MigrantoAverage salary in Hong Kong
What people take home per month and earn per year, by industry and against other countries
Wages in Hong Kong
87% of gross pay stays in hand after income tax and employee contributions
Per employee, all industries
Take-home / mo
HK$18,100
Gross / yr
HK$249,000
Salaries in Hong Kong by industry
Take-home pay by industry against the national average
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Key facts
Salaries in Hong Kong in numbers
Public administration pays the most, and by an unusual margin
It averages HK$36,100 a month, +100% against the national average, where the same industry usually sits at +24%.
Out-earns every neighbour
No neighbouring country pays more. The closest is Taiwan at HK$15,900 a month against HK$18,100 here. The widest gap is to Laos, where pay is 12× lower.
Pays well above the middle in Asia
HK$18,100 a month against HK$3,570 for the middle country in Asia.
Public-sector work pays above average
Public administration, education and health together average HK$29,300 a month, 62% above the national average.
Industries pay 3.1× apart
Staffing & facilities sits at the bottom on HK$11,700 a month, against a national average of HK$18,100.
How salaries in Hong Kong compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same take-home figure
Industries against the world
Where this country pays an industry more, or less, than that industry is usually paid
Pays more than usual here
- Public administration+100% here, usually +24%
- Education+67% here, usually +16%
- Finance & insurance+87% here, usually +57%
Pays less than usual here
- Real estate-13% here, usually +5%
- Staffing & facilities-35% here, usually -18%
- IT & communication+42% here, usually +47%
“Usually” is what the same industry pays above or below the national average in a typical country
Data source: Mean monthly earnings 2016 (ILOSTAT), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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What you could earn in Hong Kong
Tell us what you do and what you earn today — we'll estimate what someone with your background could earn in Hong Kong, what your living costs might be, and what you could save
- What someone in your field earns
- What you could spend and save
- How it compares with today
Take-home in Hong Kong
HK$10,300/mo
vs HK$9,400 in your country
Cost of living
HK$9,080
vs HK$6,270 in your country
Potential savings
HK$1,180
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Hong Kong?
The average salary in Hong Kong is HK$20,800 a month before tax, or HK$18,100 take-home after tax and social contributions. Over a year that's HK$249,000 before tax and HK$217,000 after.
What is the average salary in Hong Kong in US dollars?
The average salary in Hong Kong in US dollars is about $31,800 a year before tax, or $2,305 a month after tax.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Hong Kong?
The highest-paying jobs in Hong Kong are in public sector, finance, and education. Take-home pay in these industries averages around HK$36,100 a month (about HK$498,000 gross a year), roughly 100% above the national average.
What is a good salary in Hong Kong?
A good salary in Hong Kong is generally one above the national average — more than HK$18,100 take-home a month, or HK$249,000 gross a year. But a lot depends on your spending, where you live, and your financial goals.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Hong Kong?
A typical person in Hong Kong spends about HK$21,300 a month, while the average take-home pay is HK$18,100. How much you need to live comfortably depends on the city, your family situation, and how you usually spend. See the cost of living in Hong Kong for the full picture.
What are the lowest-paying jobs in Hong Kong?
Staffing is the lowest-paying industry in Hong Kong. Pay there averages around HK$11,700 a month take-home (about HK$161,000 gross a year). For comparison, the highest-paying industries pay about 3.1 times more.
Is Hong Kong a high-salary country?
Yes. By average after-tax pay, Hong Kong is ahead of 83% of countries worldwide and ranks 3rd out of 30 countries in Asia.
Where to live?
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Living in Hong Kong
See the full country overview