Instantly estimate total employer costs in China, China social insurance breakdown, housing fund contributions, and net take-home pay across all 50 of China’s top GDP-ranked cities.
Data: 2026 50 Cities Annually Updated
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Quick Select
Contract Salary
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per month
Employer Social Insurance
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per month
Employer Housing Fund
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per month
Total Employer Cost
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per month
Employee Net Take-Home
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after tax & deductions
Annual Employer Cost
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Cost Composition
Social Insurance Breakdown
Insurance Type
Contribution Base
Employer Rate
Employer Amount
Employee Rate
Employee Amount
Total
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Housing Fund Breakdown
Item
Contribution Base
Employer Rate
Employer Amount
Employee Rate
Employee Amount
Contribution Rates Reference
Insurance Type
Employer Rate
Employee Rate
Base Lower Limit
Base Upper Limit
Individual Income Tax (IIT) & Employee Net Income Calculation
Item
Amount (CNY)
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on publicly available 2026 social insurance and housing fund policies for each city. Actual costs may vary based on specific industry classifications, enterprise registration type, local policy adjustments, and individual circumstances. Contribution rates and base limits are subject to annual updates by provincial and municipal authorities. For precise calculations tailored to your business situation, please consult with a professional HR or tax advisor.
Data source: Provincial Human Resources & Social Security Bureaus, 2026 announcements. Housing fund rates default to 5% (minimum) — actual rates range from 5% to 12% depending on employer policy.
Select a city and enter a monthly salary to calculate employer costs.
Covers all 50 cities ranked by GDP in China.
How to Use the China Employee Cost Calculator
Choose the city where the employee works and enter the gross monthly salary. The calculator applies the local social insurance and housing fund rates and contribution bases, then shows the employer cost, statutory contributions and estimated net take-home pay.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire People in China?
How much does it cost to hire people in China? The total is more than salary alone. Employers owe social insurance and housing fund contributions on top of gross pay, and both the rates and the contribution base range are set city by city. This is why the same salary can cost noticeably more in Shanghai, Beijing or Shenzhen than in a smaller city, and it is the single most common budgeting mistake foreign companies make when they hire their first employee in China.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire people in China?
The total cost of hiring in China is the gross monthly salary plus the employer’s social insurance and housing fund contributions, which vary by city and by salary level. Use the calculator above to estimate the full monthly and annual employer cost, and the employee’s net take-home pay, for any of the 50 largest cities.
What employer costs are mandatory in China?
Employers in mainland China must generally contribute to five statutory social insurance items — pension, medical, unemployment, work-related injury and maternity insurance — plus the housing provident fund, for eligible employees. The total employer cost is the gross salary plus these contributions.
How much does an employer pay on top of salary in China?
Social insurance and housing fund contributions are calculated on a monthly contribution base, within a range set by each city, and the rates differ from city to city. The calculator on this page applies current local rates and bases so you can see the total monthly employer cost per city.
Do the contribution rates differ between Chinese cities?
Yes. Both the contribution base range and the rates are published locally, so employer cost in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen or a Tier-2 city can differ significantly. This tool covers the 50 largest cities by GDP.
Does the housing provident fund apply to foreign employees?
Requirements and practice vary by city, and many cities explicitly allow or require foreign employees to participate. Because the position is local, confirm the rule for the specific city before budgeting; our team can advise on the current practice.
How is individual income tax (IIT) calculated?
The employer withholds individual income tax monthly on a cumulative withholding basis, after deducting social insurance, the housing fund and the statutory monthly basic deduction. The calculator estimates net pay using that method.
Is the contribution base fixed all year?
Contribution bases are adjusted periodically, commonly once a year (often from July), based on the previous year’s average monthly wage and the locally published floor and ceiling. Budgets should be reviewed after each adjustment.
