Wage Trends and Data by Company and Job — 2026-04-30
This report breaks down wage negotiation trends and key compensation issues across major domestic companies as of April 28, 2026. The focal points are the finalized wage demands from the GM Korea union and the ongoing performance bonus dispute at Samsung Electronics. All figures represent verified official data.
Wage Trends and Data by Company and Job — 2026-04-30
Average Salary by Company and Job
Top 5 Average Annual Salaries by Company (Large Corporations)
According to the latest data compiled by Saramin, the top-ranked large corporations by average annual salary are as follows:
- SK Square Co., Ltd.: 278.72 million won (3.8% decrease YoY)
- DL Co., Ltd.: 205.66 million won (2.5% increase YoY)
- Bukook Securities Co., Ltd.: 195.08 million won (0.6% increase YoY)
- Meritz Financial Group Inc.: 193.11 million won (32.4% increase YoY)
- HiteJinro Holdings Co., Ltd.: 191.85 million won (3% increase YoY)
Top 5 Average Annual Salaries (Foreign-invested/Finance/Investment)
- Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd.: 167.61 million won (2.9% decrease YoY)
- Hana Financial Group Inc.: 163.60 million won (6.5% increase YoY)
- Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.: 135.44 million won (10.7% increase YoY)
- Samsung SDS Co., Ltd.: 134.33 million won (3.3% increase YoY)
- Ajun IB Investment Co., Ltd.: 134.17 million won (22% increase YoY)
Top 5 Average Annual Salaries (Listed Companies)
- Atinum Investment Co., Ltd.: 280.11 million won (Same as previous year)
- Stonebridge Ventures Inc.: 280.03 million won (Same as previous year)
- SK Square Co., Ltd.: 278.72 million won (3.8% decrease YoY)
- LB Investment Inc.: 234.96 million won (8% increase YoY)
- Alteogen Inc.: 223.19 million won (128.2% increase YoY)
Top 5 Average Annual Salaries (Public Corporations/Institutions)
- Korea International Trade Association (KITA): 100.86 million won (3.4% increase YoY)
- Korea Tourism Organization (Jeju Branch): 99.65 million won (2.6% increase YoY)
- Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings Institute: 99.06 million won (2.8% increase YoY)
- National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Forestry): 99.03 million won (4.2% increase YoY)
- Koscom Corp.: 98.91 million won (3.5% increase YoY)
Wage Fluctuation by Job
GM Korea Production Staff: Demand for 149,600 won Base Pay Increase
The Korean Metal Workers' Union GM Korea Branch held a delegate meeting on April 28 to finalize their 2026 wage and collective bargaining demands. The core demand is a 149,600 won increase in base salary, alongside a request for the introduction of a 4.5-day workweek. The branch officially announced these points on the 29th, signaling the start of full-scale negotiations.
Samsung Electronics Performance Bonus: Large-Scale Labor-Management Conflict
The labor union at Samsung Electronics is demanding 40 trillion won in performance bonuses, while the company reportedly offered around 15%. With neither side backing down, reports suggest that production disruptions due to actual strikes are already occurring.
Japan Airlines (JAL) Management: Responding to Promotion Avoidance
A report from the Seoul Economic Daily on April 28 noted that Japanese employees are increasingly viewing promotions as a "penalty." This stems from complaints that the added responsibility is not matched by sufficient compensation, with some employees even turning down promotions despite offers of 250 million won in annual salary. Japan Airlines (JAL) is reportedly responding to this trend by raising wages.
Analysis and Background Issues
GM Korea Wage Negotiations: Pressure on Manufacturing Wages
The GM Korea union’s demand for a 149,600 won base pay increase highlights that the push for higher wages in manufacturing production roles remains strong in 2026. The inclusion of the 4.5-day workweek alongside wage negotiations reflects an industry trend where demands for improved labor conditions are expanding beyond mere pay raises to encompass changes in work patterns.
Samsung Electronics Performance Bonus Dispute: Uncertainties in Performance-Based Pay
The massive gap between the union’s 40 trillion won demand and the company’s 15% offer underscores the instability of performance-linked wage structures in major corporations. Reports indicate that actual production disruptions have already followed the strike.
Notes on Saramin Compiled Data
Saramin notes that their Top 5 average salary rankings for large corporations are "estimated through statistical analysis based on Howmoney economic income data, Saramin's internal collected data, CreditJob data, and other sources, and may differ from actual company salaries." Please treat these figures as estimates.
Editor's Note: As new data following April 28, 2026, is limited, this report focuses on verified issues within that period. For more precise statistics by job type, we recommend referring to official resources such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Wage Job Information System (wage.go.kr).
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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