Real wages, total earnings rise in first 9 months of 2025: DGBAS

Taipei, Nov. 10 (CNA) Taiwan's average real regular wages and real total earnings rose at the fastest pace in several years during the first nine months of 2025, driven by higher minimum wages and corporate pay adjustments, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said Monday.

Average monthly regular wages (including salaries and fixed allowances) grew 3 percent year-on-year to NT$47,751 (US$1,540) from January-September, marking the largest increase for the same period in 25 years, DGBAS data showed.

Tan Wen-ling (譚文玲), deputy director of the DGBAS Census Department, said the rise reflected the impact of minimum wage hikes and company-led pay raises.

Meanwhile, the median regular wage rose 2.87 percent to NT$38,264, according to the data.

The share of employees earnings below the average regular wage climbed to 69.77 percent, hitting a record high, Tan said, adding that the increase mainly reflects the effect of high-income earners pulling the average upward.

After adjusting for inflation, average real monthly regular wages rose 1.21 percent to NT$43,652, the biggest gain in five years. Real total annual earnings (including variable pay such as bonuses and overtime) rose 1.87 percent to NT$532,692, the fastest growth in seven years.

In September alone, average regular earnings stood at NT$48,110, up 3.19 percent year-on-year, while variable pay such as bonuses and overtime averaged NT$9,342. That pushed average total monthly earnings to NT$57,452, up 1.85 percent, according to the data.

The median regular wage in September stood at NT$38,632, up 3.56 percent, which the DGBAS said better reflects how most employees actually feel about their pay level.

Tan said total earnings, which are more closely linked to business cycles and company revenues, showed stronger growth than regular wages in the first nine months, likely due to robust demand in the electronics industry.

Both real regular and total wages posted growth, suggesting that inflation has not significantly eroded workers' purchasing power.

According to DGBAS data, median regular wages across industries in the first nine months showed that sectors with a higher proportions of atypical workers such as accommodation and food services (NT$31,563) and support services (NT$32,653) had lower median pay.

In contrast, the manufacturing sector's median regular wage stood at NT$36,665, with NT$46,838 for electronic components manufacturing. Higher-paying sectors included publishing, audiovisual and information and communications (NT$53,384) and financial and insurance services (NT$57,822).