2023 China Software Engineer Salary Report: Top Cities, Companies & Trends

21CTO editorial: 2023 is almost over; this article examines how software engineer and IT talent salaries in China have changed this year.

Despite some IT companies laying off staff, new and growth companies still have high demand, especially in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Data from levels.fyi shows Chinese IT software engineers earn between ¥350,000 and ¥980,000 annually, with an average of ¥508,524.

Some earn over a million or several million.

While layoffs are rumored, diligent workers can still find new jobs quickly; staying at a good‑paying company is advisable.

Top three most generous large firms are Tencent, Alibaba, and Microsoft.

The most generous companies tend to be established tech firms, offering higher employee satisfaction.

The best‑paying cities: Beijing ranks first, followed closely by Guangzhou, then other Guangdong cities.

In Beijing, the average IT salary is ¥25,700 per month, ranging from ¥13,000 (entry) to ¥65,900 (high average), with higher peaks possible.

Beijing's Human Resources and Social Security Bureau released the 2023 Beijing Salary Big Data Report, based on 2022 sampling of over 1.6 million employees and 300 000 graduates.

The report shows overall salary growth in 2022, especially in capital market services, tech promotion, and high‑end manufacturing. Median salaries for the top five industries are: capital services ¥314,600, internet services ¥251,000, news & publishing ¥205,000, insurance ¥191,600, and pharma manufacturing ¥185,500.

Emerging professions such as new business models, digital jobs, and high‑tech sectors show strong salary advantages. The report also introduced salary data for "chief technicians" and "senior technicians".