What is The Software Engineer Salary in South Korea

Software Engineer Salary in South Korea – ever wondered if moving to Seoul could double (or halve) your take-home pay? Most devs dream of working for Samsung, Coupang, or Naver, but the real numbers shock everyone. You might hear “Asia pays low”… then see seniors pulling ₩120–150 million+ a year with bonuses and stock. Meanwhile, juniors sometimes struggle with Seoul rent eating half their paycheck.

If you’re comparing global tech markets, you might also want to explore how compensation stacks up in Software Engineer Salary in Japan or Software Engineer Salary in Canada for a broader international perspective.

The truth? South Korea offers one of the strongest tech salaries in Asia – if you know where to look, which companies pay best, and how to survive the cost of living.

Overview Software Engineer Salaries in South Korea

Curious about software engineer salary in South Korea? You’re not alone. Many developers dream of working in Seoul or Busan, but the first question is always: how much will I actually take home?

Right now (looking at fresh 2025 data from places like Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and salary surveys), the average software engineer salary in South Korea usually ”what is the salarly” sits between ₩70 million and ₩100 million per year. That works out to roughly ₩5.8 million to ₩8.3 million per month before taxes.

For aspiring developers planning their journey, understanding how long it takes to become a software engineer can help predict when you’ll realistically reach these salary levels.

Most reports show the typical range for a software engineer in Korea is around ₩56 million (starting side) up to ₩100 million or a bit more for good performers. In dollars? Think about $50,000 to $75,000 USD annually, depending on the exchange rate that day.

And yes — software engineer salary in South Korea per month is what people search the most. Expect ₩4.6 million to ₩8 million+ monthly for the majority. Not bad, right? But remember, Seoul rent and food can eat a good chunk of it if you’re not careful.

Now let’s talk levels because experience changes everything.

• Entry-level or junior software engineers usually start around ₩50–70 million a year (about ₩4–6 million monthly). Fresh grads at big Korean companies or startups often land in this zone.
• Senior software engineer salary in South Korea jumps noticeably. With 7–10+ years, you’re looking at ₩90 million to ₩130 million+ annually (₩7.5 million to ₩10 million+ per month). Top seniors at places like Samsung, Naver, or foreign tech branches can even push higher with bonuses and stock.

Compared to the average salary in South Korea (around ₩45–55 million for all jobs), software engineers do pretty well. Tech pays better than most fields here.

Geographic Salary Analysis

Seoul-Specific Compensation

Seoul is where most of the action happens for tech jobs. If you’re hunting for a  software engineer in Korea, about 80% of the good roles are here in the capital area. Salaries are noticeably higher than in other cities — think Busan or Daegu — because that’s where the big players like Samsung, Naver, Kakao, Coupang, and foreign branches hang out.

From the latest numbers (Glassdoor Nov 2025, Levels.fyi late 2025/early 2026), the average software engineer salary in South Korea (mostly driven by Seoul) lands around ₩90–96 million per year total comp.

In Seoul specifically? A bit higher — expect south korea software engineer salary in the range of ₩66 million to ₩125 million annually, with average total pay around ₩93–94 million. That breaks down to roughly software engineer salary in south korea per month of ₩5.5 million to ₩10 million+ before taxes.

• Entry-level or juniors in Seoul usually start ₩50–70 million a year (₩4–6 million monthly).
• Mid-level? Comfortably ₩80–100 million.
• Senior software engineer salary in South Korea (Seoul-focused) jumps to ₩93 million up to ₩156 million total comp, often ₩76–130 million base range. Top seniors at hot companies can see even more with bonuses and stock.

In dollars? The software engineer salary in south korea in dollars averages about $65,000–$90,000 USD yearly for most, pushing $100k+ for seniors.

Your career progression here is pretty straightforward — but competitive. Start as junior → mid in 3–5 years → senior around 7–10 years if you perform well and switch jobs smartly. Many devs jump companies every 2–4 years for 20–40% bumps. Bonuses (performance + annual) can add 10–30% extra, and some places throw in stock (especially at unicorns like Coupang).

Now, the real talk: cost of living in Seoul bites hard. A single person needs ₩2.1–3.7 million per month to live comfortably (including rent), according to recent expat and local reports. Without rent, basic monthly costs hover around ₩1.5 million (food, transport, utilities, fun stuff).

