2. table of contents
Introduction
About Hudson china
maximising value: the recruitment imperative
overall market trends
conclusion
market trends & salary tables
— accounting & finance
— advertising & communications
— automotive
— banking & financial services
— chemical & energy
— healthcare & life sciences
— human resources
— it&t
— legal
— manufacturing & industrial
— property & construction
— sales & marketing
— supply chain & procurement
research methodology
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2
3
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3. china | salary & employment insights 2012 1
Welcome to our China Salary & Employment Insights for 2012.
We conducted a comprehensive study of 385 employers and 2,734 employees in Asia.
We cross-referenced their answers with our own data to provide a specialist salary guide
that is both broad and deep.1
In keeping with our aim of providing our clients and candidates with the most up-to-date
industry insight and counsel, we’ve overlaid that data with our analysis of the findings
together with some points to take into account when considering salary packages.
Our recommendations are set in the context of the economically uncertain times that are fast becoming a fact
of life for most developed nations.
Over the next 12 months, the great test for organisations in China will be to equip themselves with the professionals
they need to move through the next phase of the economic cycle. With positive hiring intentions indicated by 60% of
employers surveyed, we can expect to see marked competition in the quest for talent in China.2
In such a climate, it’s vital to understand the significance of remuneration in attracting the right people to your
organisation. Overpaying can be as risky as underpaying. No organisation wants to be represented and staffed by
employees who are only there for the money. Salary is just one component — albeit a very significant one — in an
attractive employee value proposition.
We hope you will find our Salary & Employment Insights useful. As always, we welcome your feedback.
Mark Carriban
Managing Director, Greater China
introduction
1
Figures quoted are for China, Hong Kong and Singapore combined unless stated otherwise.
2
The Hudson Report, China, April — June 2012.
4. 2 china | salary & employment insights 2012
Working with many top global companies
on a regional basis, our range of industries
include Accounting & Finance, Advertising
& Communications, Automotive, Banking
& Financial Services, Chemical & Energy,
Healthcare & Life Sciences, Human
Resources, IT&T, Legal, Manufacturing
& Industrial, Property & Construction,
Sales & Marketing and Supply Chain
& Procurement.
More information is available at
china.hudson.com.
Hudson's team of dedicated specialist
consultants are trained to accurately
assess your organisation's needs and
help you discover exactly what you
require for current and future growth.
Drawing on personal and online
networks, our consultants actively
engage with a pool of top talent. All
our consultants have industry relevant
qualifications and experience, bringing
a closer understanding of the qualities
needed to succeed. In addition, our
range of proprietary tools, specialist
talent management and recruitment
expertise enables us to match
professionals with the right culture and
role, to ensure you are always building
a team geared toward high performance.
As an award-winning human resources
company, we pride ourselves on
connecting clients with seasoned
management in a diverse range of
industries, and we are committed
to providing the highest levels of
customer satisfaction.
Hudson (NASDAQ: HSON) is a leading
global provider of highly specialised
professional recruitment, recruitment
process outsourcing (RPO) and talent
management solutions, employing more
than 2,000 staff around the world, with
78 offices in more than 20 countries.
Our offices operate throughout Asia-
Pacific, North America and Europe. In
Asia-Pacific, we have offices in Hong
Kong, China, Singapore, Australia
and New Zealand. Hudson provides
professional HR services across
China through our offices in Beijing,
Guangzhou and Shanghai.
about hudson CHINA
5. china | salary & employment insights 2012 3
Yes
No
Not sure
% of respondents across Asia
0 10 20 30 50 706040
during 2011, have you found it difficult to find
the right people for your team?
fig
1
In addition, many multinational companies
are establishing or relocating their global
or Asia-Pacific headquarters to China,
further fuelling the demand for
appropriately skilled professionals.
Recruiting intentions are positive too;
60% of hiring managers in China say
they will increase permanent staff
numbers in 2012 (Fig 8).5
Competition for quality candidates is
intense — nearly two-thirds of hiring
managers in Asia (61%) found it
increasingly hard to secure the right
candidates for the job in 2011 (Fig 1).
The high cost of ‘cheap’ hires
The prevailing mood in this market is one
of cautious optimism: hiring intentions
are positive but conservative, and the
pressure is on to do more with less.
Nearly a fifth (18%) of hiring managers
are under pressure to improve the quality
of their hires, over a quarter (27%) are
tasked with controlling the cost of hires,
and more than half (55%) say they are
under pressure to do both.
In such testing times, the challenge
for organisations is not simply to stick
to hiring budgets, but to maximise the
value achieved from investment in
human capital. The lesson many
organisations are learning (at a time
when 64% of hires in China are
described as ‘bad’ or ‘average’6
) is
that sometimes the cheapest hires
can cost them most dearly.
Employers wishing to reduce the risk
in their investment must distinguish
between value and cost when recruiting,
and commit to attracting, motivating and
retaining the high performers who are of
greatest worth to the business.
Uncertainty is the new norm
‘Uncertain’ is the word most often used
to describe the global economy these
days. The combination of sovereign debt
issues overseas, volatile financial markets
and instability of global equity prices is
creating a particularly tough environment
for business leaders and organisations all
over the world.
China is faring far better than many more
developed economies. Although growth
in the world’s emerging economies is
expected to slow in the wake of the
global financial downturn3
, the Chinese
economy is still forecast to grow by 8.2%
in 2012, increasing to 8.6% for 2013.4
Maximising value:
the recruitment imperative
Nearly two-thirds (60%) of hiring managers in China say they
will increase permanent staff numbers in 2012.
3
World Economic Outlook Update — Global Recovery Stalls, Downside Risks Intensify, January 2012, International Monetary Fund, <http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/update/01/>.
4
China Quarterly Update — April 2012, The World Bank, <http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/2012/04/12/china-quarterly-update-april-2012>.
5, 6
The Hudson Report, China, April — June 2012.
6. 4 china | salary & employment insights 2012
CATEGORIES MEASURES
KNOW HOW Technical skills
Experience
CAN DO Competency
Attributes
WANT TO Career fit
Motivation
CURRENTFOCUS
EFFECTIVENESS
Low indicator
of performance
High indicator
of performance
hudson performance driver model™fig
3
KNOW HOW Technical testing
Skill testing
Resume screening
Background interviewing
Reference checking
CAN DO Behavioural interviewing
Assessment centres
Job trial
Personality testing
Intelligence testing
Business simulation
Role plays
WANT TO Cultural fit measures
62
32
6
TOOLS/PROCEDURES CURRENTLY BEING USED BY EMPLOYERS (%)fig
2
Reference checking (‘always’ or ‘often’
used by 95% of employers), resume
screening (‘always’ or ‘often’ used by
75%), and background interviews
(‘always’ or ‘often’ used by 75%)7
are
the most common techniques used in
the selection process. While these are
the simplest and quickest techniques
to measure, they are least effective
indicators of high performance.
Our unique proprietary recruitment
model, Hudson Difference™ (Fig 3)
assesses candidates against criteria
proven to accurately predict high
performance in a role. This specialised
methodology encompasses different
approaches to understand the technical
competence and experience required
for the job, and measures candidates’
motivational and behavioural capabilities.
Hudson research8
shows it is the
alignment of the latter two areas that
gives a clearer view of whether a
candidate could be a high performer
in a role. In fact, 60% of Asian survey
respondents were confident that robust
hiring practices had a significant impact
on successful hiring and subsequent
employee performance.9
Hudson Difference™ helps
organisations:
|| identify people who will be motivated
and engaged employees
|| recruit employees who will stay longer
and be high performers
|| select the best people to deliver
organisational strategy
|| consistently make superior hires
So how can employers determine which
potential employees (whether active or
passive candidates) are most deserving
of their investment?
predicting high performance
To achieve more positive outcomes,
employers must make hiring decisions
based on more than assessment of past
experience and technical skills.
