In 2023, the average annual wage in South Korea fell to 47,715 U.S. dollars after adjusting for purchasing power parity (PPP). The average salary in South Korea showed a general trend of positive growth within the given period. The monthly wage was projected to reach over 5,400 U.S. dollars in 2040, the highest value among the surveyed countries. Work-life balance South Korea has some of the longest working hours in the world. Although working hours in the country have decreased over the past decade, measures such as flexible working hours have been implemented to promote a better work-life balance. Nevertheless, South Korea still ranks among the top five countries with the longest working hours in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Many South Koreans tend to prefer working for a company that offers a good work-life balance rather than a company that offers a higher salary. This preference is especially strong among parents. Women in the job market While the employment rate of South Korean women has increased steadily over the past decade, the gender pay gap persists. On average, female workers earned about 65 percent of their male counterparts’ income. The average monthly salary in South Korea was around 4.26 million South Korean won for men and about 2.78 million won for women that year.

Wages in South Korea decreased to 4293856 KRW/Month in the second quarter of 2025 from 4830873 KRW/Month in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - South Korea Total Wages - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about South Korea Monthly Earnings

• South Korea Monthly Earnings stood at 3,200 USD in Dec 2024, compared with the previous figure of 2,724 USD in Nov 2024
• South Korea Monthly Earnings data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2008 to Dec 2024, with an average number of 2,747 USD
• The data reached the an all-time high of 3,948 USD in Jan 2022 and a record low of 1,673 USD in Nov 2008

CEIC converts Monthly Earnings into USD. The Ministry of Labour provides Average Monthly Earnings in local currency. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Monthly Earnings exclude Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry sectors. Monthly Earnings prior to January 2020 cover businesses with 1 or more employees and are based on the 9th Korean Standard Industry Clasification (KSIC). Monthly Earnings prior to January 2011 cover businesses with 5 or more employees and are based on the 9th Korean Standard Industry Clasification (KSIC).


Further information about South Korea Monthly Earnings

• In the latest reports, South Korea Population reached 52 million people in Dec 2024
• Unemployment Rate of South Korea dropped to 3 % in Jan 2025
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 63 % in Jan 2025

In 2024, the average salary of South Korean employees, which includes fixed salary and overtime pay, amounted to around **** million South Korean won, a slight increase from the previous year. Average salary levels in South Korea have risen steadily over the past decade. Working conditions in South Korea The working conditions in South Korea have also generally improved in recent years. For example, the average monthly working hours of employees have steadily declined. At the same time, an increasing number of wage and salary workers have taken advantage of flexible work arrangements, such as flextime or working from home. However, there is still room for improvement in some areas – working hours are still very long compared to the international average, and working from home is not as widespread in small and medium-sized enterprises as in large companies. Working from home Between 2019 and 2023, the number of employees working from home increased significantly, rising more than sevenfold. This surge was primarily driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the pandemic gradually subsided and restrictions eased, the number of individuals working remotely has declined.

Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in South Korea was reported at 74.31 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Wage and salary workers; male (% of males employed) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

In 2024, the average monthly salary of regular employees in South Korea's capital, Seoul, amounted to about **** million South Korean won, down from about **** million won in the previous year. This put Seoul's salary level significantly above the national average.

Wages in Manufacturing in South Korea decreased to 4689233 KRW/Month in the second quarter of 2025 from 5582097 KRW/Month in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - South Korea Total Monthly Wages in Manufacturing - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the average monthly salary of employees in their forties working for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea amounted to around **** million South Korean won, the highest across all age groups. This was followed by employees in their fifties with about 3.3 million won.

Minimum Wages in South Korea increased to 10030 KRW/Hour in 2025 from 9860 KRW/Hour in 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Minimum Wages- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about South Korea Household Income per Capita

• South Korea Annual Household Income per Capita reached 19,208.928 USD in Dec 2024, compared with the previous value of 19,230.954 USD in Dec 2023.
• South Korea Annual Household Income per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 2003 to Dec 2024, with an averaged value of 14,290.376 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 19,230.954 USD in Dec 2023 and a record low of 7,685.194 USD in Dec 2003.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of South Korea dropped 0.473 % YoY in May 2023.

CEIC calculates Annual Household Income per Capita from quarterly Monthly Household Income multiplied by 3 and quarterly Average Household Size and converts it into USD. Statistics Korea provides Household Income in local currency and Average Household Size. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Household Income excludes single person and farm households. Household Income per Capita prior to 2019 is based on old methodology.

