URUMQI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has raised its statutory minimum monthly pay by an average of 10.4 percent to help offset rising costs of living.

Monthly salaries -- before deductions for pension, unemployment, medical insurance and the housing provident fund -- were raised to 1,820 yuan (290 U.S. dollars), 1,620 yuan, 1,540 yuan and 1,460 yuan, depending on location, according to Xinjiang's human resources and social security bureau.

The first salary level applies to Karamay and Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County. The second level applies to Urumqi, Changji, Shihezi, as well as two other cities and two other counties.

The third level applies to the cities of Kashgar, Aksu and Korla, as well as other areas. The fourth level applies to 55 less-developed counties and cities.

The minimum hourly wages for non-full-time workers have also been raised by 10.4 percent on average.

Many other regions in China, including Shanghai, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Guangxi and Tibet, have all raised minimum wages this year.