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.

In 2023, the average monthly income for employees in South Korea who had worked for more than 20 years was about **** million South Korean won. The average income of all employees stood at about **** million won that year.

In 2024, employees in managerial positions in South Korea received the highest salaries of all occupational groups, with an average salary of around ***** million South Korean won per month. Professionals followed in second place with a salary of about **** million won.

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

Wages in Manufacturing in South Korea increased to 5582097 KRW/Month in the first quarter of 2025 from 5150250 KRW/Month in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Total Monthly Wages in Manufacturing - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Korea Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data was reported at 70.585 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 70.522 % for 2016. Korea Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 63.327 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.585 % in 2017 and a record low of 59.617 % in 1998. Korea Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Wage and salaried workers (employees) are those workers who hold the type of jobs defined as 'paid employment jobs,' where the incumbents hold explicit (written or oral) or implicit employment contracts that give them a basic remuneration that is not directly dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they work.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Wages in South Korea increased to 4830873 KRW/Month in the first quarter of 2025 from 4491305 KRW/Month in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Total Wages - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

About 200 jobs are represented in Korea for the next 10 years. In addition to job prospects, work, working conditions, job distribution, average wages, related training and education, and qualifications and departmental information are provided.

Korea Wage And Salary Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Employment data was reported at 67.411 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 67.334 % for 2016. Korea Wage And Salary Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 62.588 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 67.418 % in 2015 and a record low of 60.835 % in 1998. Korea Wage And Salary Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Wage and salaried workers (employees) are those workers who hold the type of jobs defined as 'paid employment jobs,' where the incumbents hold explicit (written or oral) or implicit employment contracts that give them a basic remuneration that is not directly dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they work.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

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.

Korea Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data was reported at 74.977 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 74.935 % for 2016. Korea Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 65.242 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 74.977 % in 2017 and a record low of 57.527 % in 1993. Korea Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Wage and salaried workers (employees) are those workers who hold the type of jobs defined as 'paid employment jobs,' where the incumbents hold explicit (written or oral) or implicit employment contracts that give them a basic remuneration that is not directly dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they work.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

In 2022, the average annual salary for an employee working at a public institution in South Korea was approximately **** million South Korean won. Salary levels steadily rose for such employees in the past years.

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.

This dataset provides values for WAGES IN MANUFACTURING reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

In 2023, wage and salary workers at large enterprises had an average monthly income of around **** million South Korean won, while the income of employees at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) averaged around **** million won. The income level of employees at large companies was more than twice that of employees at SMEs.

North Korea KP: Wage And Salary Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Employment data was reported at 33.950 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 33.921 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Wage And Salary Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 34.246 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 43.413 % in 1991 and a record low of 31.168 % in 1998. North Korea KP: Wage And Salary Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Male: % of Male Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Wage and salaried workers (employees) are those workers who hold the type of jobs defined as 'paid employment jobs,' where the incumbents hold explicit (written or oral) or implicit employment contracts that give them a basic remuneration that is not directly dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they work.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Average employment income and average weekly earnings, by groups designated as a visible minorities and selected sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age group, first official language spoken, immigrant status, period of immigration, generation status and highest certificate, degree or diploma) for the population who worked during the reference year and aged 15 years and over in private households, 2006,2011 and 2016.

In 2024, the average monthly earnings for male managers in South Korea were approximately 10.89 million South Korean won, while female managers earned around 9.24 million won. Overall, there was a pronounced gender gap in monthly salaries for South Korean employees across all occupation types. The gender pay gap in South Korea Despite a notable increase in women's participation in the labor market, progress in narrowing the gender pay gap has been slow. In 2022, South Korea had the widest gender pay gap among countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with women earning only about 69 percent of men's wages. This pay gap impacts women across various employment types and all age groups, with those in their 50s being the most affected. Gender inequality and public perception Gender inequality has remained a persistent issue in South Korean society, despite governmental efforts to tackle it. A recent survey revealed that discrimination against women is most widely perceived in the workplace. Interestingly, there were significant differences in how men and women viewed gender inequality in South Korea. Nearly 75 percent of women believed that South Korean society treats women unfairly, while less than 20 percent of men shared this perspective. Conversely, approximately 52 percent of men felt that men were treated unfairly.

This statistic shows the gender pay gap in South Korea in 2015, by employment type. In that year, male salary workers employed under permanent contract in South Korea earned approximately **** million South Korean won a month, whereas female salary workers earned approximately *** million South Korean won on average.

North Korea KP: Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data was reported at 32.986 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 32.956 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 33.429 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 44.183 % in 1991 and a record low of 30.189 % in 1998. North Korea KP: Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Wage and salaried workers (employees) are those workers who hold the type of jobs defined as 'paid employment jobs,' where the incumbents hold explicit (written or oral) or implicit employment contracts that give them a basic remuneration that is not directly dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they work.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.