Korea Employment: Wage and Salary Workers: Daily Workers data was reported at 1,475.000 Person th in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,463.000 Person th for May 2018. Korea Employment: Wage and Salary Workers: Daily Workers data is updated monthly, averaging 1,789.500 Person th from Jul 1982 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 432 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,555.000 Person th in Jul 2002 and a record low of 750.000 Person th in Feb 1983. Korea Employment: Wage and Salary Workers: Daily Workers data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G029: Employment: By Status of Workers.

South Korea Wage Rate data was reported at 50,650,145.667 KRW in 2026. This records an increase from the previous number of 48,290,160.483 KRW for 2025. South Korea Wage Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 16,506,363.772 KRW from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2026, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50,650,145.667 KRW in 2026 and a record low of 234,586.485 KRW in 1970. South Korea Wage Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.OECD.EO: Hours Worked, Unit Labour Cost and Labour Compensation: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual. WRT - Wage rate, total economy

South Korea's Occupational Wage Survey (OWS) is an annual business establishment survey conducted since 1970 by South Korea's Ministry of Labor. The dataset contains detailed information on individual workers' earnings, hours worked, educational attainment, actual labor market experience, occupation, industry, and region. The surveyed establishments must employ at least ten workers and were selected by a stratified random sampling method. Because they exclude workers in small enterprises, the self-employed, family workers, temporary workers, and public sector workers, the surveys represent approximately one-half of South Korea's total nonagricultural labor force. The samples for each year are randomly drawn from the original surveys. The surveys cover all industries up through 1986. After 1986, agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing are excluded. This change in sampling procedure does not appear to cause a significant change in the types of nonfarm enterprises covered by the survey.

In 2023, the average monthly salary of a female employee in South Korea was about **** million South Korean won. Women in their forties earned the highest on average, at around **** million won. The average salary of South Korean women was far below that of men.

Korea HS: AS: 1 Quintile: Income: data was reported at 2,011,483.000 KRW in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,994,563.000 KRW for Jun 2018. Korea HS: AS: 1 Quintile: Income: data is updated quarterly, averaging 1,602,608.000 KRW from Mar 2003 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,021,229.000 KRW in Mar 2015 and a record low of 1,102,397.000 KRW in Jun 2003. Korea HS: AS: 1 Quintile: Income: data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H062: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: All Salary and Wage Earner.

In 2023, the average monthly salaries of employees working for large companies in South Korea who had spent 20 years or more there amounted to around **** million South Korean won. The average monthly salary increases with the length of employment and rose among all categories compared to the year before.

South Korea Employment: sa: Wage and Salary Workers: Temporary Employees data was reported at 4,888.000 Person th in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4,897.000 Person th for Feb 2025. South Korea Employment: sa: Wage and Salary Workers: Temporary Employees data is updated monthly, averaging 4,791.000 Person th from Jan 1989 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 435 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,291.000 Person th in Jan 2007 and a record low of 2,801.000 Person th in Jan 1989. South Korea Employment: sa: Wage and Salary Workers: Temporary Employees data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.G031: Employment: by Status of Workers.

HS: SW: 3 Quintile: Income data was reported at 4,796,997.000 KRW in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,497,627.000 KRW for Jun 2018. HS: SW: 3 Quintile: Income data is updated quarterly, averaging 3,363,313.000 KRW from Mar 1997 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 87 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,796,997.000 KRW in Sep 2018 and a record low of 1,798,967.000 KRW in Sep 1998. HS: SW: 3 Quintile: Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H063: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: Urban Salary and Wage Earner.

In 2023, the average monthly salaries of employees in their forties and fifties working in non-profit enterprises in South Korea stood at around **** and **** million South Korean won each, the highest across all age groups. This was followed by those in their thirties, at about **** million won.

Korea Employment: Female: Wage and Salary Workers: Temporary Employees data was reported at 2,948.000 Person th in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,942.000 Person th for Sep 2018. Korea Employment: Female: Wage and Salary Workers: Temporary Employees data is updated monthly, averaging 2,798.500 Person th from Jan 1989 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 358 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,200.000 Person th in Nov 2015 and a record low of 1,420.000 Person th in Jan 1989. Korea Employment: Female: Wage and Salary Workers: Temporary Employees data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G028: Employment: By Status of Workers.