• Rent is the killer — one-bedroom in city center: ₩900,000–1.5 million+ (often with huge key money deposit). Cheaper outskirts or shared: ₩600,000–900,000.
• Food: Eat local (street food, home-cooked) and you spend ₩300,000–500,000 monthly. Western imports? Double it.
• Transport: Super cheap and amazing — subway/bus ₩1,400–1,700 per ride, monthly pass ~₩65,000–100,000.

A solid mid-level average salary in south korea for software engineer (₩7–8 million monthly) lets you live nicely in Seoul — save some, eat out, travel. But if you’re just starting or on the low end, you’ll feel the pinch on rent and dates. Compare to national average salary south korea (~₩45–55 million yearly across all jobs), tech in Seoul wins big.

In dollars this often translates to about $65,000–$90,000 USD yearly for most, pushing $100k+ for seniors — a competitive total compared to markets like Software Engineer Salary in the UK and even some parts of Software Engineer Salary in Switzerland when cost of living is factored in.

Salaries drop 10–30% outside Seoul, but so does rent and daily costs — good trade-off if you like quieter life.

Regional Salary Variations

South Korea isn’t all about Seoul when it comes to tech jobs. Sure, the capital grabs most headlines for software engineer salary in South Korea, but other cities offer real opportunities too. Salaries drop as you move away from Seoul, but so does the pressure on your wallet. Let’s break down the top paying spots and how cost of living plays into it.

Top Paying Locations Across South Korea

Location / Area	Salary Range (Gross Annual, ₩ million)	Monthly Equivalent (₩ million)	Key Notes / Factors
Seoul (including nearby Pangyo Techno Valley)	90–100 average; seniors 120+ easily	7.5–8.3 average	Stays king for South Korea software engineer salary. Most big tech firms (Coupang, Naver, Kakao), startups, and foreign branches (Google, Microsoft hubs) are here or in Pangyo (often called Korea’s Silicon Valley). Levels.fyi 2026 median total comp ~₩97 million in Seoul/Pangyo area; top roles push ₩150 million+ with bonuses/stock. In dollars, that’s software engineer salary in South Korea in dollars of about $65,000–$90,000+ USD on average (using ~1,380 KRW/USD rate). Highest job density and opportunities.
Busan	77–85 average (about 10–15% lower than Seoul)	6.4–7	Comes in second. Growing gaming, fintech, and logistics tech scenes. Not bad, especially if you like the beach life over skyscrapers. Glassdoor/ERI data supports ~₩80 million average for software roles here.
Daegu	70–80 average	N/A	Solid manufacturing-tech crossover jobs (think automotive software, like Hyundai/Kia integrations). Averages closer to this range per general city salary trends.
Incheon	Between Busan and Daegu levels	N/A	Benefits from proximity to Seoul (easy commute) and airport-related tech/logistics. Pay lands in the middle of non-Seoul cities.
Other spots (Daejeon, Gwangju, etc.)	20–30% below Seoul (often 60–75)	N/A	Daejeon (science city) or Gwangju have fewer pure software roles, so average salary in South Korea for software engineer drops more. Rural areas? Even lower, but rare for devs unless remote.
Nationwide quick reality check	85–95 average (Seoul pulls it up)	N/A	Average software engineer salary in South Korea nationwide hovers ₩85–95 million, but outside the capital you might see 10–25% less depending on the company. Levels.fyi national median ~₩96 million total comp; ERI ~₩85–90 million gross base + bonus.

Regional Cost of Living Adjustments

Here’s where it gets interesting — lower salary doesn’t always mean less money in your pocket.

Seoul is the priciest. A single person needs ₩2.5–3.5 million monthly for comfy living (rent included). Rent eats the biggest bite — city center one-bedroom: ₩900k–1.5 million+. Food, transport, fun? Add another ₩1–1.5 million.

Busan? About 10–20% cheaper overall. Rent drops to ₩600k–1 million for similar spots. Total monthly costs for a single: ₩2–2.8 million. You keep more from that lower salary.

Daegu and Gwangju are even friendlier — 20–30% less than Seoul. Rent can be ₩500k–800k, daily expenses lower. Many say ₩4 million monthly in Seoul feels like ₩3 million in Daegu — same lifestyle, less stress.

