THE average salary in Shenzhen is 4,711 yuan (US$741) per month, 8.05 percent higher than last year, according to a government survey released Monday, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported yesterday.

    The salary information was released by Shenzhen’s human resources and social security bureau.

    People in the software and IT industries earn the most, with an average salary of 9,021 yuan per month, followed by Internet service provider employees, who earn 8,885 yuan per month, and employees of telecom and broadcast companies, who make 8,745 yuan each month.

    The top three highest-paid occupations include corporate board members, who are paid an average 18,110 yuan each month, along with road and bridge engineers, who earn an average 15,250 yuan monthly, and computer service managers, who earn an average 15,112 yuan per month.

    Master’s degree holders and doctorate holders have the highest incomes of 9,835 yuan on average, followed by undergraduates who earn 7,335 yuan per month. People with only a middle school education make 3,214 yuan per month.

    The list also shows that people with senior professional titles earn an average 11,658 yuan each month while those with junior titles make 6,283 yuan each month. Senior technicians are able to earn an average 6,291 yuan per month while junior technicians are paid 3,698 yuan each month.

    Financial companies have the highest labor cost of 151,600 yuan each year, but these companies only profit five yuan for every 100 yuan spent on workforce, which is the lowest ratio among all industries.

    A spokesperson for Shenzhen’s human resources and social security bureau said the salary list is only a reference for employers and the actual salary will be set by the market. According to the bureau, the list refers to employees’ total pre-tax incomes including bonuses and allowance.

    The spokesperson said salaries for the same occupation also vary because employees of State-owned enterprises have higher incomes than those who work for private companies, and employees in the same company also make different amounts depending on position.

    (Zhang Yang)