Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in South Korea in 2022

South Korea boasts a robust economy. According to projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in 2021, South Korea had the 4th highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Asia, following China, Japan, and India.

South Korea is also a country with the highest percentage of highly educated people in the world. Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that in 2019, 69.8% of South Koreans aged 25-34 had completed tertiary education, surpassing Canada, Russia, and Japan. Unsurprisingly, South Korea offers numerous job opportunities for skilled workers in various fields.

Here is a list of the 10 highest-paying jobs in South Korea in 2022:

1. Surgeon

According to Salary Explorer data, the highest-paying job in South Korea in 2022 is a surgeon. Salaries range from 85,100,000 to 271,266,000 KRW per month, with an average of approximately 174,042,000 KRW per month.

2. Judge

The second highest-paying job is a judge. Salary Explorer notes that the lowest salary for a judge ranges from 71,417,000 to 226,855,000 KRW per month, with an average salary of approximately 145,235,000 KRW per month.

3. Lawyer

The legal profession ranks third in highest salaries. Lawyers in South Korea can earn between 57,854,000 and 183,644,000 KRW per month, with an average salary of approximately 117,988,000 KRW per month.

4. Bank Manager

In addition to health and legal professionals, financial professionals also receive very high salaries in South Korea. Salary Explorer reports that bank managers in South Korea earn between 54,414,000 and 172,973,000 KRW, with an average salary of 111,111,000 KRW per month.

5. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

CEOs hold the highest executive position in corporate organizations. In South Korea, a CEO can earn between 51,012,000 and 162,039,000 KRW per month, with an average salary of approximately 111,027,000 KRW per month.

6. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Besides CEOs, company executives managing finances (CFOs) also rank among the highest-paid jobs. According to Salary Explorer data, the salary of a CFO in South Korea ranges from 47,651,000 to 151,237,000 KRW per month, with an average salary of 97,223,000 KRW per month.

7. Dentist

Besides surgeons, another high-earning healthcare professional in South Korea is a dentist. Their salaries are not far from those of CFOs, ranging from 45,971,000 to 146,435,000 KRW, with an average salary of 93,742,000 KRW per month.

8. Professor

In the education sector, the highest-paid profession in South Korea is a university professor. Professors can earn between 40,809,000 and 129,631,000 KRW per month, with an average salary of 83,300,000 KRW per month.

9. Pilot

Piloting requires specialized skills and involves high-risk work. Therefore, pilots in South Korea are paid quite well, earning between 33,968,000 and 108,266,000 KRW per month, with an average salary of 69,376,000 KRW per month.

10. Marketing Director

Finally, another high-paying job in South Korea is Marketing Director. Those in this position can earn between 30,607,000 and 97,463,000 KRW per month, with an average salary of approximately 62,535,000 KRW per month.

(Also read: South Korea, the Country with the Most Industrial Robot Workers in the World)