How Much Do Foreign Workers Earn in Korea?
Annyeonghaseyo, job seekers! One of the most common and practical questions when considering a move to Korea is, naturally, about money. How much do foreign workers earn in Korea?
The quick answer is: It depends entirely on your visa, industry, and language skills. There is no single average salary, but there are clear salary brackets based on the type of work you do. As your Korean insider, I’m here to give you the honest breakdown of the earning potential across the major foreigner job sectors.
1. The Entry Point: English Teaching (E-2 Visa)
For most native English speakers, teaching remains the most accessible starting point, offering a standardized salary structure.
Average Starting Salary: ₩2.1 million to ₩2.8 million KRW per month (approximately $1,500 to $2,075 USD, depending on the exchange rate).
Benefits: This often includes essential perks like severance pay (a bonus equivalent to one month’s salary upon completing a year-long contract), housing allowance (or a free studio apartment), and health insurance.
Earning Ceiling: The ceiling for teaching is relatively low. Even with years of experience, salaries rarely exceed ₩3.5 million KRW unless you move into management or specialized international schools.
2. The Professional Sector (E-7/F-Visas)
This is the category for skilled workers in IT, engineering, finance, and business development. Salaries here are highly variable but significantly higher than the teaching sector.
Salary Determinant: Pay is usually determined by global market rates and the company’s size (MNCs pay more than local SMEs). Your Korean language proficiency (TOPIK score) directly impacts your salary potential.
Average Mid-Career Salary: ₩40 million to ₩80 million KRW per year (approximately $29,600 to $59,200 USD), often rising sharply for senior engineers or executives.
Top Earners: Specialized fields in Semiconductors, Fintech, or R&D at major Chaebols (conglomerates) or large multinational corporations can command salaries well over ₩100 million KRW annually.
3. The Startup Ecosystem (Flexible but Intense)
The pay in the startup world is a trade-off: lower initial base salary for potentially higher long-term growth and stock options.
Average Starting Salary: Often starts lower than large firms, typically ranging from ₩30 million to ₩45 million KRW per year for early-stage companies.
The Trade-Off: While the base pay might be tighter, the work environment is more flexible, and you gain intense experience. Startups focused on global expansion often pay more to attract native-level marketing and development talent.
4. Part-Time Work (The Student Hustle)
For international students (D-2/D-4 visas) working legally, the pay is governed by the national minimum wage.
Minimum Wage: Korean minimum wage increases annually. As of late 2025, it is highly likely to be around ₩10,000 to ₩10,500 KRW per hour.
Common Earnings: Tutoring English privately often pays better (up to ₩30,000 to ₩50,000 KRW per hour), but these opportunities are typically reserved for D-2 visa holders after obtaining a work permit and require careful legal confirmation.
The Bottom Line on Cost of Living
While the salaries listed above might seem lower than comparable positions in San Francisco or London, remember that the cost of living (especially mandatory healthcare and transportation) is typically lower and far more efficient in Korea. Your net disposable income might be higher here, even with a smaller gross salary, particularly if you are receiving a housing benefit.