Average First Officer Salary in China for 2024

In this article, we will look at the average First Officer salary for 2024 in China and how that compares to other countries and professions. We'll also look at interesting salary data points like median salary, 25th and 75th percentile salaries, salary amounts based on experience, bonus ranges and more!

The data in this article has been compiled using official government salary data, salary surveys, and other sources such as job postings which contain salary information.

All salary information is in the local currency, which is the Chinese yuan. To keep things simple, we are using the CNY currency code instead of the currency symbol ¥.

How Much Does a First Officer Make in China?

A First Officer working in China will typically earn around 249,600 CNY per year, and this can range from the lowest average salary of about 134,600 CNY to the highest average salary of 383,300 CNY.

Average Annual Salary
249,600 CNY
Average Monthly Salary
20,800 CNY

Lowest Annual Salary
134,600 CNY
Lowest Monthly Salary
11,216 CNY

Highest Annual Salary
383,300 CNY
Highest Monthly Salary
31,941 CNY

These are average salaries for a First Officer in China and include benefits such as housing and transport. It's also possible for a First Officer to earn more or less than the average salaries shown above.

First Officer salaries will vary a lot based on your experience, location, skills, and gender. Keep reading below to research more data on each of these areas.

Distribution of First Officer Salaries in China

So we've looked at the average salaries a First Officer will earn in China. The next interesting data point is the distribution of salaries.

Salary ranges

We already know that a First Officer can earn between 134,600 CNY and 383,300 CNY on average in China. This is known as the range in statistics.

The difference between the maximum and minimum values is a good indicator of variability in salaries, and can be used by employers to figure out how much they can expect to pay, and for employees to know how much they can earn.

Median salary

The median salary for a First Officer in China is 237,400 CNY. This is the middle value in the distribution of salaries.

What this means is that approximately 50% of the population earn less than 237,400 CNY, and 50% of the population earn more than 237,400 CNY.

If you are earning more than the median salary, that's a good indicator that you are being paid well.

If you're not earning more than the median salary, your objective should be to increase your earnings to be at least as high as the median salary (which you can do by asking for a pay rise, looking for a better paying job, etc).

Percentiles

Percentiles are similar to the median salary, but instead of looking at the middle value, they look at the values in the top and bottom half of the distribution.

For the average First Officer salary in China, 25% of the population are earning less than 164,200 CNY while 75% of the population earn more than 164,200 CNY.

75% of the population earn less than 288,700 CNY, and 25% of the population earn more than 288,700 CNY.

Like the median salary, the 25th and 75th percentile salaries can be used to determine which quartile you fall into so that you know whether you are being paid well enough compared to others in your profession and location.

The difference between a median and an average salary

The median and average salary are both indicators you can use to see if you are being paid fairly based on the overall population.

  • If your salary is higher than the average and the median salary, you are earning well compared to others.
  • If your salary is lower than the average and the median salary, it could indicate you are not being paid well enough.
  • If you are somewhere in between then it's tricky to determine if you are being paid well enough and you might need to research more closely.

First Officer Salary by Experience Level in China

The most important factor in determining your salary after the specific profession is the number of years experience you have. It stands to reason that more years of experience will result in a higher wage.

We have researched the average first officer salary based on years of experience to give you an idea of how the average changes once you've worked for a certain amount of time.

  • 0 - 2 Years Experience. A First Officer in China that has less than two years of experience can expect to earn somewhere in the region of 152,000 CNY.
  • 2 - 5 Years Experience. With two to five years of experience the average First Officer salary would increase to 187,300 CNY.
  • 5 - 10 Years Experience. From five to ten years of experience as a First Officer, the average salary would be 266,000 CNY.
  • 10 - 15 Years Experience. Once you have more than ten years of experience the average salary reaches around 312,400 CNY.
  • 15 - 20 Years Experience. A First Officer with 15 to 20 years of experience can earn an average of 341,400 CNY.
  • 20+ Years Experience. For a First Officer with more than 20 years, the expected average salary increases to 362,200 CNY.

Average Salary by Experience Chart

0-2 Years
152,000 CNY
2-5 Years +23%
187,300 CNY
5-10 Years +42%
266,000 CNY
10-15 Years +17%
312,400 CNY
15-20 Years +10%
341,400 CNY
20+ Years +6%
362,200 CNY

First Officer Salary by Education Level in China

As well as experience in a job, your education plays a big role in how much you can earn. A lot of higher paying positions require a high level of education, but how much can a degree increase your salary?

In our research we have compared the salaries of employees in the same job and career level with different levels of education to see how much more you can earn at each education level.

The salary you can earn based on your education is very specific to both your location and the career path you choose.

In our research, we looked at the average salary for a First Officer in China based on the education level of the employees in order to find out whether a better education level would increase your salary.

  • High School. A First Officer in China with a high school education can earn an average salary of 187,300 CNY.

  • Certificate or Diploma. A First Officer in China with a certificate or diploma education can earn an average salary of 263,100 CNY.

