You're in a great position to earn in USD while living in China, especially with your strong background and skill set. Here's a strategic guide to help you find a remote development job that pays at least $2,500/month in USD:

✅ Your Advantages

• 7 years of experience.

• Full-stack & system-level expertise (Java, C#, MySQL, Redis, etc.).

• Familiar with both software development and hardware integration.

• Cost-effective timezone and living costs compared to the U.S./EU.

• Strong motivation — a key trait employers seek in remote hires.

🔍 Step-by-Step Strategy to Get a $2,500 USD Remote Job

1. Optimize Your Resume and LinkedIn

• Use English only.

• Include specific projects, especially:

  • Web crawlers

  • Reverse engineering (if not NDA-bound)

  • Any enterprise-level or high-scale software you've built

• Highlight skills with demand in the U.S. market:

  • Java (Spring Boot), C# (.NET Core), SQL/NoSQL

  • REST APIs, WebSocket, Docker, Linux

  • Redis, Kafka, RabbitMQ, etc.

Consider writing a “Remote Developer Resume” tailored to startup clients (clean, metric-driven, GitHub links).

2. Use the Right Platforms

Apply on platforms that hire international remote developers, not just local Chinese sites:

🌍 Global Remote Job Platforms:

PlatformNotesTuring.comAI-matched remote developer jobs (US clients)Toptal.comElite network – hard to get in but pays wellArc.devRemote job board with verified jobsRemotive.ioRemote startup jobsWeWorkRemotely.comGood for backend-focused rolesRemoteOK.ioFilter by tech stack + salaryUpworkFreelancing – good for building stable clientsFreelancer.comCan land long-term remote work

3. Apply to Startups and Agencies

U.S. startups and outsourcing agencies often:

• Pay $2,000–$4,000/month for experienced developers

• Prefer to outsource remote devs to reduce cost

• Use common stacks like Java Spring, C#, React, Node.js

Look for companies in Series A–B funding stages on sites like AngelList Talent or Crunchbase.

4. Join Developer Communities

Many remote jobs are shared in communities and referrals:

• GitHub – contribute to open source projects (get noticed)

• Reddit – subreddits like r/remotejobs, r/forhire

• Discord Servers – coding communities or startup groups

• LinkedIn – connect with recruiters hiring remote devs

5. Freelance While You Hunt

To reach $2,500/month, combine:

• One long-term remote job at $1,500–2,000/month

• One or two freelance clients at $500–1,000/month total

Freelance jobs you could target:

• Web scraping bots

• Small factory systems or POS

• Hardware–software integrations for small manufacturers

• Maintenance of legacy Java or C# systems

6. Optional: Build a Portfolio Website

Showcase your:

• Projects (screenshots, descriptions, GitHub links)

• Resume (PDF)

• Contact info (email/WeChat)

• Tech stack badges

Example tools: GitHub Pages + Jekyll / Netlify + React

🧠 Bonus: Prepare for Interviews

Many international employers care about:

• English communication

• Timezone overlap (2–4 hours is usually enough)

• Self-motivation

• Problem-solving over just "years of experience"

Use platforms like LeetCode and HackerRank to practice.

✅ Summary

StepAction🔧 Polish ResumeFocused on remote/US-friendly format🌍 Use Right PlatformsTuring, Arc, Upwork, RemoteOK, etc.👨‍💻 Build PortfolioShow past work (GitHub, site)🤝 Join CommunitiesReddit, LinkedIn, Discord💬 Practice EnglishBe ready for remote interviews💼 Apply StrategicallyTarget US startups and agencies

If you’d like, I can help you:

• Write or polish your resume

• Write your LinkedIn profile summary

• Create a portfolio site

• Prepare for a specific job listing

Just let me know!