Pay at Korean listed companies
From the employee section of annual reports on DART: headcount, average pay and tenure.
Average pay and headcount at Korean listed companies, taken from the employee section of annual reports filed with DART (2025). Among the 2,612 companies read so far, the highest average pay at a company with at least 300 staff is Hanyang Securities at about $141,000. Annual reports are still being read, so this ranks only the companies collected so far. Figures are total annual payroll divided by headcount and exclude registered executives.
Highest average pay 300+ staff
| # | Company | Employees | Average pay | Avg. tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanyang Securities 001750 | 459 | $141,000 2025 | – |
| 2 | NH Investment & Securities 005940 | 3,137 | $131,000 2025 | 13.7 yrs |
| 3 | SK hynix 000660 | 34,549 | $127,000 2025 | 13.4 yrs |
| 4 | Korean Reinsurance Company 003690 | 446 | $127,000 2025 | 10.7 yrs |
| 5 | Daol Investment & Securities 030210 | 344 | $121,000 2025 | – |
| 6 | Samsung Securities 016360 | 2,614 | $118,000 2025 | 13.1 yrs |
| 7 | Mirae Asset Securities 006800 | 3,310 | $117,000 2025 | 15.7 yrs |
| 8 | SK Telecom 017670 | 5,316 | $116,000 2025 | 13.7 yrs |
| 9 | Samsung Life Insurance 032830 | 5,124 | $112,000 2025 | 17.4 yrs |
| 10 | Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance 000810 | 5,535 | $111,000 2025 | 15.9 yrs |
| 11 | Samsung Electronics 005930 | 128,881 | $110,000 2025 | 13.7 yrs |
| 12 | Kyobo Securities 030610 | 972 | $109,000 2025 | 14 yrs |
| 13 | POSCO Holdings 005490 | 524 | $108,000 2025 | 12.5 yrs |
| 14 | Samsung Card 029780 | 2,033 | $105,000 2025 | 16 yrs |
| 15 | SK Innovation 096770 | 2,064 | $104,000 2025 | 10.9 yrs |
| 16 | E1 017940 | 334 | $103,000 2025 | – |
| 17 | Samsung SDS 018260 | 11,219 | $101,000 2025 | 17.2 yrs |
| 18 | NAVER 035420 | 5,047 | $101,000 2025 | 7.7 yrs |
| 19 | S-Oil 010950 | 3,537 | $99,000 2025 | 17.4 yrs |
| 20 | Great Rich Technologies 900290 | 919 | $99,000 2025 | 4.2 yrs |
| 21 | Yuanta Securities Korea 003470 | 1,777 | $97,000 2025 | 12.7 yrs |
| 22 | DB Securities 016610 | 782 | $97,000 2025 | 10.8 yrs |
| 23 | Samsung E&a 028050 | 5,249 | $96,000 2025 | 11.9 yrs |
| 24 | Kia 000270 | 36,566 | $96,000 2025 | 20.8 yrs |
| 25 | Doosan 000150 | 1,749 | $95,000 2025 | 13.7 yrs |
| 26 | Hyundai Mobis 012330 | 12,535 | $95,000 2025 | 13.1 yrs |
| 27 | Hyundai Wia 011210 | 2,843 | $94,000 2025 | 12.3 yrs |
| 28 | POSCO International 047050 | 1,738 | $94,000 2025 | 15.4 yrs |
| 29 | KIWOOM Securities 039490 | 1,190 | $94,000 2025 | – |
| 30 | Hyundai Motor 005380 | 72,598 | $94,000 2025 | 15.8 yrs |
| 31 | Daishin Securities 003540 | 1,432 | $93,000 2025 | – |
| 32 | Eugene Investment & Securities 001200 | 741 | $93,000 2025 | – |
| 33 | Apr 278470 | 657 | $93,000 2025 | 2.2 yrs |
| 34 | Tes 095610 | 438 | $92,000 2025 | 8.3 yrs |
