Minimum wage in China

Set region by region, no single national rate

China has no single national minimum wage. Each province, autonomous region and municipality sets its own, usually in several tiers by city or area, with both a monthly and an hourly rate.

There is no single statutory figure to show for China.

Checked October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Check the date. Minimum wages change, in many countries every year. The figure above is the one in force at the date shown. Confirm the current amount with the official source below before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal or employment advice.

Who sets it

Provincial governments set the minimum wages under national rules, after consulting the trade union and employers' organisations, and report them to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

How it changes

The national rules require the rates to be reviewed at least every three years, and many provinces adjust them more often.

Who is covered, and who is treated differently

Within a province there are usually several tiers, with higher rates in the larger cities.
A separate hourly rate is set for part-time work.

What to watch for

There is no one figure for the country. Find the rate for the province and city where the work is done.

Understand the legal system first

China belongs to the Civil law family. How pay is regulated depends on how the legal system makes and applies labour law.

Read the China legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare China with another country →

Official sources

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China

Take it further

Employment Offer Letter template $5
A clear offer of work, pay and terms.
Independent Contractor Agreement template $5
Put freelance work and payment in writing.
Labor and Employment Law course $15
Wages, hours, contracts and dismissal.

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TheLawToKnow Tools’s Minimum Wage by Country guide is an educational overview. It is not legal or employment advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.