White-collar workers in Shanghai saw their salary rise by 4.6 percent on average in the first half of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to a recent report.

Zhaopin.com, a leading Web-based headhunters, polled more than 2.2 million office workers via the Internet about their income situation in the first six months this year.

Monthly income of an office worker with bachelor's background averaged at 3,628 yuan (US$437), while people holding a master's degree saw their salary surge from 5,288 yuan to 5,360 yuan on average.

College graduates enjoyed the highest pay rise of 11 percent, earning 2,418 yuan per month.

Though earning the highest salary of 7,732 yuan, Master of Business Administration graduates received an income increase of less than 0.3 percent.

"Educational background is still the main factor in one's salary evaluation system, but the report also implied that employers have begun to pay more attention to employees' experience and working ability," said Liu Hao, CEO of Zhaopin.com.

The report suggested that local white-collar workers' salary surged by 1,000 yuan on average each year.

For instance, fresh university graduates can earn about 1,500 yuan to 2,000 yuan per month, while the salary of bachelor's with one-year experience climbs up to 2,500 yuan to 3,000 yuan.

Among businesses of different ownerships, foreign-invested companies continued to top the salary list with both the highest salary increase and amount, followed by private firms and state-owned enterprises.

Local civil servants are still the lowest-paid group with the smallest pay rise, the report said.

Besides, media and public relations professionals were the dark horses due to a series of PR crisis that hit world-renowned brands this year, analysts said.

The report indicated that average salary for PR professionals surged by 11 percent to reach 3,397 yuan this year, the second largest pay rise to that of electronic and mechanism engineers.

"Companies are eager to save their brand from scandal, which is sure to boost the importance of PR professionals," Liu said.

(Shanghai Daily July 7, 2005)