A person working in Engineering in Korea (South) typically earns around 3,280,000 KRW per month. Salaries range from 1,040,000 KRW (lowest average) to 6,940,000 KRW (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Engineering careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Acoustics Engineer | 3,310,000 KRW |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 2,710,000 KRW |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 3,980,000 KRW |
Associate Engineer | 3,070,000 KRW |
Autocad Operator | 2,200,000 KRW |
Automation Engineer | 3,890,000 KRW |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 3,270,000 KRW |
Biochemical Engineer | 3,250,000 KRW |
BMS Engineer | 3,290,000 KRW |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 1,960,000 KRW |
Broadcast Engineer | 3,360,000 KRW |
CAD Design Engineer | 3,620,000 KRW |
CAD Designer | 2,230,000 KRW |
CAE Engineer | 3,340,000 KRW |
Ceramics Engineer | 3,300,000 KRW |
Civil Engineer | 3,780,000 KRW |
Commissioning Engineer | 3,280,000 KRW |
Communications Engineer | 3,760,000 KRW |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 3,080,000 KRW |
Contract Associate Engineer | 3,310,000 KRW |
Control Systems Engineer | 3,610,000 KRW |
Controls Engineer | 3,570,000 KRW |
Controls Software Engineer | 2,970,000 KRW |
Corrosion Engineer | 3,210,000 KRW |
Design Engineer | 3,800,000 KRW |
Drafter | 2,290,000 KRW |
Drafting Manager | 4,260,000 KRW |
Drilling Engineer | 3,320,000 KRW |
Electrical Draughtsman | 1,820,000 KRW |
Electrical Engineer | 3,810,000 KRW |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 5,050,000 KRW |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 3,770,000 KRW |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 1,870,000 KRW |
Energy Engineer | 3,600,000 KRW |
Engine Assembler | 1,570,000 KRW |
Engineer | 3,770,000 KRW |
Engineering Account Manager | 3,960,000 KRW |
Engineering Chief Designer | 4,200,000 KRW |
Engineering Consultant | 4,870,000 KRW |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 5,140,000 KRW |
Engineering Lab Technician | 3,290,000 KRW |
Engineering Planning Manager | 5,160,000 KRW |
Engineering Production Manager | 6,480,000 KRW |
Engineering Project Analyst | 4,220,000 KRW |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 4,010,000 KRW |
Engineering Project Director | 7,300,000 KRW |
Engineering Project Manager | 4,990,000 KRW |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 5,620,000 KRW |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 2,820,000 KRW |
Engineering Sales Manager | 4,860,000 KRW |
Engineering Technician | 2,770,000 KRW |
Engineering Technologist | 2,810,000 KRW |
Environmental Engineer | 3,540,000 KRW |
Equipment Engineer | 3,340,000 KRW |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 4,900,000 KRW |
Estimator | 3,090,000 KRW |
Fabrication Specialist | 2,440,000 KRW |
Fabricator | 1,590,000 KRW |
Facade Engineer | 3,330,000 KRW |
Fiber Analyst | 2,110,000 KRW |
Field Engineer | 3,540,000 KRW |
Field Engineering Manager | 5,840,000 KRW |
Fire Engineer | 3,430,000 KRW |
Fitter and Turner | 1,110,000 KRW |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 4,250,000 KRW |
Generation Engineer | 3,580,000 KRW |
Genetic Engineer | 3,920,000 KRW |
Geological Engineer | 3,490,000 KRW |
Geotechnical Engineer | 3,730,000 KRW |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 1,920,000 KRW |
Highway Engineer | 3,550,000 KRW |
HSE Professional | 3,140,000 KRW |
HVAC Engineer | 3,840,000 KRW |
HVAC Supervisor | 3,210,000 KRW |
Industrial Engineer | 3,520,000 KRW |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 3,560,000 KRW |
Instrument Engineer | 3,330,000 KRW |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 3,510,000 KRW |
Instrumentation Engineer | 3,490,000 KRW |
Instrumentation Manager | 3,610,000 KRW |
Irrigation Engineer | 3,600,000 KRW |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 3,650,000 KRW |
Locomotive Engineer | 3,350,000 KRW |
Maintenance Engineer | 3,190,000 KRW |
Maintenance Fitter | 1,270,000 KRW |
Maintenance Manager | 3,380,000 KRW |
Manufacturing Engineer | 3,320,000 KRW |
Marine Engineer | 3,520,000 KRW |
Materials Engineer | 3,480,000 KRW |
Materials Researcher | 3,360,000 KRW |
Materials Technician | 2,480,000 KRW |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 3,900,000 KRW |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 3,930,000 KRW |
Mechanical Designer | 2,920,000 KRW |
Mechanical Engineer | 3,830,000 KRW |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 5,120,000 KRW |
Mechanical Inspector | 3,530,000 KRW |
Mechatronics Engineer | 3,950,000 KRW |