  • Bachelor's Degree. A First Officer in China with a bachelor's degree education can earn an average salary of 371,100 CNY.

Average Salary by Education Chart

High School
187,300 CNY
Certificate or Diploma +40%
263,100 CNY
Bachelor's Degree +42%
371,100 CNY

How Much is a Master's Degree or MBA Program?

The approximate cost of a master's degree or post-graduate program like an MBA in China is around 146,000 to 439,000 CNY and takes two years to complete.

As you can see above, there are financial benefits from reaching master's degree level, but don't expect to see much of a salary increase until you have completed the degree.

It's common for people to pursue an MBA or other post-graduate program in order to switch to a a job that pays more. On average, you can expect to earn around 10% more when switching to a new company.

Whether you decide to pursue a master's degree depends on many factors. If you are able to afford it, the numbers suggest that the return on investment is worth it and you could recover the costs in a few years from the salary increase you would receive.

First Officer Salary Compared by Gender

In the modern age, we know that there should never be a pay gap between men and women. Unfortunately, in many professions, there is still a significant difference between the salaries earned by men when compared to the salary of women in the same job.

In China, a male first officer will earn an average of 261,300 CNY, while a female first officer will earn around 237,400 CNY.

This means that a male first officer earns approximately 10% more than a female first officer for performing the same job.

Average Salary by Gender Chart in China

Male
261,300 CNY
Female -10%
237,400 CNY

First Officer Average Pay Raise in China

In many countries, an annual pay raise is often given to employees to reward their service with a salary increase.

From our research, we can see that the average pay raise for a First Officer in China is around 12% every 14 months.

The national average pay raise across all professions and industries in China is around 9% every 15 months.

In this case, we can see that the number of months between the average pay raise is higher than the typical 12 months.

To make the data more meaningful, we can calculate what the approximate annual pay raise would be using a simple formula:

Annual Increase = ( Increase Rate ÷ Months ) × 12

So for this example, it would be:

Annual Increase = ( 12 ÷ 14 ) × 12  = 10%

What this means is that a First Officer in China can expect to receive an average pay raise of around 10% every 12 months.

Annual Pay Raise by Industry in China for 2024

In the chart below, you can see the average annual pay raise percentages for each of the major industries in China.

You will see that companies in bigger and more lucrative industries tend to have the higher annual pay raises.

Banking
8%
Energy
7%
Information Technology
6%
Healthcare
5%
Travel
4%
Construction
3%
Education
2%

First Officer Bonus and Incentive Rates in China

Another part of your overall compensation in a job is how much bonus you receive. Some job roles will be more likely to pay a bonus than others and also more likely to have higher bonus rates.

Generally speaking, jobs that are more involved with direct revenue generation will receive higher bonuses based on the performance towards revenue goals.

A First Officer is a moderate bonus based job, with 53% of employees reporting at least one bonus in the last 12 months.

47% reported that they had not received any bonuses in the previous 12 months.

For the employees that did receive a bonus in the previous 12 months, the reported bonuses ranged from 3% to 5%.

Received Bonus
53%
No Bonus
47%

What are the Types of Bonus?

There are a number of difference types of bonus you can receive in a job. Including:

  • Individual performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee for general performance in the job. It's the most common type of bonus.
  • Company performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to a company employees to share profit with the staff.
  • Goal based bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee (or a team) for achieving specific goals, objectives, or milestones.
  • Holiday bonus - This type of bonus is usually paid around the holidays, often the end of the year, and is a token of appreciation for the hard work throughout the year.

Government vs Private Sector Salaries

Another commonly asked question is whether you get paid a higher salary working in the public (government) sector or the private sector.

Public sector employees in China earn approximately 6% more than private sector employees in the same role.

Public Sector
362,200 CNY
Private Sector -6%
341,400 CNY

Salaries for Jobs Similar to a First Officer

In the table below, we have salary information for jobs that are similar to a First Officer in China.

