What is driving the pay increases for junior bankers at Chinese brokerages in Hong Kong?

The surge in dealmaking, especially the listing of mainland Chinese companies, is driving the demand for junior banking talent and leading to the pay increases.

Home / Business and Economy / Chinese Brokers Hike Junior Banker Pay to Boost Retention

Chinese Brokers Hike Junior Banker Pay to Boost Retention

Q: How much are Citic Securities and CMBI raising junior banker salaries by?

Citic Securities is raising pay at its CLSA unit by 15% to 30%, bringing salaries to around HK$75,000 to HK$80,000 per month for select junior associates. CMBI is also lifting pay to similar levels for its junior staff.

Q: Why were banker salaries previously reduced in China?

Bankers were singled out by the ruling Communist Party as leading "hedonistic" lifestyles, leading firms to take a cautious approach and cut pay and bonuses, especially on the mainland.

21 Aug

•

Summary

Citic Securities, CLSA raise junior banker pay 15-30% in Hong Kong
China Merchants Bank's Hong Kong arm also lifts junior salaries
Surge in dealmaking, especially mainland Chinese listings, driving demand

Chinese Brokers Hike Junior Banker Pay to Boost Retention

As of August 22nd, 2025, Chinese brokerages are once again raising pay levels for junior bankers in Hong Kong in an effort to boost retention and handle a surge in dealmaking activity. Citic Securities, China's largest broker, has increased salaries at its CLSA unit, providing 15% to 30% bumps to around HK$75,000 to HK$80,000 per month for select junior associates.

This pay increase marks a stark turnaround from the past few years, when compensation was lowered and bonuses were gutted, especially on the mainland, amid a political shift to rein in private enterprise. Bankers were previously singled out by the ruling Communist Party as leading "hedonistic" lifestyles, leading firms to take a cautious approach even in Hong Kong.

However, the tide has now turned, with dealmaking flourishing in Hong Kong, primarily driven by the listing of mainland Chinese companies. This has triggered intense competition for talent between brokers, leading China Merchants Bank's Hong Kong arm, CMBI, to also lift pay to similar levels for junior staff. Other firms are now considering following suit to retain top talent.

The increases come as Hong Kong's financial sector has seen a net increase of around 1,200 licensed professionals over the past year, with Citic Securities (Hong Kong) and CLSA leading the growth in licensed financiers versus a year ago.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.