Also degree uni and job location. This is in Taipei (I think) that alone gets a 10-15k premium and OP also has 3 years of experience. My anecdotes are heavily influenced by from jobs in north Taiwan and 台清交 graduates. Everyone’s situation is different.
Funny I got a job from 11 people startup, almost no Chinese and my passport is from a country far less desirable than banana republic yet me and my peers all ask for 100-130k with PhDs and got it. You are not wrong, tens of thousands get jobs at those compensation levels but everyone’s situation is different.
You must be among the outliers.
Or did your job involving trafficking people to Cambodia?
Thank you everyone for your insights. I did my MS Chemical Engineering at NTU, btw. And the start up company I am applying for is located in Tainan.
Based from my first conversation with the owner, I am inclined to think that even just 60k might be risky. As I mentioned, the current headcount is less than 15. The only thing that makes me really consider this company – what they are doing is similar to my research field since undergrad. It’s interesting to see how the field I am working on during my academic research is slowly reaching the industrial scale application.
It would be perfect if they can indeed offer at least 70k. Do you think it is better to revert the question back to the boss instead of stating my asking salary? Something like, “I would appreciate it if you can let me know the salary range you have set for this role. Then, we can take it from there.”
Likely. 60k is not bad for Tainan.
Not going to work if they know what they’re doing.
It’s not 台清交成？
Don’t be shy with startups, they always have a hard time finding people so they have to pay more. Don’t ask too little.
Did I understand well, you graduated and are on the job market for the past 6 months? Is it safe to assume that you are single (no family here in TW), too? It will be helpful in guesstimating the risk-return of your employment.
Edit: is your salary expectation of 70k after taxes and insurance deductions?
Yes, you understand correctly. I am single, job-seeking for the past 6 months. Single (no family on TW). 70k as base salary before deductions.
After graduating, my approach was to accept any reasonable job offer immediately. My thinking was that waiting too long for the perfect job would mean losing out on both income and career experience.
Consider this scenario: you land a job with a monthly salary of 50k in Tainan right after graduation. Within six months, you’d not only accumulate experience but also earn enough to support yourself, making it a practical choice regardless of the amount.
Additionally, you have the option to change jobs later. If I were in your shoes, I’d accept any available offer and attempt to negotiate for relocation to Tainan, aiming to minimize any potential losses if things don’t work out.
Perhaps I’m cautious or have financial responsibilities to others, or maybe it’s a bit of both.
In any case, I wish you the best in your negotiations!
Thank you for your insight. I kinda agree with you. But the thing is that I am not “waiting for the perfect job” because I know it simply doesn’t exist. I have been applying for job since graduation but have not landed any interviews in those 6mos. I believe a major factor to this is my non-existent 中文. I only know very basic words and cannot hold a conversation esp in the business context. At first, I thought it was because my cv is poorly written but I found out it was not the case. I attended the recent job fair in NTU. Most of the companies I applied for in the past months were there. Had the chance to talk to some HR people. They said my cv is actually good but most of the positions are for those who can speak both 中文 and English. This is something they don’t specify in their job posting, tho. Usually, they will write English as the req’d language. This gives the impression that non-中文 speakers have a chance even if it is not really the case.
I say go for it if you have been looking for six months and the job is related to your research. You can and will find a better job later. A poorly paid job in your field is way better than no job. Having the chance to work in Tainan is a big plus. Tainan is not only interesting, but also developing fast as an important new tech center in Taiwan.You’ll be saving signficantly on rent and the cost of living will generally be a bit lower.
And learn some damn Chinese!
Also, poorly paid job in Tainan is better than poorly paid job in Taipei. 
Actually weird thing about Taiwan is, cost of living in the south like Tainan is lower but wages/salary is exactly the same as Taipei.
That could be true, but job offering in Tainan is very limited.
I’d love to! I actually took the free chinese course for degree students at NTU, but that was just 2hrs per week for 2 semesters. It is simply not enough. I inquired for intensive course in the language center but I cannot afford it at the moment.
The ideal situation is like this.
You have 3 interviews just after your graduated.
Consider these are your test samples.
Say: interview A, interview B and interview C.
Presumably, you will fail all three of them, because you have no experience, other candidates have more experience.
Weighing the results as in good, OK, bad.
Now, you enter your real cycle of interview. What your aiming is getting an interview with better than OK vibes, and succesfully signing on this, within 6 months.
Only flaw in Taiwan, you will be disadvantaged for most jobs if you don’t speak Chinese.
I use this theory when just graduated and try to find a job back in home country.
The first three interviews formed my expectations (salary more than 350 USD per month, after interviewed for 200 USD, 250 USD and 800 USD per month positions with different companies) and managed to land a job (salary 650 USD per month) after 6 months.
So first three interviews:
200 accepted, but I reject
250 accepted, but I reject
800 rejected by company
Then seriously digging getting these interviews
350, rejected
300, accepted but I reject
250, rejected
350, rejected
650, accepted, I sign immediately.
Same logic could be used when trying to get a long term girlfriend/wife.
First three as test samples. You could weigh them as good, OK, bad.
After these three, your target is getting the next one that better than OK.
Example your first three dates are:
7, not interested in you
5, too plain for you
4, too ugly for you
You know realistically anything above 5 would be OK for you.
Now, you have to find seriously the next girl that higher than 5.
5, dinner and done
4, coffee and done
6, you are below her standard
6, seal the deal
I’m sure you have a valid logic and SOP you followed. But it’s hard for me to grasp your approach, specially talking about salaries back home but you don’t give any reference point, like what’s the average?
I think the idea is market average irrelevant.
Same like finding long term GF. We all know that there are always attractive girls out there. But for whatever reasons, you have no chance approaching them. Be it you licing in different circles, language barrier, you too ugly for her, etc.
For reference, most people will be alright signing 200 USD back then.