60% of Asian survey respondents were confident that robust
hiring practices had a significant impact on successful hiring
and subsequent employee performance.
7, 8
Next Generation Recruitment: Battle Strategies for the Talent War, Hudson 20:20 Series, August 2011.
9
The Hudson Report, Asia, April — June 2012.
7. china | salary & employment insights 2012 5
if you are currently
considering a job change,
when would this likely happen?
56%31%
9%
13%
0–6 months
7–12 months
13–18 months
19–24 months
Not considering a job change
fig
4
The employee perspective
The Asian workforce is on the move
— nearly three-quarters (73%) of
professionals surveyed are considering
a change of jobs in 2012, with 56%
moving in the next six months (Fig 4).
Almost a quarter (23%) believe it will be
‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to find a similar job
with comparable pay and conditions.
The perceived ease of finding a similar
role is an indicator of the strength of
the Asian economy. Opportunities are
increasing and salaries are on the rise:
|| More than two-thirds (70%) of
respondents in Asia saw their salary
increase in 2011.
|| Well over a third (38%) of those
received a pay rise of 10% or more.
Yet in spite of having it so good, one
reason for moving is dissatisfaction with
pay. Our research shows more than three-
quarters (80%) of Asian professionals
believe they deserve a pay rise in 2012,
with more than one in three (37%) saying
they are not adequately remunerated for
their contribution in the workplace.
Organisations wanting to retain their
employees should note that more than
a quarter (27%) of respondents would
be motivated by an increase in salary
and more than a quarter (26%) would
be motivated to stay by better career
opportunities. Thirteen percent would
stay for greater seniority and
responsibility (Fig 6).
Assuming that respondents are happy
with their base annual salary, the survey
revealed that the most important benefits
for Asian professionals are bonuses (26%,
including short and long-term incentives),
more annual leave (14%), private health
insurance (15%), and flexible working
arrangements (9%) (Fig 7).
prioritising talent needs
If budgets are tight, identifying and
prioritising the different talent needs of
the organisation is essential. Employees
can be categorised as follows:
1. Strategic: people essential for
delivering business strategy and likely
to be the most challenging to source.
2. Critical: people who are important for
the day-to-day running of the business
but are not particularly hard to find.
3. Core: people who may be relatively
easy to find but can be high turnover.
Hard-to-fill strategic roles must be the
priority and afforded greatest share of
resources and investment. Similarly, if
new skills or expertise are needed to take
the organisation forward, there may be a
premium to pay to secure the person with
the most appropriate knowledge and
skill-set, particularly if they were not
looking for a new role in the first place.
Around three-quarters (73%) of Asian survey respondents
are considering a change of jobs in 2012.
% of respondents across Asia
8. 6 china | salary & employment insights 2012
In assessing their extra investment, just
under half (43%) said they saw real value
in paying the additional salary, with a
slight majority (52%) saying it was too
early to tell.
For the organisations that couldn’t or
wouldn’t stretch to accommodate larger
salary expectations, it is hard to quantify
the potential value lost by accepting
second-best. Competition for talented
employees is intensifying between Asian
employers: most (80%) are worried
about losing their high performers
in 2012 (Fig 5).
Which of the following would influence you most to stay
in your current role for the next 12 months?
fig
6
80%
20%
Yes
No
Are you concerned about
losing high performing
employees in 2012?
fig
5
candidate of choice had salary
expectations above their budgets.
Nearly half (48%) increased their salary
budget to secure the right person, but
of those that didn’t, nearly one in five
(17%) lost their candidate of choice,
more than half (60%) settled for their
second-choice candidate, and around
one in 10 (12%) changed the role to
justify the additional increase.
Where salary budgets were increased to
secure the right people, most employers
sought more value for their salary spend:
12% expected to see more years of
experience, 29% expected the employee
to have a particular strength in a specified
competency and 18% believed the
candidate should be a superior team
fit to justify their increased cost.
Salaries under pressure
Too often recruitment is cost-driven
and is compromised by time constraints.
Cost-efficiency is frequently cited as
a reason for compromise. Such corner-
cutting can lead to expensive mistakes
where poor hires cause untold damage
to an organisation, having a detrimental
effect on culture, morale, productivity
and, ultimately, profits.
In fact, more than half (52%) of companies
in Asia say that with hindsight they would
have done more to test and understand
candidates’ competencies and abilities,
to ensure the value of their investment.
This is particularly pertinent in a climate
where most hiring managers (85%)
say that, during the hiring process, the
Most employers (80%) are worried about losing their high
performers in 2012.
% of respondents across Asia
9. china | salary & employment insights 2012 7
Bonuses
Increased superannuation
Private health insurance
Income protection insurance
Death/disability insurance
Flexible working arrangements
Company motor vehicle
Car allowances
Gym membership
Paid paternity leave
Others
Paid maternity leave
(above govt allowance)
Increased annual leave
% of respondents across Asia
0 5 10 15 3020 25
benefits offered as compared to what employees want.
Employers giving
Employees want
fig
7
BASE SALARY REMAINS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MEANS OF
REWARDING EMPLOYEES.
|| Gen Y professionals (born 1980–
1994) are looking for bonuses
including short and long-term
incentives (25%), more annual leave
(15%) and private health insurance
(13%). Just over one in 10 (12%)
respondents cited flexible working
arrangements as a key element of
their reward package.
|| Gen X professionals (born 1965–
1979) are seeking: bonuses including
short and long-term incentives (24%),
more annual leave (14%), private
health insurance (13%) and flexible
working arrangements (11%).
|| Baby boomer professionals (born
1946–1964) want bonuses including
short and long-term incentives (23%),
private health insurance (14%), more
annual leave (10%) and flexible
working arrangements (9%).
The benefits bias
Above and beyond annual base salary,
the top three staff benefits offered by
employers are bonuses (23%), private
health insurance (16%) and death/
disability insurance (14%) (Fig 7). Base
salary remains the single most important
means of rewarding employees.
Employers without deep pockets might
do well to tailor their benefits packages
to individual employees since different
people have different wants and needs.
Hudson research revealed the following
reward priorities beyond a competitive
salary package:
Figures are across the whole sample, not by generation.
10. 8 china | salary & employment insights 2012
|| Salaries are rising: more than half
of employers (56%) increased base
salaries between 2% and 7% in 2011
and similar levels of increase are
forecast for 2012.
|| Non-monetary rewards are increasingly
important: if a preferred candidate has
multiple offers, bespoke incentives such
as more annual leave, personal and
professional development opportunities
and flexible working practices can help
make one employer significantly more
attractive than another.
Singapore
China
Hong Kong
Asia
% of respondents
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Does your team/business unit expect to increase/
decrease its permanent staff levels in 2012?
Increase
No change
Decrease
fig
8
Key trends identified by
Hudson include:
|| A cautiously confident climate in Asia:
nearly three-quarters of organisations
describe their sentiment as ‘cautiously
optimistic’ (53%) or ‘upbeat and
opportunistic’ (19%).
|| Workforce planning skills are in short
supply: Hudson research shows 53%
of organisations are ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’
under-resourced.10
Many employers are
looking for people who can help them
navigate the skills shortages.
|| Hiring intentions are up: 60% of hiring
managers in China say they will be
increasing permanent staff numbers
in 2012 (Fig 8).
|| Talented managers are thin on the
ground: almost half (45%) of Asia’s
employers are finding it ‘very difficult’ to
source senior and middle management.
|| Demand for a more rigorous
approach to recruitment: more than
half of companies (52%) believe
they should do more to test and
discover candidates’ competencies
and abilities.
overall market trends
10
Next Generation Recruitment: Battle Strategies for the Talent War, Hudson 20:20 Series, August 2011.
