South Korea · Salaries
Typical salaries by role in South Korea — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
South Korea is the simplest of the region's systems: a single national minimum wage, set each year by the Minimum Wage Council, applying nationwide across all sectors — no regional variation and no industry carve-outs to check. The monthly equivalent is conventionally derived from a 209-hour month, which is worth knowing because it is how monthly figures are quoted. Statistics Korea and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are authoritative for wage data.
South Korea has a single national minimum wage set each year by the Minimum Wage Council — KRW 10,320/hour for 2026 (about KRW 2,156,880/month at 209 hours). It applies nationwide across sectors. For official wage statistics, Statistics Korea and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are authoritative.
- The national minimum wage is KRW 10,320/hour for 2026 (~KRW 2.16 million/month at 209 hours) — check the Minimum Wage Council for the current year.
- The minimum wage applies nationwide across all sectors.
- The Minimum Wage Council decides the rate annually; Statistics Korea publishes wage data.
- Pay is quoted gross; income tax and the four major insurances reduce take-home — see this country's tax page.
- 1
Take the national rate as the answer
The minimum wage applies nationwide across all sectors. Unlike neighbouring systems there is no prefecture, province or award layer to resolve, so one figure answers the question.
- 2
Check the Council's decision for the year
The Minimum Wage Council decides the rate annually. Because it is a yearly decision, look up the current year rather than carrying forward a figure from the last one.
- 3
Understand the 209-hour month
Monthly equivalents are conventionally calculated on a 209-hour month. Knowing the convention lets you check whether a quoted monthly figure is consistent with the hourly rate.
- 4
Use Statistics Korea for market rates
Statistics Korea publishes wage data and the Ministry of Employment and Labor is also authoritative. The minimum wage is a floor, so use these for what your role actually pays.
- 5
Deduct tax and the four major insurances
Pay is quoted gross, with income tax and the four major insurances reducing take-home. Those four are a defined set here, which makes the deduction side relatively predictable.
- Current year's Council decision checked
- Nationwide application understood
- No sector carve-out assumed
- Monthly figure cross-checked on the 209-hour basis
- Contracted hours compared against the convention
- Statistics Korea consulted for your occupation
- Four major insurances included in the net estimate
- Minimum Wage Council (Republic of Korea)
Official body that sets the national minimum wage.
Frequently asked questions
Does South Korea's minimum wage vary by region or sector?
No. A single national minimum wage applies nationwide across all sectors, which makes it simpler than neighbouring systems where you have to resolve a prefecture, province or award layer first.
What is the 209-hour month in Korea?
The convention used to convert the hourly minimum into a monthly equivalent. Knowing it lets you check whether a monthly figure someone quotes is actually consistent with the hourly rate for that year.
Where do I find Korean market salary data?
Statistics Korea publishes wage data, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor is also authoritative. The minimum wage only tells you the floor, so use these sources for what your role actually pays.
Government portals
- Government of Korea — Korea's integrated government portal — policy, administrative services, e-government
- Korea Immigration Service (HiKorea) — Visas, residence status changes, work permits, and alien registration in Korea
- National Tax Service (NTS) — Korean income tax, corporate tax, VAT filing; annual comprehensive tax return for foreigners (May); foreign taxpayer incentive lookup