AI is reshaping tech roles in China, elevating human expertise rather than replacing it

The latest findings from the Tech Talent Explorer highlight how artificial intelligence (AI) is influencing technology roles globally, demonstrating the technology’s role in augmenting human expertise rather than eliminating jobs. The research also provides a benchmark of global salaries across key tech roles, showing how China compares against international markets.

 

AI is removing tasks, not jobs

 

Roles with strong software or data components such as Software Developers, Cloud Architects and AI Engineers are expected to see highest relative exposure to AI‑enabled transformation, with routine tasks supported by increasing automation. However, even in these roles, the overall impact remains modest, and, rather than eliminating roles, the technology is expected to remove specific tasks. Human oversight, design, problem solving and quality control remain critical.

 

In contrast, roles that rely heavily on judgement, coordination, or organisational oversight such as DevSecOps and Project and Change Managers show a lower level of AI impact. Infrastructure‑oriented roles also remain critical to the safe and reliable deployment of AI technologies.

 

This indicates a two‑speed transformation, where software‑intensive work evolves fastest, while governance, leadership, and operational roles continue to grow in strategic importance.

 

Strong tech wages persist across China

 

Across global labour markets, technical roles continue to command competitive salary levels. China wage conditions are shaped predominantly by supply, demand and organisational budget considerations, rather than by AI disruptions. 

 

While organisations adopted more cautious headcount planning through 2025, salary pressure has persisted in areas where skill shortages remain most acute. Senior software engineers, system architects and AI specialists continue to command strong packages, particularly where candidates combine deep technical capability with commercial awareness or cross‑border delivery experience.

 

Local demand is being driven by sustained national investment in priority technologies such as AI, cloud computing and IoT, alongside the continued overseas expansion of local technology enterprises. Large‑scale digital transformation programmes, including accelerated SAP S/4HANA upgrades, are further lifting demand and contributing to some of the highest salary inflation seen across technology roles.

 

At the same time, the cybersecurity market is shifting away from governance‑led hiring toward operational and engineering‑focused capabilities, while infrastructure roles are increasingly consolidated into regional shared services.

 

Based on the mean average salary across all roles, China ranks 16th out of 34 for highest paying markets for permanent tech employees globally. China ranks 7th for AI engineers and 7th for solutions architects, placing it within the global top 10 for both roles. China ranks 15th for AI product managers.

 

What tech professionals can expect to earn

 

The global research highlights key wage patterns across high demand tech roles. While specific compensation varies by market, the strongest rewards are typically seen in specialisms with heightened demand and constrained talent supply.

Roles with broader talent availability or more standardised entry pathways typically fall at the lower end of the pay scale.

 

Marc Burrage, Managing Director for Hays Asia comments:

 

“Through this research, one message stands out: AI is not replacing human expertise, it’s elevating it. As automation absorbs more routine and repetitive work, the roles that thrive are those grounded in judgement, coordination and strategic thinking. For professionals, this shift opens up new avenues to build future ready careers by strengthening adaptable, strategic and tech enhanced skill sets. For organisations, the findings reinforce the need to prioritise continuous learning and adopt flexible workforce strategies that can keep pace with rapid technological change.

 

“In China, attracting the very best technology talent increasingly requires organisations to look beyond base pay and articulate a compelling long-term proposition. Employers that continue to secure in demand skills are those offering clear progression pathways, involvement in complex transformation programmes and exposure to international or cross border work, particularly in areas where critical expertise remains scarce.

 

“Professionals looking to stand out in this environment will want to consider building depth in high value technical domains while broadening commercial understanding and delivery capability. Experience that sits at the intersection of innovation, operational efficiency and scale will continue to differentiate talent as China’s technology market evolves.”

 

-Ends-

 

The Tech Talent Explorer, a decision-making platform designed for professionals and organisations in the tech industry, delivers clear, data‑driven insights built on global workforce intelligence and tech professional input. The platform offers interactive visuals that help users confidently navigate contracting and permanent career options, as well as supporting organisations with their workforce strategy.

 

The Hays Tech Talent Explorer research was updated in December 2025 and features talent market analytics across 34 countries and input from almost 10,000 tech professionals worldwide. The report allows users to investigate the costs, availability, plans, desires, and skills priorities of IT/Tech professionals (permanent and contracting) across markets globally.

The findings combine Hays’ proprietary data with additional data obtained through its partnership with Horsefly.
 
Access the website here.

 

About Hays

Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in recruitment and workforce solutions. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany, and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As of 31 December 2025, the Group employed over 9,100 staff operating from 198 offices in 30 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2025: