Taiwan Q1 real regular wage growth fastest in 11 years, yet nearly 70% of employees earn below average

In the first quarter of 2026, according to ETtoday citing the Central News Agency, and to the Economic Daily News, figures released by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) show that real regular wages rose 1.45% year on year from January to March, the biggest first-quarter increase in 11 years.

In nominal terms, average regular wages in the first quarter were NT$48,706 (all amounts below are in New Taiwan dollars), up 2.69% year on year; after adjusting for prices the figure was NT$44,078. Real total wages, which include bonuses and other payments, rose 1.98% year on year, the biggest first-quarter increase in eight years. Focus Taiwan, the Central News Agency's English-language service, also reported that pay rises this quarter outpaced inflation.

The trend began earlier. Focus Taiwan reported in March that real regular wages in January grew at their fastest pace for that month in 11 years. Public Television Service (PTS) later reported that average regular wages in April were NT$49,146, up 2.9% year on year; the January to April average was NT$48,826, up 2.77%, and after adjusting for prices that was a six-year high for the period.

2025: nominal pay up more than 3%, still growth after inflation

Looking back over a full year, 104 Career Power, compiling DGBAS data, reports that in 2025 average monthly regular wages for all employees were NT$47,884, up 3.09% year on year; the median was NT$38,406, up 3.03%.

After adjusting for prices, average real regular wages in 2025 rose 1.40%, the largest rise in five years; real total wages rose 2.21%, the largest in seven years; and median real regular wages rose 1.35%. Over the full year, average total wages per person were NT$760,632, up 3.91%.

Real figures remaining positive means pay rose faster than prices.

Electronic components: largest rise in total wages of any industry

According to data compiled by 104 Career Power, total wages in the electronic components manufacturing industry averaged NT$1,332,924 for 2025, up 8.52%, the largest increase of any industry. Its average monthly regular wages were NT$57,096, up 3.06%, similar to the 3.09% for all employees.

DGBAS said, as reported by the Economic Daily News, that the high-tech sector has boomed over the past year or two and paid more generous wages and bonuses, which pushed up the average; strong AI demand led related companies to raise bonuses, causing total wages to jump in March. The report did not name the electronic components industry specifically.

Gaps between industries are considerable. 1111 Job Bank reported that in March 2026 average regular wages in electronic components manufacturing were NT$57,710, about NT$11,000 higher than the NT$46,682 for manufacturing as a whole; in the same month financial and insurance activities stood at NT$73,199 and accommodation and food services at NT$34,524. For 2025 as a whole, monthly regular wages in financial and insurance activities were NT$70,997, the only industry above NT$70,000.

The gaps in medians are also large. PTS reported that in April the median regular wage was NT$48,532 in electronic components and NT$31,784 in food and beverage services.

Behind the average: nearly 70% earn below it

The Economic Daily News reported that the median regular wage in the first quarter of 2026 was NT$39,133, up 2.75% year on year, and that the share of employees earning below the average wage was 69.95%, a record high. According to ETtoday citing the Central News Agency, the median in March alone was NT$39,220, up 2.9%.

Citing the official figures when negotiating a pay rise

• Separate nominal from real: nominal regular wages rose 2.69% year on year in the first quarter and real regular wages 1.45%. The former is the headline rise; the latter reflects purchasing power.
• Compare regular wages, not only total wages: in March 2026 average total wages were NT$57,509, up 4.4% year on year and the biggest rise for that month in 16 years, but that figure includes bonuses.
• Compare against your own industry: electronic components, financial and insurance, and accommodation and food services differ by tens of thousands of dollars.
• State the period and basis: the first-quarter average of NT$48,706 and the March average of NT$48,768 cover different periods and should not be mixed; say which period you are citing.
• Rely on the original release: media reports may contain discrepancies, so check the original press release on the DGBAS website before citing formally.

Industry gaps and labour shortages

PTS quoted an analyst at a job bank as saying that pay rises were most noticeable in finance and AI-related high tech, while domestic-demand service sectors such as food and beverage and retail saw smaller rises, although labour shortages were still pushing wages up.

Prices are the next variable

The Economic Daily News reported on 11 May that energy prices rose after the US-Iran conflict broke out at the end of February, and that the consumer price index (CPI) rise in April could widen. ETtoday quoted a DGBAS official as saying that whether real wages can keep growing depends on whether pay rises continue to exceed price rises.

This article was compiled in November 2026. All figures come from media reports of DGBAS releases; the latest month cited is April 2026, and amounts are in New Taiwan dollars.

Prices and details correct as of November 2026

Compiled by the F50 Editorial Team from public sources, for general reference only and not professional advice. Details are correct as of the publication date and may change.