Average hourly earnings of employees in South Korea
South Korea: Average hourly earnings of employees was 27.58 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▲ Rising
Average hourly earnings of employees in South Korea, 2009–2022
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2022, average hourly earnings of employees in South Korea stood at 27.58 international-$ in 2021 prices. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is up 20.7% on the previous year and up 47.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in South Korea peaked at 27.58 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022 and was at its lowest, 16.04 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2009.
That places South Korea 5th out of 64 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.04 international-$ in 2021 prices | 16.04 international-$ in 2021 prices | 16.04 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
| 2010s | 19.47 international-$ in 2021 prices | 16.62 international-$ in 2021 prices | 23.44 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | 22.1 international-$ in 2021 prices | 27.58 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 2 Switzerland 35.86 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 3 Canada 33.04 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 4 Iceland 28.04 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 6 Finland 26.03 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 7 Spain 25.97 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 8 Sweden 25.41 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More reference data data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.24 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9115 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 135 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average hourly earnings of employees in South Korea?
- Average hourly earnings of employees in South Korea was 27.58 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 27.58 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022.
- What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.04 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2009.
- How does South Korea rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
- South Korea ranks 5th out of 64 countries with data for 2022.
- Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Gross remuneration for time worked or work done, vacation, and other types of paid leave.