Average salary per employee at major South Korean companies reached ₩54.99 million (approximately ¥6.4 million) in the first half of this year, up 7.1% from the same period a year earlier. This is a breaking report on the results of an analysis by CEO Score.
An analysis of 345 comparable companies out of 500 major South Korean companies found that average salary per employee was ₩54.99 million in the first half of this year, up 7.1% from ₩51.36 million in the same period a year earlier. The largest group comprised companies with salary levels below ₩60 million, with many companies paying between ₩40 million and ₩60 million. This was a factor pushing up the overall level.
By company, Korea Investment Holdings ranked first at ₩184 million, up 13.6% from the same period a year earlier. It was followed by Meritz Securities, Korea Investment & Securities, Yuanta Securities Korea and SK hynix. A total of 20 companies had average salary per employee above ₩100 million, including 12 securities firms, which accounted for 60% of the total.
By industry, financial holding companies had the highest average salaries, followed by securities firms, telecommunications companies, banks, and credit and finance companies. E-Land World had the lowest average at ₩17 million, while CJ Freshway, Hyundai Green Food and L&F were also among those with relatively low salary levels.
Overall, the highest average salaries were concentrated in the financial and securities sectors, apparently reflecting compensation structures with a high proportion of performance-based pay.