Almost half (45%) of Asia’s employers are finding it ‘very
difficult’ to source senior and middle management.
11. china | salary & employment insights 2012 9
If you would like to find out more about
how Hudson can help you source,
manage and retain the best talent for
your business, please contact
sh.marketing@hudson.com.
Alternatively, if you are considering
looking for a new role, why not let us help
you find an employer who will recognise
and appropriately reward you. Please
send your resume to:
Beijing
bjresume@jobs.hudson.com
Guangzhou
gzresume@jobs.hudson.com
Shanghai
shresume@jobs.hudson.com
We look forward to working with you.
|| Hiring the best person for the job by
assessing them for motivation, attitude,
behaviours and cultural fit, as well as
technical skills and expertise.
|| Offering attractive remuneration
packages, tailored where possible
to the needs and wants of each
individual employee.
We developed the Hudson China Salary
& Employment Insights with the aim of
providing clients and candidates with the
most up-to-date industry insight and
counsel. We hope it has given you food
for thought.
We now live in a world where economic
uncertainty has become the norm, creating
new challenges for organisations around
the globe. Many employers report they are
‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ under-resourced and
talented professionals are in demand. The
pressure is still on to do more with less;
organisations must evolve to survive.
There is no blueprint for this process of
evolution — but there is one characteristic
common to organisations that not only
survive but also thrive. These organisations
invest in their human capital and embed
people-centric policies that include a
commitment to:
conclusion
13. china | salary & employment insights 2012 11accounting & finance
accounting & Finance
|| Superior soft skills are much sought
after: employers are putting greater
emphasis on capabilities beyond
core finance, including leadership
qualities; the ability to negotiate with
and influence others; interpersonal and
communications skills and the ability to
multi-task and manage time effectively.
|| Growing appetite for analysis and
compliance skills: commercial finance
planners and analysts, pricing analysts,
compliance professionals and forensic
accountants are always in demand.
|| Relevant industry experience is
rewarded: employers are looking for
talented finance professionals with
a strong track record in a relevant
industry. This trend is particularly
notable in the new boom sectors of
private equity/venture capital, luxury
retail, healthcare, e-commerce, new
energy and property.
|| Finance roles are evolving: the market
is seeing a shift in demand away from
traditional accounting positions to
commercial finance functions, such
as business control, pricing and
costing, as well as finance planners
and analysts. Sophisticated business
acumen is an important prerequisite
for such roles.
|| Growing awareness of the need for a
strategic approach to recruitment: this
is now a must for senior, business-
critical and hard-to-fill roles.
|| Remuneration is rising: salaries have
increased by about 10% over the last
18 months. Salaries are forecast to rise
more steeply as talent shortages bite
in the Chinese market; candidates
are now seeking more generous
increments than previously seen here.
adding value at every level
|| Tax talent commands top salaries:
as more and more companies
establish regional headquarters
in China, employers are looking to
recruit in-house tax experts who will
understand their business better
than external advisors. The talent
pool is limited, principally comprising
professionals from the big four
international CPA firms. Companies
are competing for the same talent,
which is driving salaries up and
resulting in a situation where tax
experts are paid more than other
finance functions at similar levels.
14. 12 china | salary & employment insights 2012
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
cfo
Medium/Large Firm 15+ 1,300–3,000
Small Firm 15+ 800–1,500
regional financial director
Medium/Large Firm 13+ 600–2,000
Small Firm 13+ 550–1,500
regional financial controller
Medium/Large Firm 13+ 500–1,500
Small Firm 13+ 450–800
country financial controller
Medium/Large Firm 10+ 500–1,000
Small Firm 10+ 400–700
finance/accounting manager
Medium/Large Firm 8+ 250–600
Small Firm 8+ 200–400
planning & analysis manager
Medium/Large Firm 8+ 300–900
Small Firm 8+ 250–500
financial analyst
Senior Analyst 5–7 300–600
Analyst 3–5 150–300
financial accountant
Senior Accountant 4–6 150–300
Accountant 3–4 60–150
16. 14 china | salary & employment insights 2012
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
internal audit
Director 12+ 800–1,200
Manager/Senior Manager 7–10 500–800
Auditor/Senior Auditor 3–6 150–450
TAX & AUDIT PROFESSIONAL FROM PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Audit/Tax — Director 12+ 800–1,300
Audit/Tax — Senior Manager 9–12 600–900
Audit/Tax — Manager 6–9 350–550
Audit/Tax — Senior Associate 3–5 160–280
17. china | salary & employment insights 2012 15
advertising & communications
digital expertise within their own
marketing teams. As a consequence,
clients are competing with advertising
agencies for the same talent pool.
|| New marketing media demand
specialists: professionals with skills
in search engine optimisation (SEO),
search engine marketing (SEM), data
management and e-commerce
continue to be in big demand in
China as advertisers connect with
customers online.
|| Chinese expertise is a must: the
biggest demand is for advertising
and communications professionals
who speak and read Chinese and have
substantial local market experience.
Expatriates without experience of
working in China and who do not speak
Chinese are finding it more difficult to
work here. This is particularly true in
advertising, where agencies cannot
afford to employ those who need time
to orientate themselves to China’s
fast-changing media landscape.
|| Internal recruitment teams are on the
rise: many of the big marketing and
communication firms are establishing
in-house recruitment functions in an
effort to contain recruitment costs in
a high-turnover market, where staff
turnover of 30% to 40% per annum
is not unusual.
|| Desperate times mean desperate
measures: acute shortages of digital/
new media talents are forcing firms to
adopt aggressive poaching strategies
to win talent. Local Chinese mid to
senior level professionals are most
vulnerable to poaching, because they
have highly coveted language skills
plus local market knowledge.
|| Expatriates are losing privileges:
it is becoming less common for
expatriates to command premium
salaries for working in China. Many
multinational firms now embrace
localisation for top management. The
gap between packages for expatriates
and local Chinese talent is narrowing,
with traditional expatriate benefits
such as housing and living allowances
being phased out.
digitally-driven
|| Traditional media are in decline: as
the power of the Chinese internet and
digital media become apparent, the
influence of traditional media is
becoming diluted. In-demand skills
of advertising professionals in every
discipline or department, from account
handling to creative, media, planning
and research, are now affected by the
growth of digital marketing and are
changing as a result. Every advertising
professional needs to have the
understanding and skills to exploit
these media to clients’ advantage.