Mining Engineer | 3,540,000 KRW |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 3,700,000 KRW |
Optical Engineer | 3,460,000 KRW |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 1,830,000 KRW |
PCB Assembler | 1,320,000 KRW |
Photonics Engineer | 3,780,000 KRW |
Photonics Technician | 3,120,000 KRW |
Pipeline Engineer | 3,380,000 KRW |
Piping Designer | 1,840,000 KRW |
Piping Engineer | 3,150,000 KRW |
Planning Engineer | 3,540,000 KRW |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 1,670,000 KRW |
Principal Cost Engineer | 3,560,000 KRW |
Principal Engineer | 3,420,000 KRW |
Principal Support Engineer | 3,470,000 KRW |
Process Engineer | 3,400,000 KRW |
Process Operator | 2,160,000 KRW |
Product Development Engineer | 3,630,000 KRW |
Product Development Technician | 2,550,000 KRW |
Product Engineer | 3,680,000 KRW |
Product Safety Engineer | 3,370,000 KRW |
Production Engineer | 3,480,000 KRW |
Project Engineer | 3,800,000 KRW |
Proposal Manager | 4,440,000 KRW |
Purchasing Engineer | 3,300,000 KRW |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 3,600,000 KRW |
Rail Engineer | 3,710,000 KRW |
Robotics Engineer | 4,210,000 KRW |
Robotics Technician | 2,800,000 KRW |
Safety Engineer | 3,380,000 KRW |
Safety Inspector | 2,630,000 KRW |
Safety Manager | 4,050,000 KRW |
Safety Officer | 1,770,000 KRW |
Sales Engineer | 3,670,000 KRW |
Scheduling Engineer | 3,220,000 KRW |
Service Engineer | 3,680,000 KRW |
Solar Engineer | 3,650,000 KRW |
Staff Engineer | 3,370,000 KRW |
Static Equipment Engineer | 3,320,000 KRW |
Stationary Engineer | 3,250,000 KRW |
Stress Engineer | 3,150,000 KRW |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 3,380,000 KRW |
Structural Designer | 3,140,000 KRW |
Structural Engineer | 3,420,000 KRW |
Structural Technician | 2,280,000 KRW |
Supply Chain Specialist | 3,450,000 KRW |
Surveyor | 2,600,000 KRW |
Technical Affairs Officer | 1,840,000 KRW |
Technical Assistant | 1,740,000 KRW |
Technical Engineer | 3,160,000 KRW |
Technical Support Engineer | 3,080,000 KRW |
Tender Engineer | 3,190,000 KRW |
Test Development Engineer | 3,630,000 KRW |
Transportation Engineer | 3,250,000 KRW |
Validation Engineer | 3,330,000 KRW |
Verification Engineer | 3,270,000 KRW |
Wastewater Engineer | 3,380,000 KRW |
Wind Energy Engineer | 3,490,000 KRW |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 4,630,000 KRW |
Work Planner | 2,380,000 KRW |
Engineering salaries in Korea (South) range from 1,040,000 KRW per month (minimum average salary) to 6,940,000 KRW per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 3,350,000 KRW per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Engineering are earning less than 3,350,000 KRW while the other half are earning more than 3,350,000 KRW. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 1,970,000 KRW while 75% of them are earning more than 1,970,000 KRW. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 5,250,000 KRW while 25% are earning more than 5,250,000 KRW.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Korea (South) costs anywhere from 19,400,000 South Korean Won(s) to 58,300,000 South Korean Won(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Korea (South) who work in Engineering earn 6% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 3,370,000 KRW | |
Female | -6% | 3,180,000 KRW |
Engineering professionals in Korea (South) are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 10% every 15 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 16 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 6% | |
Energy | 3% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 6% | |
Travel | 3% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 6% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Korea (South) for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Engineering is considered to be a moderate bonus-based field due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
46% of surveyed staff in Engineering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 54% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 54% | |
No Bonus | 46% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The average salary for Engineering is 16% less than that of All Jobs.
City | Average Salary |
Bucheon | 3,040,000 KRW |
Busan | 3,620,000 KRW |
Daegu | 3,490,000 KRW |
Daejeon | 3,430,000 KRW |
Goyang | 3,170,000 KRW |
Gwangju | 3,360,000 KRW |
Incheon | 3,550,000 KRW |
Seongnam | 3,100,000 KRW |
Seoul | 3,680,000 KRW |
Suweon | 3,300,000 KRW |
Ulsan | 3,240,000 KRW |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Korea (South) earn 6% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 3,770,000 KRW | |
Public Sector | +6% | 3,990,000 KRW |