China · Salaries
Typical salaries by role in China — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
China has NO national minimum wage at all. Each of the 31 provinces and municipalities sets its own, and many run several local tiers within a single province — so the rate depends not just on which province you are in but on which tier your city or district falls into. MOHRSS issues guidelines while provincial governments set and update the actual rates, meaning the figure you need is always a local one. Pay is quoted gross, with individual income tax and social-insurance contributions reducing take-home.
China has no national minimum wage; each of the 31 provinces and municipalities sets its own (often with several local tiers), overseen by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS). In 2026 monthly minimums range roughly from RMB 1,420 to RMB 2,740 (highest in Shanghai). MOHRSS and local bureaus publish the official figures.
- There is no national minimum wage; each province/municipality sets its own (often with several local tiers) — check the local rate.
- In 2026, monthly minimums range roughly RMB 1,420–2,740 (Shanghai highest; Beijing highest hourly) — verify locally.
- MOHRSS issues guidelines; provincial governments set and update the rates.
- Pay is quoted gross; individual income tax and social-insurance contributions reduce take-home — see this country's tax page.
- 1
Stop looking for a national figure
There is no national minimum wage. Any single number presented as China's minimum is either a provincial rate or an aggregate, so the search has to start locally.
- 2
Identify your province or municipality
Each of the 31 provinces and municipalities sets its own rate. That is the first level of the answer, and it is where provincial governments publish the official figures.
- 3
Then find your local tier
Many provinces run several local tiers, so the province alone does not settle it. Work out which tier your city or district falls into before treating a figure as yours.
- 4
Know MOHRSS guides but provinces decide
MOHRSS issues guidelines while provincial governments set and update the rates. If a national body and a provincial figure seem to disagree, the provincial one is the operative rate.
- 5
Re-check the rate if you relocate
Because the rate is provincial and tiered, moving city can change your floor even within the same province. Treat a relocation as a reason to look the figure up again.
- Understood there is no national minimum wage
- Province or municipality identified
- Local tier established for your city or district
- Official provincial figure sourced, not an aggregate
- Monthly and hourly basis distinguished
- Gross-to-net effect of tax and social insurance modelled
- Plan to re-check the figure on relocation
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS)
National authority overseeing minimum wages and labour.
Frequently asked questions
What is China's minimum wage?
There is no national minimum wage to quote. Each of the 31 provinces and municipalities sets its own, and many run several local tiers within a province — so any single national number is either one province's rate or an aggregate, and the figure you need is local.
Why does the rate differ within one Chinese province?
Because many provinces run several local tiers, so the province is only the first level of the answer. Which tier your city or district falls into decides the actual floor, and that is why relocating can change it even without leaving the province.
Does MOHRSS set the minimum wage in China?
MOHRSS issues guidelines, but provincial governments set and update the actual rates. So if a national statement and a provincial figure seem to differ, the provincial one is the rate that operates where you are.
Government portals
- China Government Portal — State Council official portal — policy releases, public services, and government documents
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — China's foreign policy and consular services — passport, visa, and consular protection info
- National Immigration Administration — Visas, permanent residency, and border control for foreigners entering China
- State Taxation Administration — Personal income tax filing, business tax registration, and VAT invoice verification