|| Digital talent is hot property: many
of the biggest advertisers have
announced increased investment
in digital marketing for 2012. Such
investment often means these
companies are looking to acquire
advertising & communications
18. 16 china | salary & employment insights 2012
advertising agencies
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
management
CEO/Regional Director 20+ 2,500+
Managing Director 15+ 1,800–2,500+
General Manager 10+ 1,400–1,800
Director of Client Services 10+ 800–1,400
account management
Regional Business Director 10+ 900–1,300
Regional Account Director 8+ 800–1,200
Business Director 10+ 700–1,100
Group Account Director 9+ 600–800
Senior Account Director 8+ 450–680
Account Director 6+ 220–480
Associate Account Director 5+ 180–250
Account Manager/Senior Account Manager 3+ 145–240
Account Executive 1+ 50–120
digital
Digital Director 8+ 600–1,000
Digital Manager 5+ 400–600
in-house digital
Digital Media Director/Senior Digital
Media Manager
10+ 700–1,000
Digital Media Manager 6+ 300–600
19. china | salary & employment insights 2012 17advertising & communications
advertising agencies
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
planning
Regional Planning Director 15+ 1,200–1,600
Head of Planning 12+ 800–1,200
Senior Planner 5+ 300–700
Planner 3+ 140–300
creative
Executive Creative Director 12+ 1,600–2,000
Group/Senior Creative Director 10+ 1,000–1,400
Creative Director 9+ 650–1,000
Associate Creative Director/
Creative Group Head
7+ 380–500
Art Director 5+ 180–350
Project Manager 6+ 80–180
Traffic Manager 5+ 70–140
Head of Copywriting 7+ 250–400
English Copywriter 4+ 180–300
Local Language Copywriter 4+ 120–180
20. 18 china | salary & employment insights 2012
media
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
Regional Media Director 15+ 1,400–1,800
Executive Media Director 12+ 900–1,300
Media Director 10+ 500–800
Associate Media Director 8+ 400–550
Head of Search 10+ 800–1,200
Search Director 8+ 500–800
Associate Search Director 6+ 300–450
in-house media
Regional Media Director 15+ 1,500–2,400
Media Director 12+ 800–1,200
Media Manager 6+ 300–500
planning
Media Planning Director 6+ 300–600
Associate Planning Director 4+ 240–450
Media Planning Manager 3+ 160–250
buying
Media Buying Director 8+ 600–800
Associate Media Buying Director 6+ 400–550
Media Buying Manager 3+ 150–200
digital
Head of Digital 10+ 900–1,300
Digital Director 8+ 600–900
21. china | salary & employment insights 2012 19advertising & communications
media
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
digital (cont.)
Digital Media Planning Director 6+ 380–600
Digital Associate Media Planning Director 5+ 300–400
Digital Media Manager 4+ 220–300
public relations
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
public relations agencies
Managing Director/General Manager 20+ 1,500–2,000+
Practice Head 15+ 600–800+
Account Director 10+ 360–480
Account Manager 5+ 180–240
in-house
Regional Director, Corporate Communications 15+ 800–1,200
Director, Corporate Communications 12 600–800
Marketing Communications Director 10+ 500–800
Regional Manager, Marketing Communications 8+ 450–700
Marketing Communications Manager 6+ 300–500
Manager, Advertising & Branding 10+ 500–1,200
Head of Brand & Communications 10+ 500–800
Public Relations Manager 6+ 300–450
Events Manager 4+ 200–350
22. 20 china | salary & employment insights 2012
automotive
|| Expertise in electric vehicle technology
is an emerging skill set: with the
Chinese government promoting the
use of electric vehicles, demand for
expertise in this area is expected
to grow over the next few years.
|| Salaries are increasing: talent
shortages have driven salaries up by
8% to 10% overall during the last 12
months. Moreover, hiring managers are
now willing to pay as much as 20%
above the market rate for specific skill
sets such as research and development
for electric vehicle technology and
product marketing positions.
|| Talent is in short supply: there is
often a significant gap between
hiring managers’ and candidates’
salary expectations. Hiring managers
have strict salary budgets, while
candidates have high expectations.
However, candidates are aware that
talent is short in the market and will
only move for attractive increments.
|| Status is all-important: the Chinese
culture places a high value on social
status, so organisations need to be
flexible about job titles, particularly for
client-facing roles. They also need to
be creative in their incentive schemes.
|| Staff retention demands innovation:
many companies recognise that when
talent is scarce, it is particularly
important to nurture and develop
their existing high performers. Staff
retention initiatives include retention
bonuses, savings plans, training and
assignments overseas.
driving the global market
|| China is now the world’s largest
automotive market: more and more US
and European automotive companies
are moving their research and
development capabilities into China,
particularly Shanghai, to create cars
that suit the local market. Production
jobs are moving out of Shanghai into
second and third-tier cities where
costs are lower.
|| Employers are looking for multi-
talented professionals: strong
technical and English language skills
are in demand for both research and
development and product marketing
roles. This trend is forecast to
continue for the foreseeable future.
23. china | salary & employment insights 2012 21automotive
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
management
General Manager — Country 15+ 1,500+
General Manager — Country (Sales Focus) 15+ 800–1,500
sales
National Sales Director 15+ 800–1,200
Regional Sales Director 8–12 400–800
Regional Sales Manager 8–15 250–500
Area Sales Manager 5–10 200–400
Key Account Manager 5–10 250–400
marketing
Marketing Director 10–15+ 600–1,200
Marketing Manager 8–15 400–650
Business Development Manager 8–15 300–500
Product Manager 5–10 250–500
manufacturing & engineering
Manufacturing Director 15+ 500–1,000
Manufacturing Manager 5–10 250–500
Engineering Director 15+ 600–1,200
Engineering Manager 5–10 400–600
Quality Director 15+ 500–900
Senior Program Manager 10+ 500–800
Plant Manager 10+ 400–900
Operations Manager 8–10 400–700
25. china | salary & employment insights 2012 23banking & financial services
banking & financial services
|| Security skills are more sought after:
as more joint ventures in security are
established, demand for skills in
underwriting, compliance and related
disciplines will grow.
|| Banks are seeking all-rounders:
banks and other financial institutions
continue to value professionals with
broad experience and good soft skills.
As these institutions expand, they will
need to hire more people, including
risk and compliance professionals,
to ensure they meet regulatory
requirements. Other competencies
like AML, fraud investigation and
audit skills will remain in demand.
|| Euro zone turmoil has hindered
growth: in the wake of the uncertainty
in Europe, hiring levels are anticipated
to be conservative for 2012,
particularly for European-based
international banks.
|| Cost control is on the agenda: in
the post-GFC business climate,
containing costs is more important
than ever to foreign banks. This
sometimes results in them rejecting
high-performing candidates who have
beyond-budget salary expectations
in favour of mediocre candidates
who represent a lower short-term
cost to the organisation. Sometimes
this situation arises as a result of
internal equity issues.
investing for the future
|| English-language skills are now
expected: strong English language
communication skills no longer
command a premium.
|| Senior-level people skills are in
demand: talented managers that can
build teams and develop a business
are always needed and well-rewarded.
Chinese employers also value the
ability to forge strong relationships
with industry; banks in particular will
pay a premium for this.
|| Big-picture thinking is attractive to
employers: the Chinese market is
hungry for people with strategic
planning skills who can see the
big picture in business.
26. 24 china | salary & employment insights 2012
consumer banking
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
personal banking/relationship management
Vice President 11+ 500+
Assistant Vice President 6–10 300–500
Associate 3–5 150–300
wealth management — sales
Vice President 11+ 350+
Assistant Vice President 6–10 200–350
Associate 3–5 80–200
product management/marketing
Vice President 11+ 450+
Assistant Vice President 6–10 300–450
Associate 3–5 180–300
credit risk — secured/unsecured
Vice President 11+ 400–600
Assistant Vice President 6–10 300–450
Associate 3–5 180–300
operations
Vice President 11+ 360+
Assistant Vice President 6–8 200–360
Associate 3–5 100–180
27. china | salary & employment insights 2012 25banking & financial services
corporate banking
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
cash management — product management/marketing
Vice President 11+ 400–600
Assistant Vice President 6–10 300–450
Associate 3–5 200–360
cash management — sales
Vice President 11+ 450–700
Assistant Vice President 6–10 350–500
Associate 3–5 200–350
trade finance — product management/marketing
Vice President 11+ 500–900
Assistant Vice President 6–10 300–600
Associate 3–5 200–350
trade finance — sales
Director/Senior Vice President 12+ 840–1,200
Vice President 10+ 480–700
Assistant Vice President 6–10 300–450
Associate 3–5 180–300
28. 26 china | salary & employment insights 2012
corporate banking
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
corporate — relationship management
Director/Senior Vice President 10+ 720–1,400
Vice President 8–12 480–720
Assistant Vice President 5–8 300–480
Manager 3–5 180–300
corporate — credit risk
Vice President (and above) 8+ 500–1,200
Assistant Vice President 5–8 300–550
Associate 3–4 200–350
treasury sales/global markets sales/fixed income sales
Director 10+ 800–1,500
Vice President (and above) 8–10 600–800
Assistant Vice President 6–8 360–600
Manager 3–5 200–300
(cont.)
