Salaries In The Hong Kong Construction Industry In March 2023

As Hong Kong finally opens up from Covid restrictions and strives to regain its competitive edge, the government has pledged HK$300 billion per year to plough into construction and infrastructure development over the next 10 to 15 years and the market is looking positive for Quantity Surveyors, Planning Engineers, Project Managers and Quality Assurance Managers, Safety and Risk professionals.

Here, we take a look at current salaries available for critical disciplines within the construction industry and share key drivers, terms and conditions in the local market as well as what it takes to secure that next great job.

The wide ranging salaries often reflect the differing type of role available whether with a contractor, a consultant or client organisation. For example, a job with a construction contractor will typically pay more to reflect the additional hours and work pressures that are involved.

 Typical total salary package earned by construction professionals in Hong Kong.

“Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience………” 

This is mentioned time and again by employers in job advertisements and although this can be frustrating for job seekers, qualifications matter tremendously as well as relevant experience.

Relevant qualifications are extremely important in Hong Kong. Having a degree from a reputable and recognised university is paramount. The language of construction contracts in Hong Kong is English and proof of proficiency in English writing and speaking is important. Achieving a post graduate accreditation, for example being a chartered member or fellow of a professional organisation will almost certainly mean a higher starting salary, especially for quantity surveying roles.

Relevant experience is key to securing that well paid job. Expatriates with no post graduate experience will not likely secure a job in Hong Kong. At least 5-6 years of relevant experience is a minimum requirement. For locals, some overseas experience is considered an advantage as well as knowledge of NEC contracts for example as a lot of Hong Kong companies strive to follow UK and other major construction economies to adopt global best practice.

It's all about supply and demand!

The construction market is getting busy which invariably means that more job opportunities will arise than there are suitable candidates to fill them. Hence opportunities for expatriates will grow and salaries will go up! This coupled with an exodus of local talent moving to UK and Canada means it’s a good time to consider relocating to Hong Kong!

In order to attract talent, some employers offer a 13th month bonus to their employees. It’s a guaranteed bonus of 1 month’s extra salary typically paid during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Aside from that, some companies offer performance related discretionary bonuses which are typically 1-2 months’ salary however can be as much as 6 months!

 A smaller slice for the Inland Revenue

The level of salaries tax or income tax paid is a major factor in deciding where to live and work. UK taxpayers have enjoyed (or endured) reasonably harsh levels of tax paid on their hard-earned income, those in Australia fair worse. Income tax levels in Hong Kong are attractive compared with the UK, Australia, the USA and many other countries. Personal tax is rated on a sliding scale and averages at around 14-15%. Estimate personal income tax in Hong Kong.

How to secure that top job

Start with a well written, compelling and grammatically correct CV.

A good CV should include:

• 2-3 pages of well written information relevant to the job being applied for
  
  
• An eye-catching succinct profile on the front page which includes:
  • Key relevant qualifications
  • Number of years in the industry
  • Main areas of expertise. Summary of current roles and responsibilities
  • Career aspirations
• Career history in reverse chronological order, including a clear and concise explanations of your duties and responsibilities, type of project you were involved in with a project value.

A good CV should reflect stable periods of employment with well-respected companies; a demonstrable career development, where practicable experience in projects from concept design through to completion, close out and handover including claims and dispute resolution.

Opportunities in Hong Kong today

Please check out our jobs for the latest jobs as a Quantity Surveyor, Project Engineer, Planning Engineer, Quality Assurance Manager or Project Manager roles.

Here’s a taste of some of our most exciting roles as of March 2023:

• Associate Director MEP Quantity Surveying
• Client Side Project Manager
• Chief Civils Construction Manager
• Chief Corporate Quality Manager International Business
• Chief Land Surveyor
• Installation Engineering Manager Signaling

Richard Poulter
Construction Recruitment Director, Hong Kong
Maxim Recruitment
LinkedIn

Richard has successfully recruited for the construction industry for the past 13 years following 15 years as a civil engineer and construction project manager. He is based in Hong Kong and responsible for Maxim Recruitment operations in Hong Kong, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.