Tech and scientific workers overtake finance professionals as highest-paid jobs in China
Compensation levels in China’s finance sector continue to lose ground to the tech industry, with the latest example being scientists and researchers who are now better paid than financial professionals, according to a recent report.
After average salaries in China’s information technology industry exceeded those in the financial sector for the first time in 2016, scientific researchers have now achieved the same milestone when it comes to paychecks issued last year, according to a report released by the data research institute of 21st Century Business Herald on Tuesday.
The average annual income for workers employed by companies in the telecoms, software and information technology fields reached 161,352 yuan (US$22,998) per person, followed by an average annual income of 133,459 yuan in the scientific research and technical services industry and 131,405 yuan in finance, according to the report.
“It shows that income is not only correlated with education but also to the economic benefits of the industry,” said the report.
The average annual wage in information technology was 1.78 times higher than the annual average for all industries, while the scientific research sector was 1.47 times higher, a sign that the country is now heavily investing in technology and scientific development.
China’s digital economy has grown at an annual rate of more than 20 per cent in recent yearsand accounts for about a third of its GDP and a quarter of the national workforce.
In the master plan announced at the Two Sessions annual parliamentary meetings in May, the country will invest an estimated 10 trillion yuan (US$1.4 trillion) over six years to boost its tech infrastructure. The plan calls on urban governments and private tech giants like Huawei Technologies to help lay 5G wireless networks, install cameras and sensors, and develop the AI software that will underpin applications from autonomous driving to automated factories.
China is seeking ways to become technologically self-sufficient in domestic tech sectors such as semiconductors, 5G and data centres as it fights a trade and technology war with the United States and tries to stimulate domestic demand to boost a slowing economy.
Those in the agriculture, forestry, husbandry and fishing industries had the lowest annual incomes last year, at 39,340 yuan, equal to 43 per cent of the country’s average.
Industries with the highest income growth last year included retail - driven by the boom in e-commerce - as well as health and social work, according to the report.
Purchase the 100+ page China Internet Report 2020 Pro Edition, brought to you by SCMP Research, and enjoy a 30% discount (original price US$400). The report includes deep-dive analysis, trends, and case studies on the 10 most important internet sectors. Now in its 3rd year, this go-to source for understanding China tech also comes with exclusive access to 6 webinars with C-level executives. Offer valid until 31 August 2020. To purchase, please .
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- The average annual income for workers employed by companies in the telecoms, software and information technology fields reached US$22,998 per person last year
- The average annual wage in information technology was 1.78 times higher than the annual average for all industries
Compensation levels in China’s finance sector continue to lose ground to the tech industry, with the latest example being scientists and researchers who are now better paid than financial professionals, according to a recent report.
After average salaries in China’s information technology industry exceeded those in the financial sector for the first time in 2016, scientific researchers have now achieved the same milestone when it comes to paychecks issued last year, according to a report released by the data research institute of 21st Century Business Herald on Tuesday.
The average annual income for workers employed by companies in the telecoms, software and information technology fields reached 161,352 yuan (US$22,998) per person, followed by an average annual income of 133,459 yuan in the scientific research and technical services industry and 131,405 yuan in finance, according to the report.
“It shows that income is not only correlated with education but also to the economic benefits of the industry,” said the report.
The average annual wage in information technology was 1.78 times higher than the annual average for all industries, while the scientific research sector was 1.47 times higher, a sign that the country is now heavily investing in technology and scientific development.
China’s digital economy has grown at an annual rate of more than 20 per cent in recent yearsand accounts for about a third of its GDP and a quarter of the national workforce.
In the master plan announced at the Two Sessions annual parliamentary meetings in May, the country will invest an estimated 10 trillion yuan (US$1.4 trillion) over six years to boost its tech infrastructure. The plan calls on urban governments and private tech giants like Huawei Technologies to help lay 5G wireless networks, install cameras and sensors, and develop the AI software that will underpin applications from autonomous driving to automated factories.
China is seeking ways to become technologically self-sufficient in domestic tech sectors such as semiconductors, 5G and data centres as it fights a trade and technology war with the United States and tries to stimulate domestic demand to boost a slowing economy.
Those in the agriculture, forestry, husbandry and fishing industries had the lowest annual incomes last year, at 39,340 yuan, equal to 43 per cent of the country’s average.
Industries with the highest income growth last year included retail - driven by the boom in e-commerce - as well as health and social work, according to the report.
Purchase the 100+ page China Internet Report 2020 Pro Edition, brought to you by SCMP Research, and enjoy a 30% discount (original price US$400). The report includes deep-dive analysis, trends, and case studies on the 10 most important internet sectors. Now in its 3rd year, this go-to source for understanding China tech also comes with exclusive access to 6 webinars with C-level executives. Offer valid until 31 August 2020. To purchase, please .
Scientists are now paid more than finance professionals in China
Average annual salaries of China’s scientific researchers exceeded that of finance professionals for the first time last year, according to new survey
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