29. china | salary & employment insights 2012 27banking & financial services
investment banking and global markets
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
front office — corporate finance
Managing Director 16+ 1,600–2,000
Director 10–15 1,200–1,800
Vice President 7–10 500–1,200
Associate 4–6 300–500
Analyst 1–3 200–360
front office — equity research
Managing Director 13+ 1,500–2,000
Director 7–12+ 1,000–1,700
Vice President 5–8 700–1,000
Associate Vice President 6–10 500–750
Associate 4–5 360–550
Analyst 1–3 200–360
front office — debt capital markets
Director 10–15 1,500–3,000
Vice President 10+ 1,000–1,500
Associate Vice President 6–10 700–900
Associate 4–5 300–500
Analyst 1–3 200–300
30. 28 china | salary & employment insights 2012
middle office, back office and finance/accounting roles
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
middle/back office — market risk
Vice President (and above) 7+ 500–1,200
Assistant Vice President 5–8 350–500
Associate 2–4 250–350
middle/back office — counterparty/credit risk
Vice President (and above) 9+ 550–1,000
Assistant Vice President 5–8 300–550
Associate 2–4 250–400
middle/back office — operations risk
Vice President (and above) 8+ 450–1,000
Assistant Vice President 5–8 300–450
Associate 2–4 180–300
middle/back office — compliance
Vice President (and above) 8+ 550–1,200
Assistant Vice President 5–8 300–600
Associate 2–4 180–350
back office — operations
Vice President (and above) 8+ 420–1,000
Assistant Vice President 5–8 200–450
Associate 2–4 125–250
internal audit
Vice President (and above) 8+ 450–800
Assistant Vice President 5–8 300–500
Associate 2–4 180–350
31. china | salary & employment insights 2012 29banking & financial services
middle office, back office and finance/accounting roles
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
financial control/financial reporting
Vice President (and above) 11+ 450–700
Assistant Vice President 6–10 350–500
Associate 3–5 200–300
management reporting
Vice President (and above) 11+ 300–600
Assistant Vice President 6–10 200–250
Associate 3–5 150–250
insurance
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
actuary
Chief Actuary 12+ 1,500–3,000
Product Actuary Head/Valuation Head 10+ 600–900
Actuarial Manager 6+ 400–700
Actuarial Specialist 1–5 100–400
underwriting
Underwriting Head 10+ 500–800
Underwriting Manager 6+ 300–500
Underwriting Specialist 1–6 80–400
front desk
Channel Head 15+ 1,500–3,000
Channel Senior Manager 8+ 600–1,000
Channel Manager 5–8 300–500
32. 30 china | salary & employment insights 2012
chemical & energy
|| People management skills are highly
valued: as increasing numbers of
multinational companies establish
global and regional offices in China,
demand for professionals with
senior-level management experience
grows accordingly.
|| Professionals with a broad skills base
are most popular: candidates who have
wide experience, commercial acumen,
analytical abilities plus technical and
communication skills have the most
number of options in the job market.
New job titles such as technical,
platform and forward marketing
manager are now being used to
describe these broader-based roles.
|| Geography is determining demand:
as the multinationals move into
Beijing and Shanghai to establish
management hubs and research and
development centres for the region,
the manufacturing sides of their
operations are moving out to second
and third-tier cites in a bid to contain
costs. This has resulted in a slowing
demand for staff in the main cities.
|| Benefits are bigger and better:
remuneration packages are becoming
much more generous. In addition to an
attractive base salary, many employees
are now enjoying benefits including
stock options, saving plans, retention
bonuses, re-education programmes
and additional training.
|| Employers’ and employees’
expectations are aligned: with many
employers offering such generous
salary packages, candidates’
expectations are frequently met
or even exceeded.
a powerful new market
|| Government policies are regulating
growth: a major contributor to the
Chinese economy, the chemical
industry in China is both mature and
stable. Government policies designed
to protect the environment and the
health of the population ensure the
industry only grows at a sustainable
rate. In practice, this means there are
a number of increasingly rigorous
standards and criteria that must be
met by chemical companies wanting
to enter the Chinese market. This
dynamic ensures professionals well
versed in government policy and
administrative procedures are always
in demand by local and international
employers in the sector.
33. china | salary & employment insights 2012 31chemical & energy
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
General Manager — Regional 10+ 1,000–2,500
General Manager — Country (Sales Focus) 10+ 800–1,800
Head of Procurement 10+ 700–1,200
Regional Quality Director 10–15+ 450–750
Operations Director 8–15 350–700
Plant Manager 10–15 450–800
Supply Chain/Procurement Manager 8–10 250–500
Technical Sales Manager 5+ 250–500
Regional Sales Director 10–15 600–1,200
Regional Sales Manager 8–10 350–800
Logistics Director 15+ 600–900
Logistics Manager 5–10 250–500
Manufacturing Director 8–10 500–850
Manufacturing Manager 5–10 350–500
Engineering Director 10+ 320–600
Engineering Manager 3–4+ 200–350
Marketing Director 10–15 700–1,200
Marketing Manager 8–10 400–800
Project Manager 2–5+ 200–500
Senior Project Engineer 5+ 120–200
Project Engineer 2–4 90–100
34. 32 china | salary & employment insights 2012
healthcare & life sciences
|| Industry knowledge and experience
is essential: for technical roles
including clinical operations, research
and development and medical and
regulatory affairs, a good education
and in-depth research knowledge
will command higher salaries.
|| Remuneration packages are generous:
on top of basic salaries, employees
typically enjoy an annual bonus of
15% to 25% plus additional benefits.
|| Companies are putting culture first:
forward-thinking employers are
recognising the value of a strong
and positive corporate culture.
A commitment to creating such a
culture includes adopting measures
such as increased basic salaries and
ensuring that employees have a
reasonable workload.
|| Business developers are hot property
(license-in and out and portfolio
management): professionals with
mergers and acquisitions experience
as well as those who have the capability
to source new products will be in great
demand in 2012 as the healthcare
market becomes increasingly complex
and competitive.
|| Scientific roles are most needed:
research and development and clinical
operations functions are creating a
strong demand for staff. However,
the appetite for sales and marketing
professionals is easing as these
are mature business functions.
|| Cash is king: healthcare employers
tend to pay higher salaries and
incentives rather than investing
in longer-term retention schemes.
|| Candidates want more: candidates’
expectations are high when moving
roles — many are looking for increases
of up to 30% to switch employers.
Hiring managers are only willing to
pay such a premium for exceptional
qualifications and experience.
success is home grown
|| A complex market demands the
industry’s best: healthcare companies
in China have a demanding year ahead
as a result of the challenges of the
domestic environment combined with
high global expectations.
|| Proven success is a must: candidates
for sales and marketing roles need
to be results-driven and demonstrate
a successful track record in their
careers to date. Employers recognise
the value of strong relationships and
networks, and reward employees
accordingly. This trend is forecast to
continue as the market becomes even
more competitive.
