Key facts
- Hong Kong's average pay rise was 2.5% in 2025, down from 3.5% in 2024.
- Guangdong cities' average pay rise was 1.8% in 2025, down from 2.3% in 2024.
- Macau's average pay rise was 1.6% in 2025, down from 2.7% in 2024.
- Average starting salary for Hong Kong university graduates was HK$19,500 in 2025.
- 15% of surveyed companies reported salary increases of more than 4.5% in 2025.
Companies across the Greater Bay Area (GBA) have slowed their pay increases in 2025, with Hong Kong reporting an average salary adjustment of 2.5%, down from 3.5% last year. This figure is higher than the average increases in Macau (1.6%) and the nine Guangdong cities (1.8%). The survey, conducted by Hong Kong Baptist University and other institutions, involved 258 companies and over 240,000 employees. Despite the overall slowdown, 15% of participating companies still reported salary increases exceeding 4.5%. The average starting salary for Hong Kong university bachelor's graduates remained unchanged at HK$19,500, ending a five-year upward trend.