AI engineers secure top place in China pay chart

Engineers with high qualification and experience, or expertise in computer visualization, will be paid in the top range, according to Chinese leading recruitment platform Zhilian Zhaopin as reported by Global Times.

The AI sector saw average salary rising by 5.3% from the first quarter to CNY13,594 ($1,870) in the second, higher than that of the finance sector, it added.

The high pay comes as China strives to be self-sufficient in AI development amid the rapid rise of this technology globally, with many Chinese companies striving to compete for AI talents, according to SCMP.

Xinhua News Agency reports that China is now home for more than 4,500 AI companies. Its AI industry is estimated at CNY578 billion ($81 billion) in 2023, up 13.9% year-on-year.

Liu Gang, chief economist at the Chinese Institute of New Generation AI Development Strategies, told the Global Times that the hunger for AI-savvy recruits is expected to grow as AI continues to shake up much of the industry, and it raises the bar for engineering compensation in 2024.

“The AI industry is a hotly contested new tech front globally, with great potential to spawn new business models and revenue streams. Numerous companies are competing for high-calibre talent with high salaries on offer,” Zhilian Zhaopin said.