Incheon sits in the middle — cheaper than Seoul (maybe 20–25% less), great for commuters who want Seoul pay without full Seoul costs.

Company-Specific Compensation Data

Top Paying Companies

When people search for software engineer salary in South Korea, they often want to know which companies pay the best. The top spots go to big names in tech and e-commerce. Data from Levels.fyi (fresh as of late 2025/early 2026) shows foreign branches like Google lead for high-end packages, but local giants and unicorns like Coupang often top the charts for average total comp.

Here are the standout ones for software engineer in Korea pay:

• Coupang — Frequently called out as the highest-paying overall. Average total compensation sits around ₩166 million yearly (that’s about software engineer salary in south korea in dollars of $120,000+ USD). Ranges go from ₩64 million for entry/mid levels up to ₩250–288 million for senior/lead roles. Bonuses and stock make a big difference here.
• Google (Korea branch) — Tops for premium packages. Levels like L3 to L4 hit ₩109 million to ₩179 million+ total comp, with median around ₩163 million. Great if you have strong experience or FAANG-level skills.
• Samsung Electronics — Solid and stable. Software engineers see ₩87 million to ₩132 million+ yearly, median total around ₩131 million. Seniors push higher, especially in cutting-edge areas like AI or mobile.

Other strong players include Naver and Kakao — they pay well (often ₩80–120 million+ for mid-to-senior), with good bonuses and perks. But Coupang edges them out in recent reports for pure cash + equity.

Company-by-Company Salary Breakdowns

Let’s

Company	Salary Range / Details (Gross Annual Total Comp, ₩ million, rough 2025–2026 Levels.fyi trends)	Key Notes / Factors
Coupang	Entry/mid: 64–100 base + extras (L4/L5 ranges ~₩64–135 million total). Senior: 130–200+ (L6-I/II up to ₩200–244+ million). Median total: 156–166 million.	Stock grants (RSUs) can boost it big time — Coupang’s equity-heavy packages shine for high performers. Levels.fyi median in Korea/South ~₩154–156 million; top submissions push higher with vesting. Great for growth-oriented devs in e-commerce/logistics tech.
Google	109–180 million+ total (L3 entry ~₩109–111 million, L4 mid/senior ~₩160–180+ million).	Focuses on high performers — if you’re senior, you can hit the top end fast with strong performance reviews. Median in Korea/South ~₩163 million; stock and bonuses add reliable upside in the Seoul office.
Samsung	87–132 million range (L2 entry ~₩79 million, L3/L4 mid ~₩89–111 million, L5/L7 senior ~₩124–132 million).	More consistent base, less wild stock swings. Good for long-term stability — Samsung emphasizes reliable pay, benefits, and career progression in hardware/software integration (e.g., mobile, AI). Levels.fyi medians fit this steady profile.
Naver / Kakao	Around 70–130 million total for most levels (Naver up to ~₩125 million for L5, Kakao ~₩60–84 million median).	Strong in search, messaging, fintech, and services. Pay jumps with experience — Naver often edges higher for senior roles. Levels.fyi shows Naver ~₩70–125 million range, Kakao lower but solid for mid-level.
Nationwide context	Average software engineer salary in South Korea is 85–95 million (Levels.fyi median total comp ~₩97 million nationwide/Seoul).	But these top companies pull it way up — Seoul/Pangyo roles at FAANG-like or big local players often double the lower-end national figures. Switching jobs every few years? You can see 20–50% bumps — common in Korea’s fast-moving tech market with strong demand for skills in backend (Java/Spring), mobile, AI, and cloud.

Featured Employer: Coupang Salary Data

Coupang gets its own spotlight because it keeps coming up as the king for south korea software engineer salary right now. This e-commerce giant (think Korea’s Amazon) pays aggressively to attract talent.

Latest Levels.fyi data (updated through 2025/early 2026):

• Overall median total comp: Around ₩156–166 million yearly (₩13–14 million monthly-ish).
• Entry/mid levels (L4/L5): ₩64–133 million total.
• Senior/high levels (L6+): Up to ₩250–288 million with stock and bonuses.

