South Korea's Top 50 Highest Paying Jobs

 South Korea's Top 50 Highest Paying Jobs

Discover which are the best paid occupations in Korea and their corresponding salaries, based on the most recent statistics available. This article examines the top 50 best paid vocations as well as Korean dramas that may help you pursue these professions. Have fun!

Since your interest in Korea has grown, you may be curious in the country's economic status. The average income in Korea is a topic of interest for many of my international friends. Those friends often inquire about "what is a good salary in South Korea," "which is the best job in Korea," "what are the highest paying jobs in Korea," and "what is the most popular job in South Korea." And so on. I'm going to provide it to you today using the most latest information available.

Every two years, the Korea Employment Information Service releases the 'Korea Job Information Report'. The average yearly salary in Korea is ranked in this report. The "Korea Job Information Report" from KEIS is a thorough assessment of around 570 high-paying positions in Korea, with the goal of helping people and students make career decisions.

We shall list the top 50 wages in Korea based on the Korea Employment Information Service's April 2021 publication of the "Korea Job Information Report." We'll contrast it with the Korea Job Information Report's rating, which was released in April 2019. aid in your better understanding of it. Additionally, the US dollar to Korean won exchange rate for May 2022 was computed and prepared.

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What are the Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in South Korea for 2022, according to rankings?

Ranking of the Top 11–20 Highest Paying Jobs in Korea Ranking No. 21–30 in South Korea and No. 31–40 in Korea with respect to salary

No. 41–50 on the South Korean Profitable Businesses List

Popular Employment and Pay in Korea

What are the Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in South Korea for 2022, according to rankings?

Let's examine in detail the top 10 highest-paying positions in Korea from the most recent data.

CEO (chief executive officer) ranking #1: $110,000

The CEO position will be the highest paid position in 2021, with an average yearly salary of around 140 million won (110,000 USD). After two years, the average yearly income rose by 15 million won, placing it in top position.

A CEO is a person who leads a business as its executive, overseeing all financial matters, helping it reach its goals, and answering directly to the owners.

The narrative of a young CEO's love and ambition for creating a startup enterprise is told in the 2020 tvN Korean drama "Startup." This K-drama is an excellent way to feel the indirect happiness and hard work that come with becoming a CEO in Korea.

Legislator from South Korea ranked first in actual terms of pay, earning $113,000; nonetheless, the lawmakers did not rank among the top 50. It's probable that data on the income of South Korean National Assembly members was purposefully left out of the 2021 poll.

As to Worknet, a dependable employment data provider authorized by the Ministry of Employment and Labor in Korea, the mean yearly income of a member of the National Assembly is around 145 million Korean won, or 113,000 USD. They get some of the highest salaries in South Korea, in fact. It is very unfortunate that the 2021 report did not mention MP salaries.

$106,000 for the second psychiatrist

A psychiatrist made an average of 136 million won (106,000 USD) a year, which placed them second on South Korea's list of highest-paid jobs. According to the report, the average yearly salary for psychiatrists was 92.5 million won (72,000 USD) in 2019, which placed them 16th out of all professions.

This paper states that for the last two years, psychiatrists' yearly salary has climbed dramatically. because COVID-19 adverse effects have led to a rise in the number of persons seeking psychotherapy.

Plastic Surgeon No. 3: $102,000

Plastic surgeons, who were paid the second-highest average yearly income in 2019, saw a modest decrease from around 138 million won to approximately 131 million won (102,000 USD). The highest-paying positions in the profession dropped a spot to third in 2021.

Surgeon #4: $97,800

A surgeon makes around 125.6 million won (97,800 USD) a year on average.

Surgeons earned the fifteenth-highest yearly compensation in 2019 (925 million won). But from fourth position in the list, the yearly income has climbed by 30 million won over the last two years, which is a substantial gain.

$97,800 is tied for the #4 obstetrician-gynecologist spot.

After surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists earn an average yearly pay of around ₹125 million (US$97,800).

The previous 2019 study ranked obstetricians and gynecologists as the eighth highest-paid profession with an annual salary of 100 million won. In only two years, their earnings jumped by almost 25 million won.

Urologist No. 6: $97,600

Sixth most profitable is urologist, with an average yearly pay of around 125.3 million won (97,600 USD).

Ophthalmologist No. 7: $97,400

An ophthalmologist is the seventh most paid profession, with an average yearly pay of around 125 million won (97,400 USD).

Family Medicine Physician No. 8: $93,800

A family medicine doctor earning 90 million won a year was removed from the top 10 lists in the 2019 report. After two years, in 2021, they came in ninth place with an average yearly salary of almost 120 million won (93,800 USD).

9. Pathologist for Anesthesia: $93,700

Among the top 10 best paid jobs, anesthesiologist-pathologist had the largest income rank growth.

Anesthesiologists' yearly salary, which was 77 million won in the 2019 survey, went up by 40 million won in the two years that followed. With an average yearly compensation of around 120 million won (93,700 USD) in 2021, it was the ninth highest paying salary in Korea.

Pilot of Aircraft No. 10: $93,500

Aircraft pilots, who were placed tenth, had an average yearly income of 120 million won, which was a rise of almost 20 million won from two years before.

