(Yicai Global) Feb. 14 -- The disposable income of residents in six Chinese cities exceeded CNY70,000 (USD10,270) last year, with Guangzhou in the south, as well as Suzhou and Hangzhou on the eastern coast, joining the list for the first time, Yicai Global learned from statistics released by local governments.

Shanghai ranked first among the elite club’s six members with a per capita disposable income of CNY79,610, followed by Beijing and Shenzhen. Guangzhou, Suzhou and Hangzhou became the new members with CNY71,357, CNY70,819 and CNY70,281, respectively.

High-income jobs were one of the key reasons why first-tier cities topped the list by per capita disposable income, Yicai Global noted. Three industries with the highest incomes in recent years, namely Information transmission, software and information technology services; finance; and scientific research and technical services; were concentrated in these cities.

China’s four first-tier cities are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

By economic output, Suzhou ranked sixth on the Chinese mainland last year. The concentration of high and new tech firms and increased spending on research and development provide a good foundation for increase in residents’ incomes in the Jiangsu province city.

Hangzhou, meanwhile, is the headquarters of internet giant Alibaba Group Holding and also home to many internet businesses with ample high-income jobs. Zhejiang, of which Hangzhou is the capital, is one of the most developed provinces in China, with a higher per capita income.

Nanjing, the Jiangsu capital; Ningbo, one of the key economic centers in Zhejiang; Xiamen, a port city in Fujian province, and Wuxi, another city in Jiangsu, were the other four cities in the top 10 by per capita disposable income last year. Wuxi ranked 10th with CNY65,823.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Peter Thomas