2016 Internet Salary Report: Which Tech Roles and Cities Saw the Biggest Gains?

In 2016, the internet industry’s financing environment remained tight, and the recruitment market became more rational; the average salary increase for candidates switching jobs fell from 35% in spring 2015 to 27% this year.

The report analyzes salary conditions across various fields and positions compared with the same period last year.

1. Which sector offered the highest salaries this spring?

Mobile internet, e‑commerce and internet finance remained at the top, while salaries in the previously hot internet‑medical sector dropped significantly.

Popular fields constantly change, influencing job seekers’ choices.

Mobile internet continues to grow, attracting more candidates; internet finance and e‑commerce remain stable; the O2O sector saw a decline after a harsh winter in late 2015.

2. Which positions were in highest demand and how were they compensated?

In spring 2015, the most contested talents were front‑end, iOS and Android. Today, front‑end remains in short supply, while iOS and Android demand has decreased, leading to a supply‑demand imbalance. In 2015, iOS engineers received an average of 13.9 interview invitations; this spring the number dropped to 3.3.

Scala and algorithm engineers have become highly invited positions, while Java, PHP and other backend languages remain consistently in demand.

Backend programmers continue to be a stable, evergreen demand across internet companies, with salaries staying relatively high.

Although entry‑level Android and iOS demand is low, senior developers with three or more years of experience are still sought after; 84% of iOS offers went to candidates with over three years of experience, keeping average salaries strong.

3. How does salary vary with experience?

Salary differences between 2‑ and 3‑year experienced candidates are modest, but a noticeable increase appears from the fourth year onward, especially for senior internet professionals.

4. Salary and growth across cities

Hangzhou and Guangzhou show notable salary trends. Rising housing costs and purchase restrictions in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen push candidates to nearby cities, raising local salary expectations. As the internet industry matures in a city, high‑paying companies increase, further boosting salaries.

In Hangzhou, average salaries have surpassed Shanghai, driven by companies like Alibaba and NetEase, as well as fast‑growing startups. Guangzhou also experienced a sharp salary rise this recruitment season.

5. How does company size affect candidate choices?

Previously, medium‑size startups (Series B/C) attracted more candidates, but recent financing constraints lead many job seekers to prefer larger companies to mitigate risk.

Data shows a decline in hires for early‑stage startups, a rise for Series A, and a slight decrease for Series C/D, while larger and non‑financed companies see increased proportions.

Since the Spring Festival, over 20 candidates have approached 100offer after their early‑stage startups ceased operations, reinforcing the shift toward larger firms. Nevertheless, many still prefer fast‑growing startups to avoid being a “cog in the machine” at big corporations.

When choosing a company, candidates should consider the business model and team quality, especially the founders.

Industry trends constantly evolve; while staying aware of hot sectors is useful, continuously improving personal skills remains the most important long‑term strategy.