A report released by Tsinghua University's China data center suggests the average monthly pay of college students who graduated in 2011 was 2,719 yuan ($426).
Among the same group, 69 percent earn less than 2,000 yuan a month and only 3 percent make more than 5,000 yuan, China Youth Daily reported on Thursday. The lowest monthly pay reported was 500 yuan and the highest 100,000 yuan.
Meanwhile, the average salary of migrant workers has increased rapidly. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the average monthly income of migrant workers reached 2,049 yuan in 2011. Many such workers earn more than recent college graduates.
Those who are highly competent can make more than 10,000 yuan a month, an amount exceeding the pay of many office workers, the report said.