TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s median salary only crosses the NT$40,000 (US$1,280) mark for employees aged 40 and above, highlighting the slow growth of earnings for younger workers.

Although the average salary continues to grow, it can be skewed by extreme values and may not reflect the “real-world” salary situation for most people, per CNA. As a result, many rely on the median to gauge typical salary levels.

The latest data from the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) shows the median monthly salary for all employees in the first 10 months of the year was NT$38,319. This remains below NT$40,000, meaning more than half of workers earn less than that amount.

The DGBAS said industry and individual characteristics influence median salaries, with age, experience, and education among the most significant factors. Employees under 30 had a median salary of NT$31,740.

Salaries rise with age as work experience and professional skills accumulate. Median monthly pay reaches NT$39,019 for workers aged 30–39, NT$42,064 for those 40–49, and NT$43,143 for the 50–64 group.

For employees aged 65 and above, which includes retirees returning to the workforce, the median falls to NT$38,199.

Employees with a junior college or university degree had a median regular salary of NT$40,501, while those with a master’s degree earned NT$66,548. Over the past five years, the annual growth rate for master’s degree holders has generally outpaced other education levels.

By industry, accommodation and food services and support services recorded lower medians at NT$31,566 and NT$32,721 due to a higher share of non-standard employment. Manufacturing posted a median of NT$36,726, while the electronic components sector was NT$46,914.

Publishing, audiovisual, and ICT industries reported a relatively higher median salary of NT$53,400. Finance and insurance was the best-paying industry at NT$57,861.