| 35 | HD Hyundai Electric 267260 | 2,209 | $91,000 2025 | 6.4 yrs |
| 36 | HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering 009540 | 1,543 | $91,000 2025 | 4.3 yrs |
| 37 | SK ie technology 361610 | 319 | $90,000 2025 | 9.1 yrs |
| 38 | Ecopro Materials 450080 | 639 | $90,000 2025 | 4.3 yrs |
| 39 | Hanwha Aerospace 012450 | 8,168 | $89,000 2025 | 13.1 yrs |
| 40 | Hite Jinro 000080 | 2,935 | $89,000 2025 | – |
| 41 | Seoul Guarantee Insurance Company 031210 | 1,547 | $88,000 2025 | 13.9 yrs |
| 42 | LG Uplus 032640 | 9,765 | $88,000 2025 | 11.3 yrs |
| 43 | Samsung C&T 028260 | 9,261 | $88,000 2025 | 15 yrs |
| 44 | Hanwha Vision 489790 | 1,060 | $88,000 2025 | 11.7 yrs |
| 45 | SK Gas 018670 | 662 | $88,000 2025 | 7.7 yrs |
| 46 | HMM 011200 | 1,933 | $87,000 2025 | 9.3 yrs |
| 47 | Korea Zinc 010130 | 2,054 | $87,000 2025 | – |
| 48 | LG Electronics 066570 | 34,144 | $87,000 2025 | 13.8 yrs |
| 49 | Cheil Worldwide 030000 | 1,511 | $86,000 2025 | 10.4 yrs |
| 50 | Seoul City Gas 017390 | 499 | $86,000 2025 | 23.5 yrs |
| 51 | Shinyoung Securities 001720 | 663 | $86,000 2025 | 8.5 yrs |
| 52 | Korea Aerospace Industries 047810 | 5,241 | $86,000 2025 | 13.7 yrs |
| 53 | KakaoBank 323410 | 1,806 | $86,000 2025 | – |
| 54 | Hyundai-Rotem 064350 | 4,541 | $86,000 2025 | 11.3 yrs |
| 55 | Hyundai Motor Securities 001500 | 888 | $85,000 2025 | 9.4 yrs |
| 56 | LOTTE Fine Chemical 004000 | 943 | $85,000 2025 | 16.8 yrs |
| 57 | Korean Air Lines 003490 | 18,318 | $85,000 2025 | 18.4 yrs |
| 58 | Hanwha Life Insurance 088350 | 2,794 | $84,000 2025 | 16.8 yrs |
| 59 | Hyundai Engineering & Construction 000720 | 6,900 | $84,000 2025 | 13.8 yrs |
| 60 | Isu Chemical 005950 | 310 | $84,000 2025 | – |
Largest employers
| # | Company | Employees | Average pay | Avg. tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samsung Electronics 005930 | 128,881 | $110,000 | 13.7 yrs |
| 2 | Hyundai Motor 005380 | 72,598 | $94,000 | 15.8 yrs |
| 3 | Kia 000270 | 36,566 | $96,000 | 20.8 yrs |
| 4 | SK hynix 000660 | 34,549 | $127,000 | 13.4 yrs |
| 5 | LG Electronics 066570 | 34,144 | $87,000 | 13.8 yrs |
| 6 | LG Display 034220 | 24,430 | $63,000 | 14.9 yrs |
| 7 | Samsung Electro-mechanics 009150 | 24,346 | $39,000 | 15.7 yrs |
| 8 | E-mart 139480 | 23,075 | $37,000 | 13.9 yrs |
| 9 | Korea Electric Power 015760 | 22,875 | $67,000 | 15 yrs |
| 10 | HD Hyundai Heavy Industries 329180 | 18,880 | $68,000 | 4 yrs |
| 11 | Korean Air Lines 003490 | 18,318 | $85,000 | 18.4 yrs |
| 12 | Lotte Shopping 023530 | 17,712 | $37,000 | 12.5 yrs |
| 13 | KT 030200 | 14,701 | $79,000 | 19.3 yrs |
| 14 | Industrial Bank of Korea 024110 | 13,507 | $67,000 | – |
| 15 | LG Energy Solution 373220 | 12,922 | $80,000 | – |
| 16 | LG Chem 051910 | 12,869 | $79,000 | – |
| 17 | Samsung SDI 006400 | 12,826 | $67,000 | 12.6 yrs |
