Hiring for Technology in Mainland China
The 2025 Technology hiring market in Mainland China is operating at two speeds: high selectivity for permanent strategic leaders and a heavy reliance on contractors for project spikes.
Geopolitical factors and new regulations are driving a surge in localised, compliance-focused roles. This shift has created a talent gap, with high demand for technology managers who can navigate these complex requirements.
In-Demand Technology Roles in Mainland China
- Technical Product Leads
- Architects
- AI/Machine Learning Specialists
- Cybersecurity and Compliance Experts
In-Demand Technology Skills in Mainland China
Hard Skills
- Cloud computing (AWS, Azure, Alibaba Cloud)
- Data engineering and analytics
- Cybersecurity
- Generative AI integration and application
Soft Skills
- Business acumen
- Influence and leadership
- Agile learning
Up, Down, or Flat? Technology Salary Trends in Mainland China
Technology pay is currently polarised, with strong bargaining power and salary growth reserved for the top 10% of high-impact specialists. Compensation for the broader mid-to-senior cohort stabilises as companies prioritise cost optimisation for more replaceable roles.
Reward structures are evolving in 2026, shifting away from high base pay toward flexible packages that include performance-linked bonuses and long-term incentives.
Technology salaries in Mainland China
| Job Title |
Search job title
|
Sub Sector | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Title | Sector | Sub Sector | Location | Low | Average | High |
Head of Infrastructure Infrastructure Infrastructure |
Internet R&D | Infrastructure | Shanghai | ¥800,000 | ¥1,300,000 | ¥1,650,000 |
Infrastructure Architect Infrastructure Infrastructure |
Internet R&D | Infrastructure | Shanghai | ¥550,000 | ¥670,000 | ¥935,000 |
DevOps Infrastructure Infrastructure |
Internet R&D | Infrastructure | Shanghai | ¥345,000 | ¥415,000 | ¥550,000 |
Infrastructure Engineer Infrastructure Infrastructure |
Internet R&D | Infrastructure | Shanghai | ¥345,000 | ¥415,000 | ¥550,000 |
CTO Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥1,550,000 | ¥2,600,000 | ¥4,050,000 |
Tech VP Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥1,350,000 | ¥1,600,000 | ¥2,700,000 |
Technical Director Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥950,000 | ¥1,500,000 | ¥2,000,000 |
Technical Manager Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥850,000 | ¥980,000 | ¥1,380,000 |
Engineering Lead Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥670,000 | ¥880,000 | ¥1,250,000 |
Java Architect Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥850,000 | ¥960,000 | ¥1,450,000 |
Java Developer Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥320,000 | ¥390,000 | ¥520,000 |
C++ Architect Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥820,000 | ¥960,000 | ¥1,150,000 |
C++ Developer Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥320,000 | ¥390,000 | ¥520,000 |
Golang Architect Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥850,000 | ¥890,000 | ¥1,200,000 |
Golang Developer Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥360,000 | ¥450,000 | ¥550,000 |
C# Developer Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥360,000 | ¥450,000 | ¥550,000 |
Python Developer Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥360,000 | ¥450,000 | ¥560,000 |
PHP Developer Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥325,000 | ¥405,000 | ¥520,000 |
Node.JS Developer Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥330,000 | ¥460,000 | ¥650,000 |
Ruby on Rails Developer Backend Backend |
Internet R&D | Backend | Shanghai | ¥330,000 | ¥460,000 | ¥650,000 |
Head of Data Engineer Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥770,000 | ¥970,000 | ¥1,450,000 |
Data Engineering Lead Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥650,000 | ¥770,000 | ¥950,000 |
Data Architect Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥730,000 | ¥860,000 | ¥1,160,000 |
Data Engineer Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥440,000 | ¥570,000 | ¥780,000 |
Data Warehouse Architect Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥550,000 | ¥670,000 | ¥850,000 |
Data Warehouse Engineer Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥330,000 | ¥390,000 | ¥500,000 |
Chief Data Scientist Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥1,550,000 | ¥2,000,000 | ¥2,700,000 |
Data Director Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥1,300,000 | ¥1,600,000 | ¥2,300,000 |
Data Scientist Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥390,000 | ¥570,000 | ¥770,000 |
Head of Data Analysis Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥690,000 | ¥970,000 | ¥1,590,000 |
Data Analysis Manager Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥530,000 | ¥670,000 | ¥790,000 |
Data Analysis Expert Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥400,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥670,000 |
Data Analyst Data Data |
Internet R&D | Data | Shanghai | ¥330,000 | ¥460,000 | ¥570,000 |
