The annual Guangzhou salary in 2008 ranked fourth after Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, according to a survey by the Zhaopin.com website.

The survey focused on annual salaries from various industries in six cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Dalian.

The Hi-tech industry ranked first among the top paid jobs, followed by jobs in real estate and financing. Affected by the global financial crisis, however, salaries earned in the real estate industry fell, but still maintained a comparatively high standard.

Salaries in the financing industry decreased sharply in 2008, with the annual salary span of 25,000 - 780,000 yuan decreasing to 21,000 - 530,000 yuan.

Salaries in Shanghai were the highest of all six cities. The salary span in Shanghai was between 20,000 and 650,000 yuan, while that in Guangzhou was between 18,000 and 500,000 yuan.

In 2009, 70% of corporations will adjust their salary budgets due to the financial crisis. It is estimated that the average salary increase will reach 10.3% this year.