As the end of the year approaches, 68 percent of Taiwanese companies are set to issue bonuses, with the average payout expected to slightly decrease to 1.56 months of salary, from 1.62 months last year, a survey released yesterday by 104 Job Bank (104人力銀行) showed.
Bonuses differ significantly across industries — highlighting a widening gap between higher-paying and lower-paying sectors, the survey showed.
Semiconductor companies are projected to offer the highest bonuses, averaging 1.98 months of salary. They are followed by construction firms with 1.73 months, warehousing and transportation support services at 1.67 months, architectural and design firms at 1.61 months, and electronic component manufacturers at 1.6 months.
Photo: CNA
These sectors benefit from higher profit margins or rely on specialized technical expertise, contributing to higher bonuses, 104 Job Bank said.
On the other hand, lower bonuses are expected in industries such as publishing and arts-related businesses (0.78 months), accommodation services (0.97 months), food and beverage providers (1.07 months), sports and leisure travel companies (1.14 months), and mass media (1.18 months).
These industries tend to be more labor-intensive or sensitive to consumer demand fluctuations, contributing to more conservative bonus policies, 104 Job Bank said.
For total annual compensation — including base salary, fixed bonuses and variable bonuses — the median salary is about NT$673,000 (US$21,559) this year, it said.
The technology and financial sectors remain among the highest-paying industries. Computer and consumer electronics manufacturing jobs top the list with a median total compensation of NT$897,000, followed by semiconductors at NT$848,000. Investment and wealth management, software and Internet-related jobs, and financial institutions each report a median compensation of NT$792,000.
The survey also highlights the highest-paying job categories. Among engineering positions, analogue IC design engineers lead with NT$1.71 million in annual compensation, followed by digital IC design engineers at NT$1.65 million, semiconductor engineers at NT$1.17 million, firmware engineers at NT$1.16 million and semiconductor process engineers at NT$1.08 million.
These roles typically require advanced technical expertise and cross-disciplinary skills, it said.
In non-engineering fields, physicians earn the highest annual compensation at NT$2.12 million, followed by channel development professionals at NT$1.57 million, investment managers at NT$1.2 million, university professors at NT$1.15 million and telemarketers at NT$1.09 million.
High pay in these categories is linked to professional qualifications, direct revenue contribution or performance-based reward mechanisms.
A polarized wage trend has become increasingly apparent this year, 104 Job Bank senior consultant Jessica Lo (羅悅華) said.
Lo said strong salary growth in the technology sector continues to attract talent toward high-paying industries, creating additional pressure on lower-paying sectors to secure skilled professionals.
Companies should complement competitive salaries with strengthened employer branding — through enhanced benefits and a positive corporate image — to attract and retain talented workers, she said.
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