Organized by Beijing Dehan Management and Consultation Company, a survey on salary and welfare of the Beijing hi-tech industry 2003 was recently concluded. Besides the commonly known features of rapid development and high income [average salary of 58,414. 56 yuan (US$7,057) per year, far beyond the average salary of Beijingers, which is 19,155 yuan (US$2,314) per year], the survey also found six salary tendencies in the industry.

Salary gap among employees is growing

Analysis from internal departments of businesses in the hi-tech sector shows that the gap between the highest and lowest salary within an enterprise ranges from 3.5 to 45 times, with an average gap of around 15 times. Sample data from the whole industry shows the lowest salary is 14,460 yuan (US$1,747) per year and the highest is 1,006,538 yuan (US$121,600), 69 times that of the lowest, which indicates that the concept of "human resource capital" has gradually taken root and been widely accepted by enterprises. The salary of senior employees has increased rapidly also and has directly lead to the enlargement of the salary gap within company departments.

Per capital income of sector high, basic salary ratio low

Taking professionals engaged in R&D for example, basic salaries make up no more than 60 percent of general salaries. For instance, the yearly basic salary of programmers in sample enterprises averaged 23,185 yuan (US$2,801). The yearly fixed cash income including various allowances averaged 40,337.5 yuan (US$4,873), if adding bonuses and welfare, the average salary jumped to 56,681 yuan (US$6,847). It indicates that first, the rise of allowances and welfare leads to a varied structure of employees' salary, and that it is conducive to avoiding tax legally. Second, the rise of non-fixed income such as bonuses has largely invigorated employees.

Basic salary of senior employee gradually accounts for higher ratio

According to traditional opinion, the ratio of basic salary to performance-related salary of senior employees should be lower, with floating income of performance salary making up a higher proportion. However, the survey result shows that the basic salary ratio of senior employees is higher, accounting for about 60 percent. The reason for such a phenomenon is the lack of top professionals in current hi-tech industries in China.

Resignation of employees is concentrative

Speaking about resignation, employees usually leave their jobs in the sector in February, March, April and December. The number of employees leaving during these four months accounts for 79 percent of the total number of resigned employees. The essential reason for such phenomenon is that most companies provide a good bonus at the end of the year or around the Spring Festival. Many employees leave their job after they get their bonuses. In order to save costs, some companies fire unsatisfactory employees before giving out year-end bonuses. Considering long-term interests, enterprises that wish to keep their employees, they should pay more attention to this.

Paid holiday for everyone

Among enterprise welfare, many regulations are closely connected with employees' grade of post. Senior employees enjoy much better welfare than grass root employees. However, in terms of paid holidays, the overall trend is to offer paid holidays to everyone no matter what their posts are. Some 67 percent of enterprises decide the period of paid holidays according to how long employees have been in a post, only seven percent of companies deciding the period of paid holidays according to the grades of post.

Salaries of just graduated students from a regular university or those from vocational training schools make less difference. Salary gap between postgraduates and doctors rise and fall obviously.

According to the survey, the average starting salary of graduates from vocational training schools is 1,970 yuan (US$238) per month, making less difference with graduates from regular universities, whose is 2,613 yuan (US$316) per month. Due to higher and higher levels of education popularity, level and treatment of those two kinds of graduates are getting closer. The average starting salary of postgraduates is 4,426 yuan (US$535) per month and doctors, 6,593 yuan (US$797) per month, which proves again that the salary policy of enterprises give more preference to top professionals. (Data referred to here uses basic salary excluding allowance and bonuses.)

(China.org.cn by Wang Qian, August 16, 2003)