Head of Front-end Front-end Front-end |
Internet R&D | Front-end | Shanghai | ¥660,000 | ¥890,000 | ¥1,270,000 |
Front-end Manager Front-end Front-end |
Internet R&D | Front-end | Shanghai | ¥530,000 | ¥670,000 | ¥800,000 |
Front-end Architect Front-end Front-end |
Internet R&D | Front-end | Shanghai | ¥670,000 | ¥740,000 | ¥860,000 |
Front-end Developer Front-end Front-end |
Internet R&D | Front-end | Shanghai | ¥270,000 | ¥400,000 | ¥550,000 |
Head of Mobile Development Front-end Front-end |
Internet R&D | Front-end | Shanghai | ¥670,000 | ¥790,000 | ¥1,160,000 |
iOS Architect Front-end Front-end |
Internet R&D | Front-end | Shanghai | ¥460,000 | ¥550,000 | ¥670,000 |
iOS Developer Front-end Front-end |
Internet R&D | Front-end | Shanghai | ¥330,000 | ¥400,000 | ¥460,000 |
Android Architect Front-end Front-end |
Internet R&D | Front-end | Shanghai | ¥460,000 | ¥530,000 | ¥660,000 |
Android Developer Front-end Front-end |
Internet R&D | Front-end | Shanghai | ¥330,000 | ¥400,000 | ¥460,000 |
Head of Testing Testing Testing |
Internet R&D | Testing | Shanghai | ¥670,000 | ¥800,000 | ¥1,150,000 |
Testing Director Testing Testing |
Internet R&D | Testing | Shanghai | ¥660,000 | ¥780,000 | ¥970,000 |
Testing Manager Testing Testing |
Internet R&D | Testing | Shanghai | ¥460,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥670,000 |
Testing Architect Testing Testing |
Internet R&D | Testing | Shanghai | ¥460,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥670,000 |
Software Development Engineer in Test Testing Testing |
Internet R&D | Testing | Shanghai | ¥360,000 | ¥440,000 | ¥590,000 |
Head of Algorithm Algorithm Algorithm |
Internet R&D | Algorithm | Shanghai | ¥1,690,000 | ¥2,400,000 | ¥2,900,000 |
Algorithm Manager Algorithm Algorithm |
Internet R&D | Algorithm | Shanghai | ¥950,000 | ¥1,300,000 | ¥1,560,000 |
Algorithm Expert Algorithm Algorithm |
Internet R&D | Algorithm | Shanghai | ¥760,000 | ¥830,000 | ¥1,300,000 |
Algorithm Engineer Algorithm Algorithm |
Internet R&D | Algorithm | Shanghai | ¥490,000 | ¥740,000 | ¥860,000 |
Product VP Product Product |
Internet Product | Product | Shanghai | ¥1,400,000 | ¥1,800,000 | ¥2,200,000 |
Product Director Product Product |
Internet Product | Product | Shanghai | ¥740,000 | ¥850,000 | ¥1,220,000 |
Product Manager Product Product |
Internet Product | Product | Shanghai | ¥400,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥690,000 |
User Product Manager Product Product |
Internet Product | Product | Shanghai | ¥400,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥690,000 |
Commercial Product Manager Product Product |
Internet Product | Product | Shanghai | ¥400,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥690,000 |
Strategic Product Manager Product Product |
Internet Product | Product | Shanghai | ¥430,000 | ¥550,000 | ¥700,000 |
Data Product Manager Product Product |
Internet Product | Product | Shanghai | ¥430,000 | ¥550,000 | ¥700,000 |
AI Product Manager Product Product |
Internet Product | Product | Shanghai | ¥430,000 | ¥550,000 | ¥700,000 |
Platform Product Manager Product Product |
Internet Product | Product | Shanghai | ¥430,000 | ¥550,000 | ¥700,000 |
COO Operation Operation |
Internet Operation | Operation | Shanghai | ¥1,100,000 | ¥1,600,000 | ¥2,650,000 |
Operation Director Operation Operation |
Internet Operation | Operation | Shanghai | ¥860,000 | ¥1,350,000 | ¥1,850,000 |
Operation Manager Operation Operation |
Internet Operation | Operation | Shanghai | ¥380,000 | ¥550,000 | ¥640,000 |
Business Intelligence Manager Data Data |
Corporate IT | Data | Shanghai | ¥440,000 | ¥700,000 | ¥1,100,000 |
CIO IT Management IT Management |
Corporate IT | IT Management | Shanghai | ¥1,200,000 | ¥1,900,000 | ¥3,650,000 |
Head of IT IT Management IT Management |
Corporate IT | IT Management | Shanghai | ¥940,000 | ¥1,200,000 | ¥1,600,000 |
CISO Information Security Information Security |
Corporate IT | Information Security | Shanghai | ¥930,000 | ¥1,200,000 | ¥1,860,000 |
Application Security Information Security Information Security |
Corporate IT | Information Security | Shanghai | ¥690,000 | ¥870,000 | ¥1,150,000 |
Network Security Information Security Information Security |
Corporate IT | Information Security | Shanghai | ¥400,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥660,000 |
Data Privacy Information Security Information Security |
Corporate IT | Information Security | Shanghai | ¥690,000 | ¥780,000 | ¥850,000 |
Digital Tech Head Digital Digital |
Corporate Digital | Digital | Shanghai | ¥970,000 | ¥1,270,000 | ¥1,880,000 |
Digital Product Manager Digital Digital |
Corporate Digital | Digital | Shanghai | ¥550,000 | ¥670,000 | ¥880,000 |
Digital Project Manager Digital Digital |
Corporate Digital | Digital | Shanghai | ¥450,000 | ¥600,000 | ¥850,000 |
Digital Business Analyst Digital Digital |
Corporate Digital | Digital | Shanghai | ¥390,000 | ¥540,000 | ¥800,000 |
Solution Architect Digital Digital |
Corporate Digital | Digital | Shanghai | ¥670,000 | ¥920,000 | ¥1,200,000 |
