Ministry of Labor Survey: Pilots Earn Nearly 4 Million NTD Annually, Topping the List; Beauty and Hairdressing Monthly Wages Grow Over 7%

Central News Agency, Taipei, 29th. The Ministry of Labor released its latest occupational wage survey statistics today. Pilots remain at the top of the salary rankings, with an annual salary of nearly 4 million NTD. Meanwhile, insurance agents, funeral services, and beauty and hairdressing sectors saw the highest growth in monthly wages, with annual growth rates exceeding 7%. The Ministry of Labor conducts an annual occupational wage survey, which includes the number of full-time employees in each occupation, regular monthly wages in July of that year, and the average annual income per person for the year 113 (2024). The results for the year 114 (2025) were released today, with 9,977 valid samples collected. According to the survey, the top-ranked occupation for both monthly and annual salary is the aircraft pilot, with a monthly salary of 298,000 NTD and an annual salary of 3.931 million NTD. This is followed by actuaries with a monthly salary of 203,000 NTD and an annual salary of 3.662 million NTD, and doctors with a monthly salary of 180,000 NTD and an annual salary of 2.497 million NTD. Additionally, professional athletes and ship supervisors (including pilots) have monthly salaries exceeding 100,000 NTD. Telecom engineers, lawyers, and securities traders and brokers (including financial advisors and underwriters) also have annual salaries exceeding 1.5 million NTD. Vice Minister of Labor Li Jian-hong stated that many factors influence industry salary levels, including the degree of danger in the work, professional skills, and whether the position is scarce in the labor market. The survey shows that there has been little change in the top 10 salary rankings in recent years. This survey also shows that among positions with over 5,000 employees, insurance sales agents, funeral service personnel, travel consultants (including travel agency staff), and hair and beauty stylists saw monthly wage growth rates exceeding 7%. Subsequent rankings include aircraft maintenance personnel, security guards, pet groomers and animal care personnel, child care personnel (including nannies), beverage preparers, and motorcycle delivery drivers. Li Jian-hong analyzed that except for aircraft maintenance personnel and insurance agents, the wages in other industries are relatively low. Judging from common factors, high monthly wage growth rates may be related to consecutive increases in the minimum wage and increased hiring wages due to labor shortages. However, some industries saw a decrease in monthly wage growth rates. Mei Jia-yuan, Director of the Department of Statistics at the Ministry of Labor, pointed out that the growth rates for real estate agents (including housing agents) and securities traders and brokers were -8.9% and -5.2%, respectively. Mei pointed out that the salaries in these two industries are mostly bonus-based. If looking at the annual salary growth rate for 113, they increased by 17.1% and 9.8%, respectively.