| 18 | Hyundai Mobis 012330 | 12,535 | $95,000 | 13.1 yrs |
| 19 | LG Innotek 011070 | 12,211 | $69,000 | 9.4 yrs |
| 20 | Hyundai Steel Company 004020 | 11,694 | $81,000 | – |
| 21 | Samsung SDS 018260 | 11,219 | $101,000 | 17.2 yrs |
| 22 | Hanwha Ocean 042660 | 11,178 | $65,000 | 15.9 yrs |
| 23 | Samsung Heavy Industries 010140 | 10,589 | $75,000 | 17.2 yrs |
| 24 | LG Uplus 032640 | 9,765 | $88,000 | 11.3 yrs |
| 25 | ktcs 058850 | 9,404 | $27,000 | 6.4 yrs |
| 26 | Samsung C&T 028260 | 9,261 | $88,000 | 15 yrs |
| 27 | ktis 058860 | 9,088 | $25,000 | – |
| 28 | CJ Cheiljedang 097950 | 8,232 | $60,000 | 9.3 yrs |
| 29 | CJ Freshway 051500 | 8,225 | $26,000 | 3.8 yrs |
| 30 | Hanwha Aerospace 012450 | 8,168 | $89,000 | 13.1 yrs |
Longest average tenure 300+ staff
| # | Company | Employees | Average pay | Avg. tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KG Mobility 003620 | 4,126 | $70,000 2025 | 25.3 yrs |
| 2 | Yoosung Enterprise 002920 | 537 | $51,000 2025 | 23.8 yrs |
| 3 | Seoul City Gas 017390 | 499 | $86,000 2025 | 23.5 yrs |
| 4 | SJG Sejong 033530 | 617 | $68,000 2025 | 22.6 yrs |
| 5 | SNT Motiv 064960 | 536 | $62,000 2025 | 22.2 yrs |
| 6 | Kia 000270 | 36,566 | $96,000 2025 | 20.8 yrs |
| 7 | Dongwon Mobility 018500 | 532 | $50,000 2025 | 19.4 yrs |
| 8 | KT 030200 | 14,701 | $79,000 2025 | 19.3 yrs |
| 9 | Youlchon Chemical 008730 | 654 | $54,000 2025 | 18.7 yrs |
| 10 | Hanon Systems 018880 | 2,223 | $74,000 2025 | 18.6 yrs |
| 11 | Ecoplastic 038110 | 625 | $73,000 2025 | 18.5 yrs |
| 12 | Korean Air Lines 003490 | 18,318 | $85,000 2025 | 18.4 yrs |
| 13 | HL Mando 204320 | 3,828 | $78,000 2025 | 18.4 yrs |
| 14 | KT&G 033780 | 4,331 | $82,000 2025 | 18.2 yrs |
| 15 | Kumho Tire 073240 | 5,463 | $65,000 2025 | 18.2 yrs |
| 16 | Kec 092220 | 542 | $43,000 2025 | 18.2 yrs |
| 17 | Korea Movenex 010100 | 500 | $71,000 2025 | 17.9 yrs |
| 18 | Hanwha Galleria 452260 | 761 | $46,000 2025 | 17.8 yrs |
| 19 | DongshinEngineering&Construction 025950 | 668 | $4,000 2025 | 17.6 yrs |
| 20 | Moorim Paper 009200 | 447 | $66,000 2025 | 17.5 yrs |
| 21 | Sindoh 029530 | 303 | $54,000 2025 | 17.5 yrs |
| 22 | MIRAE ASSET Life Insurance 085620 | 793 | $76,000 2025 | 17.5 yrs |
| 23 | Daewonkangup 000430 | 663 | $67,000 2025 | 17.4 yrs |
| 24 | S-Oil 010950 | 3,537 | $99,000 2025 | 17.4 yrs |
| 25 | Samsung Life Insurance 032830 | 5,124 | $112,000 2025 | 17.4 yrs |
| 26 | Oriental Precision & Engineering 014940 | 322 | $57,000 2025 | 17.3 yrs |
| 27 | Samsung Heavy Industries 010140 | 10,589 | $75,000 2025 | 17.2 yrs |
| 28 | Samsung SDS 018260 | 11,219 | $101,000 2025 | 17.2 yrs |
| 29 | SAMPYO Cement 038500 | 649 | $68,000 2025 | 17.2 yrs |
| 30 | Sangsin Brake 041650 | 622 | $59,000 2025 | 17.1 yrs |
By industry
| Industry | Companies | Median average pay | Median headcount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial & insurance support services | 25 | $90,000 | 741 |