35. china | salary & employment insights 2012 33healthcare & life sciences
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
Managing Director/Vice President/
General Manager
18+ 1,300–2,450
Business Unit Head 15+ 1,300–2,450
Marketing Director 10+ 760–900
Medical Director 9+ 640–900
Regulatory Affairs Director 10+ 680–950
National Sales Director 10+ 750–975
Clinical Quality Assurance Director 10+ 630–750
Marketing Manager 8+ 440–560
Senior Business Development Manager 5–10 320–600
Senior Regulatory Manager 4+ 240–400
National Sales Manager 10+ 440–560
Group Product Manager 5–7 320–440
Regional Sales Manager 7–10 280–400
Clinical Quality Assurance Manager 8–10 240–400
Senior Product Manager 4–6 240–360
Senior Medical Affairs Manager 5+ 200–400
Clinical Affairs Manager/Pre-Clinical Manager 4+ 200–400
Product Manager 3–4 180–240
36. 34 china | salary & employment insights 2012
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
District Sales Manager 4–6 140–230
Medical Science Liaison 1–4 140–220
Associate Product Manager 2–4 150–180
Regulatory Junior Staff 1–4 130–150
Sales/Medical Representative 1–4 70–100
Clinical Affairs Staff 1–3 100–180
37. china | salary & employment insights 2012 35human resources
human resources
|| Specialist skills in compensation
and benefits are highly valued: as
organisations compete for talent they
are looking for professionals who can
help ensure their salary and benefits
budget is invested strategically and
to the greatest commercial benefit.
Highly valued by organisations with
a strong commercial focus, this area
is usually well paid.
|| Organisational development is
increasingly important; in addition to
conventional training and development
programmes, corporate universities
are becoming more common. The
breadth of opportunities and initiatives
created by some employers means
organisational development is
becoming a discrete discipline.
|| Talent management is an in-house
function: the role of the senior HR
professional typically now also
encompasses talent acquisition and
development, increasingly crucial
business functions as the war for talent
intensifies in China. Consequently it is
a results-driven and well-rewarded
niche of the HR profession.
|| Employee relations expertise is
becoming increasingly desirable: local
and multinational employers alike are
looking for high-calibre employee
relations professionals.
|| Demand drives salaries: there is a
limited supply of professionals within
the most in-demand HR disciplines
(compensation and benefits,
organisational development, and talent
acquisition and management). As a
result, pay has risen sharply in the last
12 months, particularly for those with
at least five years of direct experience.
commercial skills are
highly prized
|| Broad spectrum HR capability is much
sought after: mid to senior-level HR
professionals who are able to add
value to businesses are the most highly
paid HR people in China. A positive
attitude, good communication skills
and HR knowledge are consistently
in demand at all levels.
|| Centres of excellence are increasing:
many large companies have embraced
the centre of excellence as part of
their business model. In practice this
may mean that specialist HR roles
operate as part of a bespoke centre
of excellence function.
38. 36 china | salary & employment insights 2012
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
hr generalist
Regional Director 15+ 1,000–2,500
Director 15+ 700–1,500
Regional Manager 6–12 700–1,000
Manager 6–12 300–700
Regional Officer 2–5 150–240
Officer 2–5 80–150
recruitment
Regional Director 15+ 1,100+
Director 15+ 700–1,200
Regional Manager 6–12 300–800
Manager 6–12 300–600
Regional Officer 2–5 160–250
Officer 2–5 80–150
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Regional Director 15+ 1,000+
Director 15+ 700–1,600
Regional Manager 6–12 300–800
Manager 6–12 300–600
Regional Officer 2–5 140–250
Officer 2–5 100–200
39. china | salary & employment insights 2012 37human resources
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Regional Director 15+ 1,000+
Director 15+ 800–1,200
Regional Manager 6–12 350–800+
Manager 6–12 300–700
Regional Officer 2–5 160–300
Officer 2–5 100–160
ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Regional Organisational Development Director 15+ 1,000–1,500
Organisational Development Director 12+ 700–1,300
Regional Organisational Development Manager 6–12 700–1,000
Organisational Development Manager 6–12 300–700
Regional Organisational Development
Consultant
6–12 600–900
Organisational Development Consultant 4–10 400–700
40. 38 china | salary & employment insights 2012
it&t
|| Online marketing is driving new roles:
internet marketing is now a core
function for many organisations, who
are looking for specialists to help them
harness the power of the internet and
maximise their marketing spend. New
roles, such as media effectiveness
manager, are on the increase.
|| Sophisticated sales and communication
skills are in demand: more people are
needed to sell IT solutions or high-end
products. Conversely the appetite for
low-end hardware selling skills is easing.
|| Budgets are tight: companies are
looking to make the best possible hire
for the lowest cost. This has resulted
in some organisations marketing a
role with a flexible salary package,
to attract the most experienced
candidate, although in reality such
flexibility may not exist. Consequences
include frustrated candidates walking
away from the negotiating table and
delays in securing appropriate people.
|| Companies are seeking more value
from their hires: many organisations are
realising that the right candidate for a
role is not always the most experienced
one, and that a candidate should have
room to grow within a new position.
Incorporating 360-degree assessments,
interviewing candidates of different
levels, and being prepared to invest
in induction programmes to help
employees adapt to the company culture
can all help ensure a successful hire.
a fast evolving market
|| System integration expertise is highly
sought after: this combination of
hardware, software, networking,
storage and security experience is
now commanding premium salaries
as demand grows for a relatively small
pool of talented professionals in the
Chinese market.
|| The IT sector is evolving — and
fast: the IT industry has advanced
from simple provision of network
infrastructure to development of
end-user applications (such as iPhone
apps), business consulting services
and strategy planning. Employers are
now looking for people who bring
excellent communication skills and
commercial awareness as well as
deep technological expertise.
41. china | salary & employment insights 2012 39it&t
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
it&t
General Manager/Managing Director/CEO/
Country Manager
15+ 1,000–3,000
Vice President of Sales 15+ 1,000–1,800
Sales Director 12+ 800–1,600
Sales Manager 8+ 500–1,200
Professional Services Executive/Director 10+ 800–1,500
Post-Sales Executive/Director 8+ 700–1,300
Pre-Sales Executive/Director 8+ 700–1,300
Project Manager/Director 8+ 400–1,000
Marketing and Product Manager 8+ 300–1,000
Systems Architect 7+ 300–800
Business Analyst 7+ 200–500
financial services it
Regional Functional Head 10+ 800–2,000
Project Manager with Financial
Product Knowledge
8+ 400–1,200
Back Office Applications Support 6+ 280–500
Infrastructure Project Manager 5+ 250–450
Java (Core Java, J2EE) 4+ 170–300
.NET/C# 4+ 160–300
42. 40 china | salary & employment insights 2012
legal
|| Increased need for labour law and
conflict resolution professionals: as
the Chinese labour market matures,
specialists in these areas are in great
demand and command high salaries.
|| Investment is booming: as the Chinese
investment market increases in size and
value, out-bound investment and capital
market staff are highly sought after.
|| Easing demand for generalists:
the need for legal all-rounders such
as lawyers who carry out general
corporate, foreign direct investment,
real estate, banking and finance work,
is drying up. This is caused in part by
China’s rising labour costs, which are
making foreign investors more cautious.
|| Salaries are static: this profession is
compensated almost solely by base
salary. There has been little or no
increase over the last 12 months and
bonuses, where paid, have been limited.
|| Candidates want more: while job
seekers are hoping to take advantage
of the shortage of qualified lawyers
in their salary negotiations, hiring
managers are mindful of uncertainty
in the economy and are making
conservative offers in most cases.
|| Survival is a priority: economic
uncertainty has inevitably put
pressure on firms to reduce costs —
and this is reflected in hiring budgets.
