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Korea Income Percentile Calculator

Enter your annual salary to instantly see your position among Korean wage earners. Based on NTS 2022 wage income percentile statistics.

Enter gross annual salary in 10,000 KRW units (e.g., 5,000 = ₩50,000,000)

Top 54.0%

Bottom 46.0%

vs. median income 0.93×

Your position in the income distribution

0%P50P90P99100%

Methodology

This calculator uses the NTS (National Tax Service) wage income percentile bracket data and applies linear interpolation to estimate your exact percentile. For example, a salary of ₩57,000,000 falls between P70 (₩49,200,000) and P80 (₩64,800,000), so the calculator interpolates to P75 — meaning bottom 75%, top 25%. Salaries above ₩200,000,000 (P99) are shown as 'Top under 1%'.

When is this calculator useful?

  • Benchmarking a job offer or raise

    Gauge where a new salary offer sits relative to all wage earners. This isn't broken down by industry or seniority, so treat it as a rough position within the overall distribution.

  • Setting a financial goal

    See the gap to the top 10% (~₩93.6M) or top 5% (~₩120M) threshold to inform long-term career and savings planning.

  • Checking eligibility thresholds for government programs

    Many youth-targeted policy programs use 'multiples of median income' as an eligibility bar. This gives you a quick reference point, though actual eligibility depends on household income rules in each program's official notice.

  • Getting an objective answer

    For anyone wondering 'is my salary above average?', this gives a concrete answer based on official NTS statistics instead of a guess.

Data Source

Based on NTS (National Tax Service) 2022 wage income percentile statistics. This data covers wage income filers only — business income (self-employed, freelancers), financial income, and rental income are excluded. The data will be updated when the NTS publishes new annual statistics.

Things to keep in mind

  • Only wage income is counted. Business income (self-employed, freelance), financial income (interest, dividends), and rental income are excluded, so your rank under total/comprehensive income could differ.
  • Results are a linear interpolation between the NTS's published bracket thresholds, so they are reference estimates that may deviate slightly from the true distribution curve.
  • Figures are gross (pre-tax) salary, not take-home pay after social insurance and tax deductions.
  • The underlying data is NTS's 2022 tax-year statistics. Official statistics are published with a lag of a few years and will be refreshed when newer data is released.
  • This reflects individual income, not household income — it will differ from a dual-income household's combined ranking.
  • This is a nationwide statistic, so it does not reflect regional income gaps (e.g., Seoul metro vs. other regions).

FAQ

What data is this based on?
The calculator is based on the NTS (National Tax Service) 2022 wage income percentile statistics published annually. The data will be refreshed when a newer year's figures are released.
Does this include all types of income?
No. This covers wage income (salary) filers only. Business income (self-employed, freelancers), financial income, and rental income are not included, so actual total income distribution may differ.
How accurate is this?
Results are linear interpolation estimates within each percentile bracket and should be used for reference only. Minor deviations from actual distribution are expected due to the interpolation method. For precise figures, refer to the official NTS statistical publications.
Is this gross or net salary?
Gross (pre-tax) salary. The NTS wage income statistics are compiled based on total gross salary before tax deductions.
What salary puts me in the top 10%?
Based on NTS 2022 statistics, roughly ₩93.6M (P90) marks the top 10%. Top 5% starts around ₩120M (P95), and top under 1% starts at ₩200M (P99).
Is median income the same as average income?
No. The 'multiple of median income' used here refers to the exact midpoint (P50) of wage earners ranked by income, about ₩32.4M. Average income tends to be pulled higher by a small number of very high earners.
Are freelancers and the self-employed included in this data?
No. This statistic covers wage/salary income only. Business income filers should refer to separate comprehensive income tax statistics.
Is this updated every year?
The calculator's reference table is updated whenever the NTS publishes new wage income percentile statistics, which typically lag the most recent year by 1-2 years.

Official Sources

Always verify with the official sources below