Key Facts: El Salvador vs Taiwan Wages
- El Salvador Minimum Wage
- $2.13/hr
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- El Salvador Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $500 /mo ($500 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social (Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare) — El Salvador (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24)
El Salvador 
Taiwan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in El Salvador is 65% lower than in Taiwan in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $500/mo in El Salvador versus $1,865/mo in Taiwan, a 3.7:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | El Salvador | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $2.13 | NT$190 $6.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $408.80 | NT$28,590 $919.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $500 /mo | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $435 /mo | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 |
| Median individual income /yr | $3,600 /yr | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means El Salvador is higher.
Work Week
- El Salvador
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 44 hours, typically spread over 6 days (8 hours/day plus 4 hours on Saturday, or 5.5 days). Overtime (beyond 44 hours/week) is paid at 2x the regular rate — one of the highest overtime premiums in the region. Work on the mandatory weekly rest day (usually Sunday) or on public holidays is also compensated at double the regular rate. Night work (7pm-6am) limited to 7 hours/day, 39 hours/week.
- Taiwan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.34x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Two mandatory rest days per week (one fixed, one flexible). Overtime: first 2 hrs at 1.34x, next 2 hrs at 1.67x. Monthly overtime cap of 46 hours (may be extended to 54 hours with union/labour-management agreement, max 138 hrs/3 months).
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in El Salvador earns 187% less per hour in USD terms than one in Taiwan. Standard work weeks differ: El Salvador mandates 44 hours while Taiwan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in El Salvador are $94 vs $244 in Taiwan.
See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan vs El Salvador
Compare El Salvador with...
El Salvador vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
El Salvador vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
El Salvador vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
El Salvador vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
El Salvador vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
El Salvador vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
El Salvador vs France € 12.02 /hr 
El Salvador vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
El Salvador vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
El Salvador vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
El Salvador vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
El Salvador vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
El Salvador vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
El Salvador vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
El Salvador vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
El Salvador vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
El Salvador vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
El Salvador vs Switzerland 
El Salvador vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
El Salvador vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
El Salvador vs Sweden 
El Salvador vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
El Salvador vs Singapore 
El Salvador vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in El Salvador or Taiwan?
In El Salvador, the minimum wage is $2.13/hr. In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). Taiwan has the higher rate by 187% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in El Salvador may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in El Salvador compared to Taiwan?
The average gross salary in El Salvador is $500/mo, compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in El Salvador earn approximately 273% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between El Salvador and Taiwan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Taiwan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in El Salvador.
How do work hours compare between El Salvador and Taiwan?
El Salvador has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Taiwan. Workers in El Salvador work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Taiwan working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.