Average salary in South Korea 2026: KRW 4,316,000 a month
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Average monthly pay in South Korea was KRW 4,316,000 per worker in July 2026, up 2.5% from KRW 4,213,000 a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Labor Force Survey at Establishments (e-Narajipyo, updated September 30, 2026). That is about $3,240 at the ECB cross rate of October 16, 2026 (KRW 1,332.1 per dollar). Employers add about 18.30% on top.
South Korea's average monthly wage in this survey is total pay per worker, including that month's overtime and bonuses, at non-farm businesses.
- Average salary (mean)
- KRW 4,316,000gross, a month
- In US dollars
- about $3,240a month
- Year
- July 2026 (pay period; August 2026 Labor Force Survey at Establishments)All workers (regular, temporary and daily) in...
- Source
- Ministry of Employment and Labor, Labor...
On this page
Regular, temporary and big-company pay
Regular employees averaged KRW 4,633,000: KRW 3,744,000 fixed pay, KRW 269,000 overtime and KRW 620,000 special pay such as bonuses. Temporary and daily workers averaged KRW 1,736,000. Firms with 300 or more staff paid KRW 6,490,000, about 1.69 times the KRW 3,846,000 at smaller ones. Finance and insurance averaged KRW 8,386,000. As a single month with that month's bonuses, the figure moves month to month.
Average salary in South Korea by industry
| Industry | Average (a month) | In USD |
|---|---|---|
| Financial and insurance activities | KRW 8,386,000 | about $6,295 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | KRW 7,651,000 | about $5,744 |
Source: Ministry of Employment and Labor, Labor Force Survey at Establishments (approved statistic 118002), via e-Narajipyo (index.go.kr) indicator 1485, updated 2026-09-30, July 2026 (pay period; August 2026 Labor Force Survey at Establishments). US dollar figures use exchange rates from the European Central Bank (Oct 16, 2026) and the US Treasury (quarter ended Sep 30, 2026), and move with the exchange rate.
The OECD annual figure
The OECD's average annual wage was KRW 53,915,741 in 2025 per full-time-equivalent employee (about $40,474), up from KRW 52,642,946. Do not compare it with July's figure times 12.
Against the minimum wage
The 2026 minimum is KRW 10,320 an hour, KRW 2,156,880 a month at 209 hours, so the July average is about twice it. KRW 10,700 applies from 2027. See the South Korean minimum wage page.
What an average salary costs an employer
Statutory insurances add about 9.97% (National Pension 4.75%, health 3.595%, long-term care and employment insurance) and the retirement allowance accrual 8.33%, 18.30% in all before industrial accident insurance, per our country research. On KRW 4,316,000 that is KRW 789,828, or KRW 5,105,828 a month. Our South Korea EOR guide shows the detail.
Adding an EOR fee
Fees run from $99 a month (Native Teams; its help center says EUR 99) to $699 (Oyster), checked October 2026. Deel's $599 is about KRW 797,928, roughly 18% of average pay. Compare EOR fees and our EOR rankings.
Frequently asked questions
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Sources (9)
- OECD: Average annual wages (DSD_EARNINGS@AV_AN_WAGE) (checked Oct 18, 2026)
- European Central Bank: Euro foreign exchange reference rates (Oct 16, 2026, checked Oct 18, 2026)
- Native Teams: Native Teams pricing (checked Oct 18, 2026)
- Oyster: Oyster pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Deel: Deel pricing (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Minimum Wage Commission, minimum wage decisions 2022-2027: Minimum Wage Commission, minimum wage decisions 2022-2027 (checked October 18, 2026)
- Labor Standards Act, English translation (KLRI), Act No. 21373 of Feb 19, 2026: Labor Standards Act, English translation (KLRI), Act No. 21373 of Feb 19, 2026 (checked October 18, 2026)
- e-Narajipyo (MOEL), minimum wage general status indicator: e-Narajipyo (MOEL), minimum wage general status indicator (checked October 18, 2026)
- MOEL Labor Force Survey at Establishments, e-Narajipyo indicator 1485: MOEL Labor Force Survey at Establishments, e-Narajipyo indicator 1485 (checked October 18, 2026)
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