Wage Trends and Data Analysis — 2026-05-18
This report analyzes current wage trends across major Korean companies by role. Since new data has been limited since May 16, 2026, we have compiled only the most recent verified figures, focusing strictly on official statistics without speculation.
Wage Trends and Data Analysis — 2026-05-18
Editor's Note: New reports on wages by company and role have been extremely limited since May 16, 2026. The data below is based on the average salary rankings for companies currently published on Saramin (saramin.co.kr).
Wage Levels by Company
The following are the Top 5 average annual salaries by company (in 10,000 KRW) as disclosed by Saramin (saramin.co.kr). Please note that Saramin specifies this data is estimated based on statistical analysis of HowMoney economic population income data, internal Saramin collection, CreditJob, and other sources; thus, figures may differ from actual company salaries.
Top 5 Average Salaries: Large Corporations
| Rank | Company Name | Average Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SK Square Co., Ltd. | 278.72 million KRW | 3.8% down |
| 2 | DL Co., Ltd. | 205.66 million KRW | 2.5% up |
| 3 | Bugook Securities Co., Ltd. | 195.08 million KRW | 0.6% up |
| 4 | Meritz Financial Group Inc. | 193.11 million KRW | 32.4% up |
| 5 | HiteJinro Holdings Co., Ltd. | 191.85 million KRW | 3% up |
Top 5 Average Salaries: Public Corporations/State-Owned Enterprises
| Rank | Company Name | Average Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Korea International Trade Association (KITA) | 100.86 million KRW | 3.4% up |
| 2 | Korea Tourism Organization (Jeju Office) | 99.65 million KRW | 2.6% up |
| 3 | Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings Institute | 99.06 million KRW | 2.8% up |
| 4 | National Forestry Cooperative Federation | 99.03 million KRW | 4.2% up |
| 5 | Koscom Corp. | 98.91 million KRW | 3.5% up |
Top 5 Average Salaries: Foreign-Invested/Investment Firms
| Rank | Company Name | Average Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. | 167.61 million KRW | 2.9% down |
| 2 | Hana Financial Group Inc. | 163.60 million KRW | 6.5% up |
| 3 | Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. | 135.44 million KRW | 10.7% up |
| 4 | Samsung SDS Co., Ltd. | 134.33 million KRW | 3.3% up |
| 5 | Ajou IB Investment Co., Ltd. | 134.17 million KRW | 22% up |
Top 5 Average Salaries: Listed Companies
| Rank | Company Name | Average Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atinum Investment Co., Ltd. | 280.11 million KRW | equal |
| 2 | Stonebridge Ventures Inc. | 280.03 million KRW | equal |
| 3 | SK Square Co., Ltd. | 278.72 million KRW | 3.8% down |
| 4 | LB Investment Co., Ltd. | 234.96 million KRW | 8% up |
| 5 | Alteogen Inc. | 223.19 million KRW | 128.2% up |
Wage Fluctuation Trends by Role
There have been no new reports on wage fluctuations by role since May 16, 2026. However, notable increases identified in the Saramin data include:
- Meritz Financial Group Inc.: Recorded the largest increase among large corporations at 32.4% up year-over-year.
- Alteogen Inc.: Exhibited an exceptional surge of 128.2% up year-over-year among listed companies.
- Haewon ST Co., Ltd.: Ranked 1st in the mid-sized company category with an average salary of 238.56 million KRW, a 175.3% increase year-over-year.
- Misto Holdings Co., Ltd.: Recorded an average salary of 131.72 million KRW, a 47.9% increase year-over-year among mid-sized companies.
Analysis and Background Issues
No new analyses regarding wage gaps by role have been published since May 16, 2026. The most recent data available for this section is as follows:
- Wage Gap by Company Size: As of the report released by the Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) in March 2026, the average salary for businesses with 300 or more employees was approximately 73.96 million KRW, while for those with fewer than 300 employees, it was approximately 45.38 million KRW—a gap of roughly 28.58 million KRW.
Note: The KEF figures above are based on the March 2026 announcement; no figures have been updated since May 16, 2026.
※ This report prioritizes data released since May 16, 2026. Due to insufficient new reports on company/role-based wages within this period, it is based on currently available platform data. Additional data will be supplemented in the next issue.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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