Software engineer salary in south korea per month at Coupang? Expect ₩5–10 million+ base, plus extras that can double it for top performers. In dollars, that’s often $90k–$200k+ USD total.

Why so high? Intense work culture, fast growth, and lots of stock upside. But hey, the hours can be long — no free lunch forever. If you’re skilled in backend, mobile, or logistics tech, Coupang is a dream (or nightmare, depending on your vibe).

Compared to average salary south korea across all jobs (~₩50 million), Coupang devs are laughing all the way to the bank.

Employment Costs and Hiring Considerations

Total Employment Costs

Hiring a software engineer in Korea? The base software engineer salary in South Korea is just the start. Employers face extra costs — think social insurance, taxes, and mandatory perks. These add up fast.

For 2026, employer contributions hover around 10-15% on average for office/tech roles (higher for risky industries). Here’s a rough annual breakdown for a typical mid-level dev earning ₩90 million yearly (about ₩7.5 million monthly, common average software engineer salary in South Korea):

• National Pension (NPS): Employer pays 4.75% (up from 4.5% in 2025 — gradual rise starts Jan 2026). That’s ~₩4.3 million yearly.
• National Health Insurance (NHI) + Long-Term Care: Around 4.07% employer share (total ~8.13% split). Adds ~₩3.7 million.
• Employment Insurance: 1.15–1.75% employer (depends on company size/industry). Usually ~₩1–1.5 million.
• Workers’ Compensation (Accident Insurance): 100% employer-paid, 0.6–1% for low-risk tech jobs. ~₩0.5–0.9 million.
• Other bits: Resident tax ~0.5%, plus possible bonuses/severance setup.

Total extra? Often 12–18% on top of base salary. So a ₩90 million south korea software engineer salary might cost the company ₩100–107 million yearly. For senior software engineer salary in South Korea (₩120 million+), add even more.

Don’t forget severance pay — mandatory after 1 year, about 1 month’s pay per year worked (employer-funded). Many companies budget 8–10% extra for this alone.

The real south korea salary cost for tech talent is higher than the paycheck shows. Plan for 15%+ overhead to stay compliant — or use an EOR to handle it smoothly. Saves headaches (and maybe your sanity).

International Payment Solutions

Paying a team in South Korea from abroad? Currency and cross-border stuff can bite if you’re not careful.

Most payments must be in KRW — local law prefers it, and employees want it to avoid exchange hassles. If you’re a foreign company, use platforms that convert USD/EUR to KRW automatically with good rates.

Top picks for 2026 (based on reviews and coverage):

• Deel: Super popular for global teams. Handles EOR, payroll, compliance in Korea. Fast onboarding, pays in KRW or lets employees choose. Great for contractors too. Fees around $49–$599/employee/month depending on service.
• Papaya Global: Strong for big payroll runs. Covers 160+ countries, auto-taxes/social contributions in KRW. Good analytics if you’re scaling. Pricing starts higher (~$599+), but solid for enterprises.
• Others like Remote, Oyster, or Multiplier: All do Korea well, with transparent KRW payments, low fees, and compliance baked in.

Currency considerations: KRW fluctuates (USD/KRW around 1,300–1,500 lately). Platforms lock rates or offer mid-market to cut losses. Avoid bank wires — high fees and slow. Digital wallets or direct bank transfers via these tools work best.

Cross-border tips: Factor in 1–3% conversion fees if not using a platform. For expats, some opt for partial foreign currency pay (needs agreement). But KRW is usually smartest — no surprises when bills hit.

Using these platforms? You skip entity setup, dodge compliance fines, and pay your software engineer salary in south korea per month on time. Win-win for everyone.

Also read: What is The Software Engineer Salary in Switzerland?

International Salary Comparisons

Regional Context

South Korea holds its own in Asia for software engineer salary in South Korea. But how does it compare to neighbors in similar timezones? Let’s look at gross pay (before taxes) for mid-to-senior levels in 2025-2026 data.