As a consequence, some employers
are focusing too much on the
short-term cost rather than the
long-term value of a good hire.
a sophisticated and
competitive market
|| Talent is the best weapon; as local
and internationally owned firms
compete for business, strong legal
talent gives firms a competitive edge.
|| Legal linguists are hot property: good
English and Chinese language ability
combined with excellent interpersonal
skills are in demand for roles, in-house
and with law firms, where there is a
need to deal with multiple stakeholders.
|| In-house compliance is expanding:
government requirements mean
compliance is a growth area within
law firms and large corporations. New
job titles like compliance officer and
compliance manager reflect this.
45. china | salary & employment insights 2012 43manufacturing & industrial
manufacturing & industrial
|| Strong appetite for product managers:
as more research and development
operations are established in China,
demand for talented product managers
is outstripping supply. Companies
are looking for people able to work
effectively within a global team and roll
out regional strategies. Multi product
portfolio management skills are
another highly regarded asset.
|| Strategic thinking is top of employers’
want lists: communication and
leadership skills are important
competencies too. Employers’
needs are becoming increasingly
sophisticated and complex as the
markets in which they operate mature.
|| Social media are now mainstream:
the ability to exploit social media
is becoming a new and critical skill
set for marketing professionals.
There is a consequent easing of
demand in traditional marketing
communication roles.
|| Change management is an
emerging discipline: new roles such
as industrialisation manager and
change manager reflect this.
|| Bonuses are big: many companies
have paid big bonuses to sales staff
in the last 12 months. This is partly
fuelled by China’s high-momentum
growth and also because companies
have exceeded the modest sales
targets they set as a result of the
global economic climate.
|| Salary expectations are high: for most
sales and marketing roles, candidates
expect a minimum increase of 30%
to 50% to move from one employer to
another. Hiring managers are typically
willing to offer 20% to 30%. This
discrepancy frequently results in
employers failing to recruit their
preferred candidate for a role.
new markets bring
fresh opportunities
|| Manufacturing is becoming China-
centric: as more and more Asia-Pacific
and global roles are established
in China, new roles and titles are
emerging. These include global product
manager, global strategic marketing
manager and Asia-Pacific business
development manager. The ability to
communicate effectively with a global
team is a prerequisite for these roles.
Chinese local management are finding
that overseas exposure is now essential
for the role.
|| New and fast growing markets are
creating opportunities: nuclear and
offshore energy are dynamic industry
sectors. Experienced sales managers
are in demand and highly paid in
these markets.
46. 44 china | salary & employment insights 2012
commercial
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
CEO 20+ 2,000+
Managing Director — Asia-Pacific 15+ 1,500+
General Manager — Country (Sales Focus) 15+ 1,000–1,500+
National Sales Director 15+ 700–1,200
National Sales Manager 12+ 500–900
Regional Sales Manager 8–10 400–700
Industry Sales Manager 8–10 300–500
Territory Sales Manager 5–8 300–500
Key Account Manager 5–8 300–500
Commercial Director 15+ 800–1,500+
Business Development Director — Asia-Pacific 15+ 800–1,500+
Business Development Manager 10–15 500–800
Distribution Manager 10–15 400–700
Channel Development Manager 5–10 250–500
Marketing Director — Asia-Pacific 15+ 800–1,500+
Marketing Manager 8–10 500–1,000
Product Marketing Director — Asia-Pacific 15+ 800–1,500
Product Marketing Manager 8–15 400–800
Product Manager 3–10 300–600
47. china | salary & employment insights 2012 45manufacturing & industrial
technical & operations
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
General Manager — Country 15+ 1,200–2,000
Managing Director 10–15 1,000–2,000
Manufacturing Vice President 10+ 1,000–1,800
Manufacturing Director 8–10 650–1,000
Operations Director 8–15 550–850
Plant Manager 10–15 450–800
Regional Quality Director 10–15+ 650–1,000
Master Black Belt 10+ 800–1,000
Lean Leader 8+ 450–850
Supplier Quality Manager 6+ 350–550
Engineering Vice President 15+ 1,000–1,500
Engineering Director/
Country Engineering Head
10+ 600–850
Engineering Manager 3–5+ 250–350
commercial
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
Strategic Marketing Manager 10–15+ 500–1,000+
Marketing Communication (Services) Manager 8–15 300–600
48. 46 china | salary & employment insights 2012
technical & operations
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
Country R&D Head 15+ 700–1,000
R&D Director 15+ 500–850
Principal Scientist 15+ 550–1,000
R&D Team Leader 8+ 350–550
Lead Engineer 5+ 200–300
New Product Introduction Leader 8+ 400–600
Project Manager 2–5+ 250–450
(cont.)
49. china | salary & employment insights 2012 47property & construction
property & construction
adopted tough measures to cool down
the property market, particularly the
residential sector, there has been a
marked shift from development of
new projects to operation and asset
management of existing projects.
|| Property developers and investors
are looking for talent: professionals
are most in demand for roles such
as project development director and
asset management director.
|| The industrial and commercial property
sectors are hungry for talent: the
opposite is true in the residential sector,
where demand is dropping dramatically.
|| Base salaries are stable: the trend
for higher basic salaries with limited
bonuses is disappearing. Salaries are
now more likely to be conservative but
supplemented with a potentially
generous discretionary bonus.
|| Candidate expectations are more
modest: during the boom years
strong candidates were achieving
increases of 50% to 100%. Now
expectations are more moderate:
most candidates are looking for
increments of 30% to 50%.
|| Hiring managers are cautious: most
are only willing to offer increases
of 20% to 30% for all but the most
exceptional talent.
|| Stability has currency among
employers: organisations who really
care about employees and keep them
on during a downturn will enhance
their company brand, enjoy a good
reputation in the market and build
a workforce that is more loyal and
committed to the business.
building a strong future
|| Property and construction professionals
of all levels are in demand: there is still
plenty of growth and activity in the
main cities, and major projects outside
them especially in the north eastern
and south western regions are getting
underway. There is a reasonable supply
of talent but the market still attracts
people from other parts of the world as
a wide range of experience is needed.
|| Management skills are a must: project
management and asset management
skills are highly rewarded in the current
market. Since the central government
50. 48 china | salary & employment insights 2012
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
Vice President Level/General Manager 15+ 1,000–2,000
Business Development Director 10+ 600–1,000
Business Development Manager 5+ 400–800
Investment Director 10+ 800–1,500
Investment Manager 5+ 500–800
Development Director 15+ 800–1,500
Design Director 10+ 600–1,000
Design Manager 5+ 400–800
Architect/Master Planner 5+ 300–600
Project Director 15+ 800–1,200
Project Manager 8+ 400–800
Construction Manager/Site Manager 8+ 300–600
Mechanical Electric Plumbing (MEP) Manager 8+ 400–800
Structural Manager 8+ 400–800
QS Manager/Contracts Manager 8+ 400–800
Operations Director 15+ 800–1,500
51. china | salary & employment insights 2012 49property & construction
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
Property Manager 5+ 300–500
Sales & Marketing Director 10+ 600–1,500
Leasing Director 10+ 600–1,200
Leasing Manager 5+ 250–500
Asset Management Director 15+ 800–1,500
Asset Management Manager 5+ 400–800
52. 50 china | salary & employment insights 2012
sales & marketing
|| E-commerce is driving growth: there
is more demand for e-commerce
managers as the internet drives
online interest and sales for products
and services.
|| Luxury retailers are looking for staff:
the boom in local sales of luxury
goods has created fresh demand
for retail developers, customer
marketers and associated staff
including merchandisers.
|| Consulting is on the up: the
consulting sector is growing fast
as multinational companies seek
to adapt their business models for
the Chinese market, and Chinese
companies adapt their products and
services to suit western markets.
|| Salaries are static: salaries are
typically increasing by 10% to 15%
per annum. Some companies are
incentivising employees with
supplementary housing benefits.
