Industry analysis · Updated 18 September 2026 · 8 min read
Highest-Paying A-Share Industries in 2025
Reported employee compensation varies sharply by industry. This ranking uses the median as its main measure so that a small number of unusually large observations do not set the order.
Quick answer
Securities ranked first in 2025 with median reported average compensation of CN¥528,500. The analysis covers 5,216 companies.
Companies analysed
5,216
With a 2025 value
Industries
56
Source classifications
Market median
CN¥178,256
Median company observation
How to read the ranking
The mean can be pulled upward by a limited number of companies with high reported figures. The table is therefore ordered by the median, with the mean and sample size shown beside it.
Employee compensation by industry in 2025
| Rank | Industry | Companies | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Securities | 50 | CN¥528,500 | CN¥540,219 |
| 2 | Diversified Financials | 23 | CN¥484,256 | CN¥557,188 |
| 3 | Banks | 42 | CN¥437,561 | CN¥440,649 |
| 4 | Transportation Services | 36 | CN¥349,908 | CN¥376,230 |
| 5 | Telecom Operators | 5 | CN¥345,992 | CN¥364,116 |
| 6 | Semiconductors | 196 | CN¥331,765 | CN¥365,997 |
| 7 | Insurance | 5 | CN¥323,930 | CN¥329,718 |
| 8 | Electric Utilities | 85 | CN¥315,677 | CN¥311,829 |
| 9 | Internet Services | 80 | CN¥287,521 | CN¥311,013 |
| 10 | Media & Entertainment | 63 | CN¥239,566 | CN¥241,737 |
| 11 | Transportation Infrastructure | 40 | CN¥237,059 | CN¥244,483 |
| 12 | Construction | 144 | CN¥234,401 | CN¥245,261 |
| 13 | Real Estate | 96 | CN¥232,797 | CN¥267,499 |
| 14 | Oil & Gas | 38 | CN¥229,385 | CN¥365,932 |
| 15 | Software & IT Services | 261 | CN¥228,781 | CN¥253,024 |
| 16 | Trading & Distribution | 16 | CN¥226,145 | CN¥289,721 |
| 17 | Aviation | 51 | CN¥223,726 | CN¥239,623 |
| 18 | Shipbuilding | 11 | CN¥219,227 | CN¥236,940 |
| 19 | Construction Machinery | 33 | CN¥216,863 | CN¥206,972 |
| 20 | IT Hardware | 74 | CN¥215,346 | CN¥251,604 |
| 21 | Electrical Instruments | 92 | CN¥208,838 | CN¥221,311 |
| 22 | Health Care Services | 172 | CN¥195,121 | CN¥212,033 |
| 23 | Communications Equipment | 130 | CN¥192,035 | CN¥213,996 |
| 24 | Coal | 32 | CN¥190,602 | CN¥212,812 |
| 25 | Industrial Machinery | 305 | CN¥185,244 | CN¥202,325 |
| 26 | Transportation Equipment | 47 | CN¥183,648 | CN¥204,803 |
| 27 | Water Utilities | 15 | CN¥179,294 | CN¥194,677 |
| 28 | Conglomerates | 19 | CN¥179,076 | CN¥202,071 |
| 29 | Steel | 59 | CN¥176,190 | CN¥184,443 |
| 30 | Pharmaceuticals | 283 | CN¥172,683 | CN¥199,847 |
| 31 | Warehousing & Logistics | 46 | CN¥170,919 | CN¥199,777 |
| 32 | Environmental Services | 115 | CN¥170,410 | CN¥174,476 |
| 33 | Gas & Heating Utilities | 43 | CN¥169,669 | CN¥181,327 |
| 34 | Alcoholic Beverages | 36 | CN¥168,407 | CN¥188,103 |
| 35 | Electrical Equipment | 322 | CN¥167,609 | CN¥184,592 |
| 36 | Education, Culture & Leisure | 51 | CN¥167,400 | CN¥181,972 |
| 37 | Nonferrous Metals | 131 | CN¥164,027 | CN¥179,512 |
| 38 | Advertising & Packaging | 50 | CN¥162,619 | CN¥185,653 |
| 39 | Building Materials | 73 | CN¥161,114 | CN¥167,584 |
| 40 | Chemicals | 412 | CN¥153,737 | CN¥164,547 |
| 41 | General Machinery | 141 | CN¥151,273 | CN¥161,657 |
| 42 | Tourism | 26 | CN¥150,832 | CN¥161,423 |
| 43 | Retail Chains | 103 | CN¥150,006 | CN¥161,222 |
| 44 | Automobiles | 284 | CN¥148,400 | CN¥168,783 |
| 45 | Electronic Components | 291 | CN¥148,005 | CN¥169,924 |
| 46 | Personal & Household Chemicals | 18 | CN¥147,394 | CN¥178,006 |
| 47 | Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock & Fisheries | 87 | CN¥145,917 | CN¥147,840 |
| 48 | Home Appliances | 84 | CN¥143,450 | CN¥163,885 |
| 49 | Food & Beverages | 114 | CN¥142,119 | CN¥147,967 |
| 50 | Hotels & Restaurants | 9 | CN¥140,744 | CN¥156,704 |
| 51 | Paper | 33 | CN¥139,613 | CN¥139,192 |
| 52 | Chemical Fibers | 32 | CN¥134,381 | CN¥143,588 |
| 53 | Household Products | 68 | CN¥134,326 | CN¥139,203 |
| 54 | Mineral Products | 32 | CN¥130,541 | CN¥147,116 |
| 55 | Textiles & Apparel | 105 | CN¥123,274 | CN¥145,080 |
| 56 | Public Transportation | 7 | CN¥112,912 | CN¥117,186 |
Methodology and limitations
- Average compensation is derived from company-reported employee and compensation figures. It is not the salary received by every employee and does not describe individual pay.
- We use the median to reduce the effect of unusually large observations and show the mean as a separate comparison.
- Missing values are excluded. Year-to-year comparisons include only companies with data in both periods.
- This article is factual data analysis. It is not investment advice, a stock recommendation, or an asset-management service.