Key facts
- AI job postings in China increased 789.5% year-on-year from January to July 2026.
- The industry is shifting focus from training foundational models to deploying commercial applications.
- Average monthly salaries for new AI positions rose 2.7% to 63,160 yuan ($9,406).
- Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen had the most AI job listings.
- Hefei saw the largest year-on-year growth in AI job postings, up 1,570.4%.
Job openings for artificial intelligence roles in China saw a significant surge of 789.5% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2026, according to a report released by professional networking platform Maimai. This growth reflects an industry-wide pivot from the development of foundational AI models to the deployment of practical, commercial applications.
The report indicated that average monthly salaries for newly listed AI positions increased by 2.7% to 63,160 yuan ($9,406). While major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen led in the sheer volume of AI job listings, secondary hubs experienced the most rapid expansion. Hefei, in particular, recorded a striking 1,570.4% jump in AI job postings.