In the late 90s, when China was still in the early days of "opening up" and local companies were at a loss when it came to connecting with the wider world, foreigners could easily land a high-paying job as a "foreign expert" in various industries. However, as more Chinese workers went abroad and learned the ropes, these lucrative roles became fewer, forcing the majority of expats in China into teaching. The tables have now turned, with foreign companies vying for a foothold in the world's second-largest economy. Many of these companies still employ people from their home countries in top positions, opening the door once again for substantial expat salaries. Let's take a closer look at some of the top jobs with foreign companies in China, including the roles and the salaries you can expect.

 
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Translator 

You don't necessarily need an advanced degree in Mandarin to become a translator in China—just an advanced level of Chinese. Local companies are likely to want to see an HSK6 certificate, but foreign companies may accept any degree as long as you can prove your fluency in written and spoken Chinese and the target language. Expats with excellent Chinese skills could find themselves employed by foreign companies of all kinds, translating official documents and marketing material or serving as interpreters for executives.

Depending on the company and the city, such roles can be quite lucrative. For example, as of 2024, you could expect to earn up to 40,000 RMB per month as a translator in China. However, the top end of the scale requires an excellent grasp of both the target language and Chinese, as you will likely be drafting complex documents, such as legal contracts, in both languages.

Unfortunately, there is one major downside to working as a Mandarin-English translator in China—the competition from your Chinese counterparts. Many younger Chinese people have been studying English since kindergarten, giving those who continued through university a significant advantage over any foreigner who isn't truly bilingual. Suffice it to say, those two years studying Mandarin in university are probably not going to cut it.

Hotel Manager 

China's hospitality industry has grown in leaps and bounds, especially since COVID-19, when the country's rich and famous were forced to vacation domestically. Radisson, Hilton, Shangri-La, and Portman-Ritz are just some of the international hotel brands preferred by visiting foreigners and China's wealthiest citizens.

Now with the pandemic in the rearview and foreign movie stars and CEOs back and bullish, managers and upper-division staff at such luxury hotels are seeing some impressive salaries.

The majority of international hotel brands in China choose to have expats in prominent positions to ensure "international standards" are met (or at least appear to be). According to Salary Explorer, hospitality directors and general managers of hotels in China can make upwards of 56,000 RMB per month. You're also likely to get free lodging at the hotel, not to mention the chance to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers of the world.

Executive Chef 

If you live in one of China's top-tier cities, names like Paul Pairet, Eduardo Vargas, and Gordon Ramsay should sound familiar, even if you don't work in the food industry. Landing a job as a top chef or manager at one of these pseudo-celebrity establishments in China can allow expats with the right experience and training to earn a very agreeable wage.

An executive or head chef at a high-end restaurant in one of China's major international cities could make up to 50,000 RMB per month. If you've previously worked at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you might earn even more!

If you're just starting in the industry and still need to earn your stripes, however, you'll probably bring home closer to 20,000 RMB per month, depending on the restaurant. Learning about Chinese ingredients and local cooking techniques will definitely be a boost for your CV, though.

Engineer 

Engineers, both Chinese and foreign, have found themselves in high demand thanks to the massive amount of construction and manufacturing China has seen in the last few decades. While the government has made great efforts to squash China's image as "the world's factory," there is still plenty of need for those with specialized skills, especially in the chip-making, automation, and EV sectors.

While Chinese and foreign companies alike tend to employ fresh (and cheap) graduates straight out of university on relatively low salaries, major foreign brands often choose experienced expat engineers to manage their plants. If you're lucky enough to land one of these gigs, you could be making 70,000 RMB a month or more.

Accountant 

They say money makes the world go round, so it's hardly surprising that accountants are making the big bucks in China. While most teams are predominantly made up of locals, the major international names in finance typically employ a handful of foreign staff members to help liaise with the bosses and deal with international investors.

You can expect to earn 50,000-80,000 RMB a month as an experienced accountant with a top firm, not to mention those massive bonuses the rest of us mere mortals begrudge. It should be noted that, thanks to its socialist background, the accounting standards in China are still somewhat unique. However, they are slowly being replaced by International Accounting Standards, so there isn't too much to learn.

Got any of these skills to pay the bills? Check out foreign companies hiring in China on our jobs database.

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