| Insurance | 12 | $77,000 | 2,794 |
| Financial services | 40 | $73,000 | 323 |
| Electricity & gas utilities | 9 | $68,000 | 499 |
| Shipping | 5 | $68,000 | 529 |
| Broadcasting | 9 | $64,000 | 244 |
| Telecommunications | 9 | $62,000 | 432 |
| Airlines | 6 | $57,000 | 3,380 |
| General construction | 33 | $55,000 | 567 |
| Logistics & warehousing | 6 | $54,000 | 834 |
| Engineering & technical services | 18 | $53,000 | 1,256 |
| Non-metallic mineral products | 23 | $51,000 | 416 |
| Autos & auto parts | 94 | $50,000 | 375 |
| Land transport | 8 | $49,000 | 582 |
| Pulp & paper | 22 | $49,000 | 284 |
| Other transport equipment | 22 | $49,000 | 441 |
| Chemicals | 133 | $48,000 | 277 |
| Basic metals | 65 | $48,000 | 312 |
| Software development & IT services | 29 | $47,000 | 298 |
| Machinery & equipment | 167 | $45,000 | 237 |
Median of the company averages in each industry (companies with 100 or more staff, at least five companies per industry). A median is less distorted by one very high or low company than a mean.
How to read these numbers
Average pay here is the total annual payroll a company reported divided by its headcount. It mixes new joiners and thirty-year veterans, factory and office staff, full-time and contract workers, so it is not what a given job pays.
Registered executives are excluded — their pay is disclosed separately — but unregistered executives are usually inside the figure, which lifts the average at companies with many of them.
Holding companies and financial firms often show very high averages on small headcounts, so companies with fewer than 300 staff are left out of the ranking. Severance and one-off bonuses land in the year they are paid, so a single year can jump.
Headcount is as of the end of the reporting period. Companies count contract and seconded staff differently, so two firms of similar size can report quite different numbers.
Pay data: questions
- How is average pay calculated?
- Total annual payroll reported in the company annual report divided by the number of employees at the end of the period. Registered executives are excluded.
- Is this what an individual earns?
- No. It mixes every role, seniority and employment type in one company, so an individual salary can be far above or below it.
- Why are some companies missing?
- Only companies that filed the employee table and have at least 300 staff appear in the ranking. Collection also runs gradually, so more companies appear over time.
- Which year do the figures cover?
- The latest annual report on DART. The reporting year is shown at the top of the page.
Source: employee status tables in annual reports (사업보고서) filed with DART. Average pay is total annual payroll divided by headcount and excludes registered executives; it is not an individual salary. Companies are added as the data is collected.