Technology · China

Backend Developer Salary in China

The China median is $112,229 per year, with observed city pay up to Shanghai at $90,407.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is CNY). FX as of Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Backend Developer pay in China: Shanghai leads, Chengdu trails

The China national median for a backend developer is ¥756,000 a year. Among 6 metros with observed data, pay runs from about ¥399,000 in Chengdu to ¥609,000 in Shanghai (1.5×).

Backend developers build the servers, APIs, and databases that power application logic and data. Common screening skills include Node.js, Databases, APIs, and Caching.

A modeled national band runs about ¥483,800–¥1,088,600 around that midpoint. Licensing and immigration rules are independent of this cash sort. Employment outlook for the occupation is sketched at +16% over a decade — a national demand guess, not a hiring guarantee in every Chinese city.

Shanghai sits -19% vs the national median; Chengdu sits -47%. Relocating inside China for this title can move cash more than a small raise at the same desk. Open a city page for take-home and rent context — this national page is the map, not the offer.

China shows about 0.1% CPI in 2025. A backend developer raise that trails inflation is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. This occupation is also covered in 39 other countries — useful for remote or relocation shortlists, after FX and local tax. Nearby technology titles on this site include Software Engineer, Frontend Developer, Data Scientist, and DevOps Engineer.

How to use Backend Developer pay data in China

Start with the national median (¥756,000), then pick the metro where you would actually work. Observed city rows below are stronger than a pay-index guess. If your city is missing, stay on this page for the country figure and check the China hub for other careers.

Convert gross through the salary calculator before comparing two cities — tax and rent often reorder a cash ranking. Figures are estimates for research, not employer bands.

National band vs top metro

National sketch: ¥483,800 (10th) → ¥756,000 (median) → ¥1,088,600 (90th). Shanghai’s observed median is ¥609,000, with a local band about ¥394,000–¥941,000. If an offer is “at the China median” but the job is in Shanghai, you may still be under local market.

National median
$112,229
per year
Monthly (national)
$9,352
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$90,407
Shanghai, CN
Hourly (national)
$53.96
varies by city

Backend Developer salary by city in China

Cities below have observed metro percentiles for this role. Prefer these over national-only estimates when you are relocating to a specific market.

CityPer year
Shanghai, CN$90,407
Beijing, CN$87,141
Shenzhen, CN$80,461
Guangzhou, CN$69,772
Hangzhou, CN$69,475
Chengdu, CN$59,232

Backend Developer salary in other countries

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Related Technology salaries in China

Software EngineerFrontend DeveloperData ScientistDevOps EngineerProduct ManagerUX DesignerData AnalystIT Support SpecialistFull-Stack DeveloperWeb DeveloperData EngineerQA EngineerSite Reliability EngineerCloud ArchitectNetwork EngineerSystems AdministratorDatabase AdministratorAI Engineer

Frequently asked questions

How much does a backend developer make in China?
The national median is about ¥756,000 per year. Across 6 observed cities, pay ranges from about ¥399,000 to ¥609,000.
Which China city pays backend developers the most?
Shanghai, CN leads observed metros at about ¥609,000 per year (-19% vs national).
Which China city pays backend developers the least?
Among observed cities, Chengdu, CN is on the lower end at about ¥399,000 per year.
How many China cities have backend developer salary data?
6 metros list observed backend developer percentiles in CNY on this site.
Is backend developer in demand in China?
Occupation-level employment is projected at about +16% over ten years. Local hiring still follows Chinese industry mix.