Taiwan’s regular wage growth reaches 26-year high
台灣經常性薪資成長達到26年來的最高水平
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Average monthly regular wages grew 3.09% in the first 11 months of 2025, the fastest growth for the same period in 26 years, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics reported on Monday.
The average monthly regular wage, which includes base salary and fixed bonuses and allowances, was NT$47,837 (US$1,511) over the 11 months, per CNA. Adjusted for inflation, real average earnings rose 2.34% from 2024. In November, the average monthly regular wage reached NT$48,139, up 3.08% from a year earlier. Bonuses and overtime averaged NT$9,964, bringing average earnings that month to NT$58,103, a year-on-year increase of 4.69%. Tan Wen-ling (譚文玲), deputy director of the DGBAS Census Department, said regular wage growth was driven not only by minimum wage hikes and company pay raises, but also by strong exports in the electronics components and computer/optoelectronics sectors. AI-related demand boosted revenues and profits, which were reflected in employee pay and lifted overall wage growth. Tan said both sectors saw not only rising regular wages but also average earnings exceeding NT$1 million in the first 11 months of last year. Beyond these industries, many companies raised wages to retain talent. Because averages can be skewed by extreme values, the median monthly regular wage is considered a better gauge of workers’ actual pay. DGBAS data showed the median regular wage in the first 11 months was NT$38,360, up 3.02% year on year. By industry, median monthly regular wages were relatively lower in accommodation and food services, at NT$31,569, due to higher shares of non-standard employment. Manufacturing posted a median of NT$36,770, including NT$46,987 in electronics components manufacturing. Median wages were higher in publishing, audiovisual, and information and communications services at NT$53,432, and in finance and insurance at NT$57,996. |
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| Keoni Everington Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2026-01-13 |
