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.
Average hourly earnings of employees in South Korea, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 16.04 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2010 | 16.62 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 17.49 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 18.66 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 18.91 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 19.21 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 18.9 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 19.43 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 19.67 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 22.36 international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.7% |
| 2019 | 23.44 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 22.1 international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 22.85 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 27.58 international-$ in 2021 prices | +20.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 27.58 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 18.14 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 27.58 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.01 international-$ in 2021 prices, 4.6× the median. (10 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
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.