Which Tech Fields Paid the Most in 2017? Insights from China’s Internet Talent Market

2017 has passed, and the internet recruitment market has quietly changed. Compared with early 2017, interview invitations from internet finance and life‑service companies have dropped significantly, likely due to industry self‑regulation, while cloud computing and big data have dominated the high‑end talent market in the second quarter.

This report aggregates interview invitation data from 4,079 users on the 100offer platform in 2017, representing high‑end talent (annual salaries above 200k CNY) in major Chinese cities, and reflects the flow of the high‑end talent market.

1. Which internet sector has the highest average annual salary?

In the average salary ranking across internet domains, cloud computing, big data and gaming occupy the top three. Cloud computing companies on 100offer posted average interview‑invitation salaries exceeding 400,000 CNY, while the gaming sector, boosted by popular mobile games since last year, ranks second.

2. Which company size pays the most?

Companies that do not require financing offer the highest average interview‑invitation salaries, followed by D‑round, B‑round and listed companies. Typically, unfunded or listed firms have ample cash flow and mature operations, whereas early‑stage startups face tighter salary budgets amid a lingering capital winter.

3. Which 10 positions have the highest market demand?

Compared with Q1, most internet positions saw salary increases. Java engineers remain the most sought‑after role. Scala and algorithm positions rank second and third, reflecting strong demand for big‑data talent. Although architects’ salaries slipped slightly from Q1, they still represent a high‑income, high‑demand segment. Security engineers are the only other role experiencing a salary decline.

4. Which internet sector has the highest hiring demand?

In recent months, driven by the AI boom, cloud computing and big data have become the hottest hiring fields and are likely to remain dominant for the foreseeable future. Conversely, internet finance and life‑service sectors have seen reduced demand due to industry regulation and the collapse of many single‑model startups.

5. Which company size is most attractive to job seekers?

Mid‑size companies in B‑D rounds and large firms beyond D round attract job seekers almost equally, accounting for 34% and 33% respectively. Only 21% of candidates consider A‑round companies, and merely 12% are interested in angel‑stage startups.

6. Which company size hires the most?

In this quarter, nearly 40% of offers received by 100offer users came from B‑round and C‑round companies. After securing financing, firms typically invest heavily in recruitment expansion, making mid‑size companies the most active hiring segment.

7. Do younger or senior professionals attract more offers?

Overall, annual salaries increase with age. Professionals with 5‑7 years of experience are in a career growth phase and are the most popular. Candidates with 2‑4 years of experience receive comparable interview counts to those with 8‑10 years, but the latter earn about 100,000 CNY more on average. Those with over 10 years of experience receive the fewest interview invitations, indicating a market tilt toward younger talent.

8. Which sector has the youngest average age?

The recruitment industry itself has the youngest average age. Cloud computing and mobile internet fields require higher education and experience, so candidates are typically around 30 years old. The gaming sector, despite higher salaries, has an average entry age of about 36 years on the 100offer platform.

9. Salary comparison between first‑tier cities in two quarters

Overall, first‑tier city internet salaries rose compared with Q1. Hangzhou, after losing the salary champion position in Q1, reclaimed the top spot in Q2, largely due to high salaries from major firms like Alibaba and NetEase. Shenzhen’s average salary remained stable, while Guangzhou’s salaries have approached Shenzhen’s level, reflecting the Pearl River Delta’s growing attraction for internet companies and engineers. Shanghai is the only city among the five where average internet salaries slightly declined.

Source: 36 Data (36dsj.com). Original article available at the bottom of the original page.