No. 4 Marine Pilot's actual pay: $98,900

In the 2019 research, marine pilots made 120 million won annually; however, they were not included in the ranking for the 2021 survey. Rather than a drop in pay rates, this seems to be the result of missing data.

A marine pilot's average yearly pay is around 127 million won (98,900 USD), according to Worknet. Actually, after plastic surgeons, it ranks fourth in terms of salaries.

Korea's Top 11–20 Highest Paying Jobs

Otolaryngologist: Approximately $90,300

Dermatologist: Approximately $89,500

13. Physician: Approximately $84,300

14. Accountant: Approximately $83,900

15. Physician: around $78,300

16. Attorney: Approximately $76,500

17. University Dean or President: Approximately $74,500

18. Mayor and manager of opinion polls: around $74,400

19. Oriental physician: around $70,900

20. Dental Care: Roughly $71,600

The employment pertaining to physicians and hospitals occupy the second through ninth spots in this study. Six jobs in the medical field are also included in the eleventh to twenty ranks. This demonstrates that physicians have favorable working circumstances and high regard in Korea.

In 2020, the K-drama "Hospital Playlist" debuted on tvN and garnered positive reviews for its accurate depiction of routine events and mishaps in medical facilities. Thus far, two series have been created. This outstanding play depicts the joy and agony that Korean university hospital physicians experience.

Dermatologists, who came in fourth place in the 2019 poll with an annual income of 120 million won, were not included in the top 10 since in 2021 their compensation dropped to 114 million won from 120 million won.

Furthermore, university presidents and deans polled in the 2021 survey reported an average yearly compensation of 95 million won, down from 110 million won in the 2019 survey.

Positions 21–30 in South Korea with competitive pay

21. Valuer: Approximately $68,800

22. Attorney: around $67,900

Accountant: Approximately $66,100

24. Patent Lawyer: Approximately $65,800

25. $64,900 about for a senior administrative officer

26. Pilot for Helicopter: Roughly $63,500

27. Advisor for Management: Approximately $63,100

28. Physician: Approximately $62,000

29. Manager of PR, Marketing, and Advertising: Approximately $60,600

Judge: Approximately $60,500

In terms of average yearly salary, many civil service and legal occupations in South Korea are ranked 21st to 30th.

"Stranger," the most popular Korean drama of 2017, centers on a cooperative police and prosecutor mission to uncover corporate and governmental malfeasance. It's a Korean TV show that depicts the difficulties and advantages of working as judges, prosecutors, and police officers. So far, two seasons have been broadcast.

Placed 31–40 in Korea with a respectable pay

31. $60,200 for a professional athlete; 32, around $58,600 for a management support manager

33. Principals of middle and high schools: Approximately $57,900

34. Physician in General: Approximately $57,600

36. Actuary: around $56,100 35. Health and Medical Manager: approximately $57,300

37. Manager of Insurance: Roughly $56,020

38. $56,000 for the Research Manager; 39. $55,810 for the Stockbroker; 40. $55,800 for the Forex Dealer

The 31st professional athlete in this list is particularly noteworthy. In Korea, there are several financial industry positions with decent pay that are ranked from 31st to 40th.

"Stove League," a Korean drama, is about professional athletes and their careers. It's a drama about professional baseball players, club wage disputes, and business happenings that combines sports and the workplace. Because it depicts both actual elements of the sports industry and the difficulties experienced by professional players, the program is appealing. This is an incredible TV show that you should watch if you want to understand more about Korean professional sportsmen.

No. 41–50 on the South Korean Profitable Businesses List

41. Linguistic Research Institute ($55,700 approximately).

42. Accountant: Approximately $54,930

43. Institute for Financial Products Development: Approximately $54,900

44. Principal of an elementary school: around $54,850

45. Pharmacy: Approximately $54,400

46. Academic Instructor: Approximately $54,370

47. Penitentiary Officer: around $54,330

48. Sports instructors and trainers: around $54,200

49. Handling Financial Assets: Approximately $53,700

50. PR, Marketing, and Advertising Manager: Approximately $50,200

In Korea, occupations connected to education often score between 41st and 50th in the country's 2021 highest-paid ranking report.

The tvN-produced K-drama "Black Dog" depicts the highs and lows of a real-life Korean teacher's existence. A narrative detailing the experiences of educators working in fiercely competitive Korean schools. This Korean drama might be helpful if you'd want to learn more about what it's like to go to school in Korea and what a teacher does.

Popular Employment and Pay in Korea

Have you been able to find out what the best paid occupations in Korea are? Although a popular career and a high average income are not the same thing, this information might help you better comprehend South Korea's corporate culture.

The legal and medical fields usually provide the highest salaries in South Korea. But there are plenty of other profitable professions in industries like marketing, finance, and education. Despite the fact that these jobs often pay less than those in the legal or medical fields, they are nevertheless well compensated when considering South Korea's high cost of living. These are some excellent areas to start your hunt for a high-paying career in South Korea.

It's also advised that you research Korean workplace culture after seeing the aforementioned K-drama television series. In Korean dramas, realism is prioritized because not only do they depict the positive elements of life, but also the horrific realities. Because of this, it is satisfying to get a glimpse of the laborious but gratifying nature of South Korea's work ethic in the aforementioned K-dramas.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our post on South Korea's best paid employment. We hope it was instructive and helpful to you.