Profit shares, stock options, pension
contributions and commercial
insurance schemes are also seen
as benefits that help attract and
retain people.
|| Creative retention tools are on the
rise: some multinational companies
have launched flexible benefits
schemes. Such schemes encompass
incentives including, for example,
gym memberships, travel vouchers
and school funds.
|| Staff development is adding value:
organisations investing in training and
development programmes, including
on-the-job coaching and mentoring, are
finding them an effective retention tool
for talented, high-potential employees.
skill sets are evolving
|| Communication skills are key: in recent
years, international exposure and
language skills were rare in the Chinese
market. However, economic prosperity
and the upgrading of the Chinese
education system mean that linguistic
ability is now much more common
among Chinese locals — resulting in
more sales and marketing roles going
to these professionals.
|| The business landscape is changing:
as more multinational companies
move their Asia-Pacific or global
headquarters to China, there is
increasing demand for sales and
marketing professionals with superior
leadership, strategic and influencing
skills. A high degree of multi-cultural
sensitivity is also desirable.
53. china | salary & employment insights 2012 51sales & marketing
consumer
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
Managing Director 20+ 1,500–2,500
General Manager 15+ 1,500–2,000
Business Unit Head Director 15+ 1,300–1,800
Sales Director/National Sales Manager (NSM) 15+ 700–1,200
Regional Sales Manager 10+ 550–800
Sales Manager 7+ 200–500
Marketing Director/Brand Director 10+ 1,000–1,500
Marketing Manager 8+ 550–800
Senior Brand Manager 7+ 350–500
Brand Manager 4+ 200–400
Trade Marketing Director 10+ 700–1,100
Trade Marketing Manager 7+ 300–600
Channel Manager 7+ 300–600
National Key Account Director 10+ 700–1,200
Group Key Account Manager 8+ 550–850
Key Account Manager 5+ 300–500
54. 52 china | salary & employment insights 2012
retail
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
Managing Director 20+ 2,000–3,000
general manager
Medium/Large Firm 15+ 1,500–2,000
Small/Medium Firm 15+ 1,000–1,500
marketing director
Medium/Large Firm 10+ 700–900
Small/Medium Firm 10+ 400–800
marketing manager
Medium/Large Firm 7+ 450–550
Small/Medium Firm 7+ 350–500
retail operations director
Medium/Large Firm 8+ 850–1,200
Small/Medium Firm 7+ 400–700
training director
Medium/Large Firm 12+ 700–1,300
Small/Medium Firm 12+ 600–1,000
training manager
Medium/Large Firm 5+ 300–500
Small/Medium Firm 5+ 200–400
retail operations manager/area manager
Medium/Large Firm 5+ 300–550
Small/Medium Firm 5+ 300–450
merchandising director
Medium/Large Firm 10+ 700–900
Small/Medium Firm 8+ 550–700
55. china | salary & employment insights 2012 53sales & marketing
retail
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
merchandising manager
Medium/Large Firm 7+ 300–500
Small/Medium Firm 5+ 200–300
hospitality
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
General Manager 12+ 600–1,200
Director of Sales & Marketing 10+ 200–500
Director of Sales 8+ 200–250
Director of Food & Beverage 8+ 250–350
Front Office Manager 5+ 150–250
Senior Sales Manager 5+ 150–200
Marketing Manager 3–5 200–250
Executive Chef 8+ 250–600
professional services (consulting)
years of experience Annual BASE salary 2012 rmb ‘000
Managing Director 20+ 3,000
General Manager 15+ 2,000
Principal 12+ 1,200–2,000
Engagement Manager 10+ 600–1,200
Senior Consultant 8+ 500–700
Consultant 5+ 200–500
56. 54 china | salary & employment insights 2012
supply chain & procurement
|| New disciplines are emerging: trade
compliance, for example, is becoming
widespread across a diverse range of
industries from chemical producers
to manufacturers of electronics.
Candidates with high-level experience
and expertise in this area are in short
supply and command premium salaries.
|| Analysts are in demand: supply
chain and procurement analyst roles
require professionals with supply
chain and sourcing knowledge, good
communications skills and superior
analytical abilities.
|| Outsourcing is on the up: more
and more technology companies
are outsourcing their manufacturing
process. This creates the need for a
team to manage original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) suppliers.
|| Salaries are fairly static: employees
typically receive an annual increase
of 10% to 15%. Some companies
offer supplementary housing,
pension or commercial insurance
as employee benefits.
|| Cultural fit is an important attribute:
employers are starting to consider
candidates who have the right
personality for their culture and have
the potential for high performance,
rather than focusing solely on a
candidate’s current qualifications
and experience. Investment in training
and on-the-job coaching is helping
employees to fulfill that promise.
driving efficiency
and productivity
|| Supply chain professionals are in
demand: global uncertainty has fuelled
even stronger demand for talent in this
field as organisations seek to improve
their efficiency and productivity and
make themselves less vulnerable to
the vagaries of the markets.
|| Skill-sets are becoming broader:
softer skills like the ability to think
critically, listen actively and manage
time well are becoming musts as the
profession evolves.
|| Indirect procurement and supplier
quality engineer roles are hard to
fill: the ability to deliver high quality
services and products to customers
in full and on-time is business-critical.
58. 56 china | salary & employment insights 2012
|| Healthcare & Life Sciences
|| Human Resources
|| IT&T
|| Legal
|| Manufacturing & Industrial
|| Property & Construction
|| Sales & Marketing
|| Supply Chain & Procurement
A total of 385 employers and 2,734
employees across Hong Kong,
Singapore and China (predominantly
in tier-one and tier-two cities) were
sourced from the Hudson database.
They were interviewed online about
their experiences and views on salary,
employment expectations and other
key issues. Employers and employees
received discrete survey questions.
The questionnaire responses were
collected in February 2012. Respondents
were incentivised by a prize draw carried
out internally by Hudson.
Hudson conducted quantitative research
into salary and employment insights of
employers and employees across Hong
Kong, Singapore and China. In addition
to the responses collected and analysed,
we also drew on placement data across
2011–12. Qualitative information was
gathered by our specialist recruitment
consultants through conversations with
their clients, and by drawing on their
extensive knowledge of placements made
across the following Hudson specialist
practice groups:
|| Accounting & Finance
|| Advertising & Communications
|| Automotive
|| Banking & Financial Services
|| Chemical & Energy
totals
All employers 385
All employees 2,734
research methodology
Please note: Salary ranges are based on information provided by Hudson clients, candidates and other sources and as a result are approximate guides only. They relate to base salaries only and exclude
superannuation/bonus/incentive schemes/stock options. These are indicative market ranges and are dependent on variable factors, including but not limited to experience level, market conditions,
company size, industry sector and job scope.
Disclaimer: Hudson accepts no responsibility for any action taken or not taken in reliance on the information provided. No warranties, expressed or implied, statutory or otherwise are given to the extent
permissible under the relevant legislation. The contents are protected by copyright.
60. contact us
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