website reported that since April, Shanghai's hourly rate has changed from 21 to ¥ 22 / hour. However, this did not apply to overtime allowances.
Accordingly, the size of the average salary in Shanghai will also increase, which is still one of the highest in China: $ 1480 / month.
In Guangzhou
The capital of Guangdong province - Guangzhu - is simultaneously the economic, political, scientific, technical, transport, cultural and educational center of all of southern China. The special economic zones of Zhuhai, Shantou and Shenzhen are located here.
Financial workers and researchers receive the most in Guangzhou. The salary in a metropolis ranges from ¥ 10,000 (₽ 97,370) to ¥ 15,000 (₽ 146,055).
In Pekin
The most attractive for employment in the capital of the Middle Kingdom are:
- chemical and oil corporation Sinopec Group;
- state grid corporation State Grid;
- the national oil and gas corporation China National Petroleum;
The average salary in Beijing in 2021 is ¥ 8,731.5 (₽ 85,019). However, highly qualified specialists receive significantly more: up to ¥ 12,090 (₽ 117,718). The hourly rate is ¥ 20.15 / hour. (₽ 196.2 / hour).
In hong kong
The government of a specialized administrative region of the PRC is doing everything possible to attract highly qualified specialists from different countries of the world.
There are many English speaking companies operating in Hong Kong. Therefore, specialists who speak English well are appreciated here. This also applies to the tourism industry.
The average salary in Hong Kong is over $ 2,000 / month. The exact figures are as follows: 14,366.7 yuan, or almost 140,000 rubles.
From May 2021, a new hourly rate will be introduced in this area: paying less than 37.5 HKD (Hong Kong dollar), which corresponds to 312 rubles, will be prohibited.
In Taiwan
Taiwan's economic boom has caused many to change their views on the foundations of the modern world. With the help of competent management and investments, this region, which was once considered an agricultural one, became one of the leaders in the development and production of high-tech products.
The average salary in Taiwan in 2021 is TW $ 45,715 (Taiwan dollar) or $ 1,484 (₽ 96,811).
In different industries, the values of this indicator differ significantly:
- the average salary in the service and manufacturing sectors reaches TW $ 48 800 or ₽ 102 636;
- employees in the financial, energy and IT sectors receive up to TW $ 100,000 (about $ 3,200, about RUR 210,320).
Taiwan is an attractive region for foreigners to work, not only because of the high wages. Migrants who worked in the province on the basis of a permanent residence permit and transferred a certain percentage of their salary to a retirement account receive a cash benefit upon retirement.
The official value of the minimum wage in Taiwan at the beginning of 2021 was TW $ 22,000 ($ 714 or ₽ 46,497). If the employer pays a lower amount and personal negotiations do not lead to the desired result, it is recommended to resort to the services of an experienced lawyer. Local legislation protects the interests of employees.
What taxes are withheld from salaries
There are about 20 types of taxes in China. Let's briefly consider only the main ones.
1. Income is the main tax in China on wages. Its size depends on the level of income from the labor activity of an individual. In numbers, it looks like this:
| Salary, yuan | Tax rate,% |
|---|---|
| More than 100 001 | 45 |
| 80,001 to 100,000 | 40 |
| 60,001 to 80,000 | 35 |
| 40,001 to 60,000 | 30 |
| 20,001 to 40,000 | 25 |
| 5,001 to 20 thous. | 20 |
| 2001 to 5,000 | 13 |
| 501 to 2,000 | 10 |
| 500 and less | 5 |
All of these figures represent the excess of the non-taxable minimum of ¥ 4,000. For example, 5% is charged on salaries between 4,000 and 4,500 yuan. The next 10% in increasing order is paid on income from 4,501 to 6,000 yuan and so on.
2. Consumption tax and VAT. The first is paid only when purchasing goods from groups that require a special license: alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, etc. The rate of consumption tax is determined by the type of goods. Its value ranges from 3 to 50%.
Value added tax (VAT) is charged only on the sale of goods and the provision of services. His rate is from 01.04. 2021 is equal to:
- 13% - in the manufacturing industry;
- 9% - in the construction and transport sectors.
3. Pension tax. There are no fixed pension contributions in China. The amount of contributions to the basic pension does not exceed 25% of the average salary in the province. And these payments must be made for at least 15 years.
The funded pension is formed from:
- employer deductions equal to 20% of the employee's salary;
- deductions from the employee's salary - 8%.
4. Tax on children. The PRC government in 1979 passed a law regulating the number of children in families. According to its provisions, a Chinese family should not have more than one child. But in 2021, due to the accelerating aging of the population, the law was amended to allow families to have two children.
Parents must pay a tax of $ 3,500 (¥ 23,508) upon the birth of their third baby. In addition, there is another limitation: only people who are their parents' only children can give birth to a second child.
Collectively, each Chinese person pays up to 25% of their income in taxes.
A few words about taxation of migrants. A foreigner who has worked in China for more than 360 days is required to pay income tax. A migrant who has lived in the PRC for more than 5 years is subject to the obligation to pay tax on both salary and general income (including when making a profit in another country).
The ratio of salary and living expenses
The average Chinese family's budget is usually distributed like this:
- food and household items (including clothing) - 22%;
- payment for housing - 45%;
- educational services - 15%;
- 10% is spent on medicine;
- for entertainment and other needs - 8%.
For a better understanding of the ratio of wages and prices in China, we present the cost of the items of the minimum grocery set, per kilogram:
- potatoes - ¥ 3 (₽ 29);
- rice - ¥ 2.5 (₽ 24);
- inexpensive fish - ¥ 9.5 / kg (₽ 92.5 / kg);
- chicken meat - ¥ 12 (₽ 117).
Transportation costs are comparable to the tariffs in force in the regional centers of the Russian Federation:
- the cost of a ticket for travel in a minibus does not exceed ¥ 2 (₽ 19.5);
- one metro ride, depending on the distance, will cost on average 2-3 yuan (₽ 19.5-29);
- taxi services, for example, in Beijing are paid at the following rate:
- boarding - ¥ 13 (₽ 126.5);
- 1 km trip - ¥ 2.5 (₽ 24);
- at night the rate increases by 20%.
The cost of drugs in China is about the same as in Russia. Imported medicines are more expensive than local and traditional medicines. For example, you can buy an effective cold medicine for 30-40 yuan (₽ 292-389.5).
The problem of housing in the PRC leads to the high cost of rent. To rent a 1-room apartment in a residential area of a provincial city, you need to be prepared for monthly payments of the order of ¥ 1,000–1,500 (₽ 97,370-146,055).
Renting a house in the capital of the PRC near the center will cost:
- 1-room apartment - ¥ 4 500-8000 (₽ 45 764);
- 2-room - ¥ 8,000 (₽ 77 896);
- 3-room in the center - ¥ 110 000-25 000 (₽ 106 968-243 110);
Conclusion
The development of the Chinese economy has led to an increase in wages for all segments of the country's population. Every year over the past decade, income from work has increased by about $ 50-60.
The region of residence has a great influence on the salary in China. When compared with European countries, the size of salaries in the PRC is close to their level only in a few regions of the country. In agricultural provinces, the value of this indicator is relatively low.
