Avoiding salary inquiry mistakes: 5 steps to know in 2025

As the wave of workplace transparency sweeps the world and the public's demand for "salary inquiries" increases year by year, many office workers, job changers, and even recent graduates hope to accurately grasp the salary locations of industries and positions. But do you know? Internet information is full of various data and rumors. If you are not careful when checking salaries, you may fall into misunderstandings, which will cast a shadow on your career development and salary negotiations. In 2025, if you want to check your salary and negotiate a fair price, you should remember the following 5 correct steps!

Why is salary inquiry important? Avoid common mistakes

In the age of transparency, true and false information is presented side by side

In recent years, many salary transparency platforms and online communities have emerged rapidly, but they are also filled with fake salaries, old information, or special personal circumstances. Many people found that the salaries for the same job title varied greatly, and they lost their reference basis; some job seekers even failed in salary negotiations due to false information.

Common salary misunderstandings

1. Only watch Average salaryRegardless of company size, industry
2. Relying solely on friends or anonymous messages
3. Confusing total annual salary, base salary and bonus structure
4. Not taking into account regional differences and cost of living
5. Ignoring the actual salary received, such as taxes and deductions

What do financial experts say?

Experts suggest that salary inquiries must be compared from multiple sources, and personal resume, ability, company strategy and geographical conditions must also be considered. Over-reliance on word of mouth on the Internet is like making a joke of your career!

5 correct steps to check salary in 2025

Step 1｜Choose a platform with high credibility

Only a reliable platform can give you the most valuable information! The following table lists several major sources for reference:

Do not rely on a single data source. It is recommended to refer to at least two platforms at the same time to correct errors.

Step 2: Clearly distinguish the salary structure

In 2025, the terminology used by companies in different industries will vary greatly, and effective salary inquiries must clarify the following differences:

Only by correctly finding out "total annual salary = basic salary * 12 + fixed year-end bonus + variable bonus" can we align it with the actual market conditions.

Add personal conditions inventory before salary inquiry

Everyone is treated differently depending on their qualifications, industry, location, and even gender and age. Only by taking stock of your personal conditions can you find the corresponding data:

• Years of experience
• Highest education/professional certificate/language ability
• Position type (management or technical)
• Work location (Taipei vs. Central and Southern Taiwan vs. Outlying Islands)

These conditions are reflected in Salary inquiry platformWhen setting the "Query Condition Filter", be sure to check the details to avoid misleading by finding irrelevant data.

Compare and analyze salary data from multiple angles

Not only should we look at the average, but we should also pay attention to the maximum/minimum values, normal range and industry trends. For example:

It is recommended to refer to the median (which best reflects reality) and observe the trend of industry salary changes, rather than just looking at the figures of a single year.

Integrate actual income and after-tax status

Salary inquiries must be based on the actual amount received! As tax filing policies adjust every year, there will be obvious differences in the actual amounts received. Taking the latest regulations in 2025 as an example, refer to the following table:

Be sure to use tax calculations and deduction formulas to assess the amount you can actually take home to avoid being misled by inflated annual salaries on the Internet.

Advanced Tips: Make good use of salary information during tax season and make effective inquiries

Tax return documents are also used as a basis for salary verification

During the tax filing period, the company will provide salary withholding vouchers, which are the most direct basis for checking your own and your peers' salary destination. Remember to check your personal vouchers before checking your salary. Platform dataCompare.

How should I report special income and allowances?

Many companies will distribute it in the form of various "allowances" and "bonuses", or even replace cash salaries with stocks or dividends. Starting from 2025, tax laws and social insurance regulations will be stricter. When inquiring, you must "merge it into the total salary" calculation to avoid underestimating income and affecting the amount of loans, tax returns or tax refunds.

Beware of salary inflated and fake data traps

In order to attract traffic, some public information on the Internet contains high-paying exceptions or extreme cases in survey samples. Experts suggest that when data is found to deviate from the norm or cannot be cross-validated, it is recommended to return to authoritative data from official, academic, industry associations, etc.

2025 Salary Transparency New Trend and Query Tools

Digital tools and intelligent platform applications

Smart tax filing and salary analysis tools have evolved into the AI era. Some new platforms use big data to automatically compare salary trends. Simply enter your job title and qualifications to instantly generate salary ranges, common benefits, and even estimated after-tax payouts.

Workplace salary transparency is promoted, and new regulations are introduced for companies to disclose salary information

By 2025, Taiwan and many advanced countries will gradually require medium and large companies to disclose salary ranges in job vacancy announcements and annual reports, and even force the disclosure of some bonus systems. This will greatly benefit the accuracy and credibility of salary inquiries.

Golden rules for combining salary negotiation and salary inquiry

In practice, companies will value a complete salary inquiry report more when entering interviews and negotiations than relying solely on impressions!

Whether you are a veteran or a newcomer, a cross-industry job changer, or a fresh graduate, you must be "prepared" when facing salary inquiries in 2025. By carefully selecting credible information, conducting multiple cross-comparisons, and combining actual salary data with personal conditions, you can not only negotiate a "reasonable market price" salary, but also improve your accurate understanding of your workplace value. Refuse to listen to hearsay and online rumors, make your salary inquiry journey smooth, and start your own career future!