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 and measures such as flexible working hours have been implemented to promote a better work-life balance, South Korea still ranks among the top five countries with the longest working hours in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as of 2022. 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 risen steadily over the past decade, the gender pay gap still exists. On average, female workers earned about 65 percent of their male equivalents’ income in 2022. The average monthly salary in South Korea was around 4.13 million South Korean won for men and about 2.68 million won for women that year.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around 40 percent of North Korean refugees in South Korea stated that they received between two and three million South Korean won. That year, the average monthly wages of North Korean refugees amounted to about 2.6 million won. While this represented a slight increase from the previous year, it remains below the average for South Koreans, which was approximately 3.1 million won per month in the same year.

In 2023, the average salary of South Korean employees, which includes fixed salary and overtime pay, amounted to around 3.27 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 work has steadily declined. At the same time, more and more 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 with 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, there was a significant increase in the number of employees working from home, with the figure rising more than sevenfold. This surge was primarily driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the pandemic gradually subsided and restrictions eased, there has been a decline in the number of individuals working remotely.

Wages in South Korea decreased to 4491305 KRW/Month in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 4517147 KRW/Month in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Total Wages - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Wages in Manufacturing in South Korea increased to 5150250 KRW/Month in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 5076250 KRW/Month in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Total Monthly Wages in Manufacturing - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

In 2023, employees in managerial positions in South Korea received the highest salaries of all occupational groups, with an average salary of around 10.4 million South Korean won per month. Professionals followed in second place with a salary of about four million won.

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.

In 2023, the average monthly salary of a male employee in South Korea was around 4.26 million South Korean won. A female employee earned around 2.78 million won, significantly less than a male employee. This disparity highlights a significant gender pay gap in the country.

North Korea KP: Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data was reported at 31.949 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 31.921 % for 2016. North Korea KP: Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 32.531 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 44.951 % in 1991 and a record low of 29.162 % in 1998. North Korea KP: 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 North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: 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.

Korea Wages: PE: OW: Info & Communication: 1 to 299 data was reported at 106.118 KRW th in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 101.360 KRW th for May 2018. Korea Wages: PE: OW: Info & Communication: 1 to 299 data is updated monthly, averaging 76.594 KRW th from Jan 2011 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 90 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 109.998 KRW th in Apr 2015 and a record low of 42.290 KRW th in Jan 2011. Korea Wages: PE: OW: Info & Communication: 1 to 299 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Labour. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G049: Monthly Average Wages: By Industry and Size of Enterprise: KSIC 9th Revision.

In 2022, the average monthly salary of a male employee in South Korea was about 4.14 million South Korean won, with men in their fifties earning the highest average wage of all age groups. This was closely followed by employees in their forties.

Korea Wages: PE: OW: Business Facilities & Support Services: 1 to 4 data was reported at 3.809 KRW th in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.280 KRW th for May 2018. Korea Wages: PE: OW: Business Facilities & Support Services: 1 to 4 data is updated monthly, averaging 23.511 KRW th from Jan 2011 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 89 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 81.406 KRW th in Feb 2015 and a record low of 1.173 KRW th in Apr 2017. Korea Wages: PE: OW: Business Facilities & Support Services: 1 to 4 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Labour. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G049: Monthly Average Wages: By Industry and Size of Enterprise: KSIC 9th Revision.

In 2025, the minimum wage in South Korea stood at 10,030 South Korean won per hour. This was a slight increase compared to the previous year. In response to a rising concern over low wages, the South Korean government implemented the minimum wage in 1988.Raising the minimum wageThe issue of raising the minimum wage has consistently been a focal point of public debate, especially during presidential election cycles. In 2017, Moon Jae-in, the then-candidate for the presidency, committed to raising the minimum wage to at least 10,000 South Korean won by 2020. This proposal generated significant controversy and sparked a heated discussion among various political groups.Impact on small and medium-sized businessesThe proposed increase in the minimum wage also faced strong opposition from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Business owners within this sector expressed concerns about their ability to absorb the costs associated with higher wages. Many argued that any increase in labor costs would further strain their financial stability.

Korea Wages: PE: Info & Communication: 1 to 299 data was reported at 3,851.637 KRW th in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,973.326 KRW th for May 2018. Korea Wages: PE: Info & Communication: 1 to 299 data is updated monthly, averaging 3,617.731 KRW th from Jan 2011 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 90 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,378.863 KRW th in Feb 2018 and a record low of 3,212.836 KRW th in Apr 2011. Korea Wages: PE: Info & Communication: 1 to 299 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Labour. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G049: Monthly Average Wages: By Industry and Size of Enterprise: KSIC 9th Revision.

Korea Wages: TD: Mining & Quarrying: 30 to 99 data was reported at 1,920.073 KRW th in Apr 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,806.201 KRW th for Mar 2018. Korea Wages: TD: Mining & Quarrying: 30 to 99 data is updated monthly, averaging 1,244.597 KRW th from Jan 2008 (Median) to Apr 2018, with 124 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,750.042 KRW th in Aug 2016 and a record low of 243.630 KRW th in Jul 2010. Korea Wages: TD: Mining & Quarrying: 30 to 99 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Labour. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.G050: Monthly Average Wages: By Industry and Size of Enterprise: KSIC 9th Revision.

South Korea Wages: Accommodation & Food Serv: 5 & Above data was reported at 2,370.728 KRW th in Jan 2020. South Korea Wages: Accommodation & Food Serv: 5 & Above data is updated monthly, averaging 2,370.728 KRW th from Jan 2020 (Median) to Jan 2020, with 1 observations. South Korea Wages: Accommodation & Food Serv: 5 & Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Labour. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.G056: Monthly Average Wages: by Industry and Size of Enterprise: KSIC 10th Revision.

In 2023, the annual nominal median household income in South Korea amounted to around 37.57 million South Korean won, showing a steady increase over the past few years. The median household income is an indicator of the income level of the household unit and shows the living standard of the median household.

In 2022, the average monthly income for employees in South Korea who had worked for more than 20 years was 8.15 million South Korean won. The average income stood at about 3.53 million won.

The average wage for players in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) for the 2023/2024 season was approximately 158.3 million South Korean won. This was a decrease from the previous season. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in South Korea, the 19/20 KBL season was prematurely canceled for the first time in the league's history since it started in 1997. There was no championship title handed out, and final standings were based on each teams' winning percentage.