Taipei: Taiwan's average real regular wages and real total earnings experienced significant growth during the first nine months of 2025, driven by increased minimum wages and corporate pay adjustments, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) reported on Monday.
According to Focus Taiwan, average monthly regular wages, which encompass salaries and fixed allowances, rose by 3 percent year-on-year to reach NT$47,751 (US$1,540) from January to September. This marks the largest increase for the corresponding period in 25 years, as per DGBAS data. Tan Wen-ling, deputy director of the DGBAS Census Department, attributed this rise to the effects of minimum wage hikes and company-initiated pay raises.
The median regular wage witnessed a 2.87 percent increase, reaching NT$38,264. The proportion of employees earning below the average regular wage climbed to a record high of 69.77 percent, mainly due to high-income earners elevating the average, Tan explained.
After accounting for inflation, the average real monthly regular wages increased by 1.21 percent to NT$43,652, the largest gain in five years. Real total annual earnings, including variable pay like bonuses and overtime, grew by 1.87 percent to NT$532,692, the fastest growth in seven years.
In September, average regular earnings stood at NT$48,110, reflecting a 3.19 percent year-on-year increase. Variable pay such as bonuses and overtime averaged NT$9,342, raising average total monthly earnings to NT$57,452, up by 1.85 percent, as per the data.
The median regular wage in September was NT$38,632, a 3.56 percent rise, which DGBAS stated more accurately reflects employees' perceptions of their pay levels. Tan noted that total earnings, closely tied to business cycles and corporate revenues, showed more robust growth than regular wages in the first nine months, likely due to strong demand in the electronics sector.
Both real regular and total wages displayed growth, suggesting that inflation has not significantly undermined workers' purchasing power. DGBAS data revealed that median regular wages across industries showed lower median pay in sectors with higher proportions of atypical workers, such as accommodation and food services (NT$31,563) and support services (NT$32,653). Conversely, the manufacturing sector's median regular wage was NT$36,665, with electronic components manufacturing at NT$46,838. Higher-paying industries included publishing, audiovisual, and information and communications (NT$53,384) and financial and insurance services (NT$57,822).