Job Title Category Salary
Aeronautical Engineer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 390,000 CNY
Aerospace Engineer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 436,200 CNY
Aerospace Technician Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 332,100 CNY
Air Crew Member Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 216,800 CNY
Air Crew Officer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 240,500 CNY
Air Traffic Assistant Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 207,700 CNY
Air Traffic Controller Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 392,300 CNY
Aircraft Assembler Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 176,800 CNY
Aircraft Body Repairer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 161,600 CNY
Aircraft Captain Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 605,700 CNY
Aircraft Electrician Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 189,300 CNY
Aircraft Electronics Techician Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 191,600 CNY
Aircraft Engineer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 377,200 CNY
Aircraft Fueler Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 163,800 CNY
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 330,700 CNY
Aircraft Maintenance Manager Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 541,700 CNY
Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 371,100 CNY
Aircraft Maintenance Technician Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 172,400 CNY
Aircraft Mechanic Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 192,600 CNY
Aircraft Pilot Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 592,600 CNY
Aircraft Pneudraulics Repairer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 183,600 CNY
Aircraft Quality Assurance Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 467,100 CNY
Aircraft Rigging Assembler Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 181,600 CNY
Aircraft Service Technician Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 159,500 CNY
Airfield Management Specialist Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 539,700 CNY
Airfield Operations Specialist Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 424,900 CNY
Airline Cabin Crew Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 345,100 CNY
Airline Copilot Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 389,200 CNY
Airline Pilot Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 623,200 CNY
Airlines Sales Director Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 704,300 CNY
Airlines Sales Manager Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 642,800 CNY
Airlines Structural Assembler Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 164,200 CNY
Airport Services Agent Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 225,300 CNY
Airport Services Manager Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 733,300 CNY
Airport Services Supervisor Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 424,900 CNY
Assistant Aircraft Mechanic Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 157,600 CNY
Aviation Analyst Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 489,600 CNY
Aviation Inspector Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 406,300 CNY
Aviation Manager Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 717,900 CNY
Aviation Operations Controller Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 385,300 CNY
Aviation Resources Manager Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 649,700 CNY
Aviation Safety Assistant Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 204,000 CNY
Aviation Safety Manager Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 660,500 CNY
Aviation Safety Officer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 371,100 CNY
Aviation Technician Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 172,200 CNY
Cargo and Freight Agent Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 152,100 CNY
Cargo Executive Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 335,100 CNY
Chief Pilot Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 633,300 CNY
Fleet Controller Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 585,900 CNY
Fleet Management Officer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 246,200 CNY
Flight Attendant Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 231,000 CNY
Flight Planner Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 332,500 CNY
Flight Scheduler Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 294,700 CNY
Flight Simulation Engineer Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 315,700 CNY
Freight and Cargo Inspector Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 263,100 CNY
Helicopter Pilot Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 409,000 CNY
Loading Bridge Operator Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 151,800 CNY
Pilot Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 588,500 CNY
Ramp Agent Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 152,100 CNY
Reservations Sales Agent Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 200,000 CNY
Safety and Quality Specialist Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 369,900 CNY
Test Pilot Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense 428,400 CNY

Salary Comparison by City

If you want to compare salaries with different cities in China, you can use the links below to explore the data for each specific city we have researched.

City Average Salary
Beijing 301,300 CNY
Changchun 259,100 CNY
Changsha 239,000 CNY
Chengdu 275,500 CNY
Chongqing 282,500 CNY
Dalian 233,900 CNY
Dongguan 254,700 CNY
Foshan 243,000 CNY
Fuzhou 228,000 CNY
Guangzhou 292,000 CNY
Hangzhou 294,300 CNY
Harbin 273,000 CNY
Jinan 283,700 CNY
Kunming 233,600 CNY
Nanjing 273,300 CNY
Qingdao 263,100 CNY
Quanzhou 221,500 CNY
Shanghai 292,000 CNY
Shantou 273,300 CNY
Shenyang 279,400 CNY
Shenzhen 258,400 CNY
Suzhou 271,300 CNY
Tianjin 283,400 CNY
Wenzhou 251,500 CNY
Wuhan 275,200 CNY
Wuxi 225,700 CNY
Xi an 282,300 CNY
Xiamen 225,300 CNY
Zhengzhou 217,900 CNY

Salary Comparison by State

The table below includes links to the average salary for each state in China.

City Average Salary
Anhui 290,800 CNY
Beijing 231,000 CNY
Chongqing 263,200 CNY
Fujian 271,300 CNY
Gansu 239,000 CNY
Guangdong 315,900 CNY
Guangxi 279,400 CNY
Guizhou 246,500 CNY
Hainan 238,900 CNY
Hebei 294,700 CNY
Heilongjiang 253,400 CNY
Henan 308,300 CNY
Hubei 282,300 CNY
Hunan 279,400 CNY
Jiangsu 301,700 CNY
Jiangxi 273,300 CNY
Jilin 239,000 CNY
Liaoning 277,400 CNY
Nei Monggol 243,000 CNY
Ningxia 221,500 CNY
Qinghai 232,900 CNY
Shaanxi 263,200 CNY
Shandong 288,700 CNY
Shanghai 246,500 CNY
Shanxi 254,800 CNY
Sichuan 282,500 CNY
Tianjin 238,900 CNY
Xinjiang Uygur 237,400 CNY
Xizang [Tibet] 212,500 CNY
Yunnan 283,400 CNY
Zhejiang 275,500 CNY

Link To or Reference This Page

We spend a lot of time collecting, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site to be as useful to you as possible.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference World Salaries as the source. We appreciate your support!

  • "Average First Officer Salary in China for 2024". World Salaries. Accessed on March 29, 2024. https://worldsalaries.com/average-first-officer-salary-in-china/.

  • "Average First Officer Salary in China for 2024". World Salaries, https://worldsalaries.com/average-first-officer-salary-in-china/. Accessed 29 March, 2024

  • Average First Officer Salary in China for 2024. World Salaries. Retrieved from https://worldsalaries.com/average-first-officer-salary-in-china/.