• Japan (Tokyo mostly): Average around $55,000–$110,000 USD yearly. Japan lags a bit behind Korea — many reports show South Korea’s average higher (equivalent to ~6.61 million yen vs Japan’s 4.56 million). But Tokyo cost of living is brutal, so take-home feels similar.
• Taiwan (Taipei): Roughly $48,000–$80,000+ USD. Strong in hardware/semiconductors, but software roles often pay less than Seoul’s big tech spots. Korea edges out for pure dev pay.
• Singapore: Tops the region at $51,000–$100,000+ USD (often higher for seniors). Singapore wins on raw dollars, low taxes, and English ease — but insane housing costs eat gains fast.
• China (Shanghai/Beijing): Varies wildly — $40,000–$90,000+ USD for good roles. Growth is fast, but stability and censorship make it tricky.

Average software engineer salary in South Korea (₩85–100 million yearly, ~$60,000–$75,000 USD) sits nicely in the middle-high of Asia-Pacific. Seniors push senior software engineer salary in South Korea to $90,000+ USD easily at top firms.

Employment cost comparisons across Asia-Pacific? Korea’s extras (social insurance ~12–18%) are moderate. Singapore has lower employer burdens but higher base pay. Japan has heavy overtime culture and benefits. Overall, south korea salary for tech feels competitive when you factor in quality of life and tech ecosystem.

Global Remote Company Benchmarks

Now zoom out to the world. Software engineer salary in South Korea looks solid locally, but remote-first companies (US/Europe-based) pay way more — often location-agnostic.

• US remote roles (Google, Meta, etc.): Average $110,000–$150,000+ USD yearly. Seniors hit $200k+ with stock. Korea’s top south korea software engineer salary (like Coupang’s ₩160 million+ median) is about half that.
• Europe (Switzerland, Netherlands): $80,000–$120,000 USD. Better work-life than US, but still beats most Korean packages.
• Remote-first globals (like remote US firms hiring in Korea): Many pay $60,000–$100,000+ USD even for Korean-based devs — way above local averages.

In the global talent market, South Korea is competitive regionally but not top-tier. You won’t match Silicon Valley cash, but you get stability, great infrastructure, and no visa drama if you’re local. Remote work changes everything — skilled devs in Korea can land US remote gigs for double the pay without moving.

If you’re staying local, average salary in south korea for software engineer is strong. Go remote/global? The sky opens up. Many Koreans do both — local job for security, remote side hustle for extra cash. Smart move!

Real-Time Salary Data and Insights

Salaries move fast — here’s the latest pulse from 2025-early 2026 reports (Levels.fyi updated Jan 2026, Glassdoor Nov 2025).

Recently submitted salary reports

• Nationwide range: ₩68–128 million yearly (Levels.fyi). Entry ~₩50–70 million, seniors ₩90–150 million+.
• Seoul focus: ₩56–100 million average (Glassdoor), with top 25% hitting ₩100 million+.
• Software engineer salary in south korea per month: ₩5–10 million+ common for mid-senior.
• In dollars: software engineer salary in south korea in dollars ~$50,000–$90,000 USD average, higher at big names.

Anonymous salary discussions

(Blind, Reddit r/Living_in_Korea, Glassdoor threads): Folks say juniors start ₩40–60 million, mid-level ₩70–100 million. At Coupang/Samsung/Naver? “Push for stock/bonus” is the repeated advice. Many complain about long hours but praise the pay bumps from job-hopping. One recent Blind post: “Senior at unicorn — ₩130 million total, but expect OT.”

Community vibe? Competitive but rewarding if you level up skills (AI, backend). Fresh grads: Negotiate hard — offers jump 10–20% sometimes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

Wrapping up our deep dive into software engineer salary in South Korea — here’s the honest takeaway.

South Korea offers solid pay for software engineers, especially if you’re in Seoul or at a top company. The average software engineer salary in South Korea sits comfortably between ₩85–100 million a year (roughly ₩7–8 million monthly). That puts you well above the national average salary south korea for most jobs.

Entry-level? Expect ₩50–70 million to start. Senior? Senior software engineer salary in South Korea can easily hit ₩100–150 million+, especially at places like Coupang, Google Korea, or Samsung. In dollars, the software engineer salary in south korea in dollars ranges from $60,000 to $100,000+ USD for most experienced devs — not Silicon Valley levels, but very competitive in Asia.

Cost of living (especially Seoul rent) will eat a chunk, but with smart choices, you can save, eat great food, and still enjoy life. Outside the capital? Lower pay, but much lower stress and expenses — a real win for some.