China's private sector wages rise 5.3% in 2020

The average annual private sector wages in urban China rose by 4,123 yuan ($641.51) in 2020 to 57,727 yuan, up 5.3 percent in real terms.

Geographically, East China saw the highest average wage of 63,601 yuan, followed by West China, 50,510 yuan, Central China, 48,861 yuan, and Northeast China, 43,928 yuan, up 6.9 percent, 8.0 percent, 11.2 percent, and 10.2 percent respectively.

Information technology, finance, and scientific research and technological services were the top three industries with average wages respectively at 101,281 yuan, 82,930 yuan and 72,233 yuan, up 1.75, 1.44 and 1.25 times over the national average.

Farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery; catering service; and hydraulic engineering, environment and public facility management were the lowest three industries with average annual wages respectively at 38,956 yuan, 42,258 yuan and 43,287 yuan, representing 67 percent, 73 percent and 75 percent of the national average.

In terms of the growth rate of the annual average wage, information technology, mining, and manufacturing saw the highest rates of 18.7 percent, 9.8 percent and 9.6 percent respectively. Meanwhile, education; hydraulic engineering, environment and public facility management; and catering service saw the lowest growth, down 4.6 percent, 2.6 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.