Abstract: Objective To investigate the prevalence of chronic disease and its influencing factors among employees in urban China and to evaluate the health equity among employees with different socioeconomic status (SES). Methods A total of 3 553 employees were selected from 5 types of workplaces in Beijing, Xiamen, Quanzhou and Hohhot using stratified cluster sampling and investigated by questionnaire. Results The total prevalence rate of chronic disease among participants was 14.8% (16.7% in men and 12.5% in women). The Logistic regression analysis indicated that advancing age (all P<0.05), college and above education (OR=2.020, 95% CI:1.567-2.605), high occupational stress (OR=1.328, 95% CI:1.091-1.617), overweight or obesity (OR=1.530, 95% CI:1.249-1.875), smoking (OR=1.436, 95% CI:1.148-1.798) and drinking (OR=1.976, 95% CI:1.409-2.771) were risk factors for chronic disease, whereas nonlocal census register was the protective factor (OR=0.756, 95% CI:0.604-0.945). Stratified by gender, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of chronic diseases among employees with different SES (all P<0.05), and concentration indexes of chronic diseases were all positive value and highest in income. Conclusions The prevalence rate of chronic disease was relatively low and associated with age, education, occupational stress and lifestyles. Health inequity among the employees with different SES was measured.