About the South Korea Salary Calculator
This South Korea salary calculator turns an annual salary (연봉) into estimated take-home pay (실수령액) after the four major social insurances (4대보험) and income tax. It deducts the employee share of National Pension (4.75%), National Health Insurance (3.595%), long-term care insurance (0.4724% of pay) and employment insurance (0.9%), then estimates the year-end income tax and the 10% local income tax on top.
It is meant for employees comparing job offers in Korea, foreigners planning a move to Seoul, and anyone checking what a raise means in won per month. Enter your non-taxable allowances (such as the up-to-₩200,000 monthly meal allowance), your dependants and children aged 8 or over to see their effect.
Rates are for 2026: the 6%–45% basic tax rates of Income Tax Act article 55, the earned-income deduction and earned-income tax credit, ₩1.5 million basic deduction per person, the child tax credit, and the National Pension income ceiling of ₩6.59 million a month (July 2026 – June 2027). Tax is the annual amount settled at year-end (연말정산) using either your insurance-premium deduction or the ₩130,000 standard tax credit, whichever is better; it ignores card-spending, housing, pension-savings and other itemised credits, so monthly withholding from the simplified table (간이세액표) can differ slightly. The flat 19% regime for foreign workers is not modelled.
With the default inputs, the take-home pay per month is ₩3,553,749.12. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the south korea salary calculator
- 1Enter your annual salary (연봉) as stated in your contract.
- 2Enter monthly non-taxable allowances such as the meal allowance.
- 3Add dependants you support and any children aged 8 or over.
- 4Read your monthly take-home pay and the cost of each insurance.
- 5Compare offers by changing the salary — the chart shows where each won goes.
Formula and method
Insurance is charged on monthly taxable pay (salary minus non-taxable allowances): National Pension at 4.75% of standard monthly income between ₩410,000 and ₩6,590,000, health insurance at 3.595%, long-term care at 0.4724% (half of 0.9448%) and employment insurance at 0.9%.
For income tax, total taxable pay is reduced by the earned-income deduction (70% of the first ₩5 million, falling to 2% above ₩100 million, capped at ₩20 million), ₩1.5 million per person basic deduction, and your pension contributions. Insurance premiums are deducted too — or, if better, the ₩130,000 standard credit is used instead. The tax base is taxed at 6%–45%, then reduced by the earned-income tax credit (55% of tax up to ₩1.3 million, 30% above, subject to a ceiling of ₩740,000 down to ₩200,000 depending on pay) and the child credit (₩250,000 for one child, ₩550,000 for two, +₩400,000 for each additional). Local income tax adds 10% of the income tax.
- 총급여
- Total taxable pay: salary minus non-taxable allowances
- 과세표준
- Tax base after deductions
- LTC
- Long-term care insurance (장기요양보험)
- EI
- Employment insurance (고용보험)
Worked examples
₩50 million salary, ₩200,000 meal allowance, single
Taxable pay is ₩47.6 million. The four insurances cost about ₩4.63 million a year. After the earned-income and basic deductions the tax base is about ₩29.3 million, giving income tax of ₩2.48 million after credits plus ₩248,000 local tax — about ₩3.55 million take-home a month.
₩36 million, supporting a spouse and one child aged 10
Two extra basic deductions (₩3 million) and the ₩250,000 child credit cut income tax to about ₩220,000 a year — here the ₩130,000 standard credit beats itemising insurance premiums. After ₩3.27 million of insurance and ₩22,000 local tax, take-home pay is about ₩2.71 million a month.
₩120 million, two dependants, two children aged 8+
Monthly pay of ₩9.8 million exceeds the National Pension ceiling, so pension is capped at ₩3.76 million a year. The tax base of about ₩88.4 million reaches the 35% bracket; after credits income tax is about ₩14.45 million, leaving about ₩7.88 million a month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the take-home pay on a ₩50 million salary in Korea?+
A single employee earning ₩50 million with a ₩200,000 monthly meal allowance takes home roughly ₩3.55 million a month in 2026 — about 85% of gross — after the four insurances, income tax and local income tax.
What are the 4 major insurances in Korea?+
National Pension (4.75% employee share in 2026), National Health Insurance (3.595%), long-term care insurance (0.4724% of pay, collected with health insurance) and employment insurance (0.9%). Employers pay a matching or larger share, plus industrial accident insurance.
Why did National Pension go up in 2026?+
The 2025 pension reform raised the total contribution rate from 9% to 9.5% from January 2026, split equally between employer and employee, with further 0.5-point increases each year until it reaches 13%.
Is the meal allowance taxable in Korea?+
Meal allowances of up to ₩200,000 a month are non-taxable for employees who are not provided free meals, and non-taxable pay is also excluded from the four-insurance calculations, which raises take-home pay.
What is year-end tax settlement (연말정산)?+
Employers withhold tax monthly using a simplified table, then settle the exact annual tax in early the following year, applying deductions and credits such as card spending, medical and education expenses. This calculator estimates that annual settled tax.
Can foreigners use a flat tax rate?+
Foreign employees can elect a flat 19% rate on gross pay (plus local tax) instead of progressive rates, which usually helps only high earners. This calculator uses the standard progressive rates.
Tax results are estimates based on published rules and simplified assumptions. They are not tax advice — check official guidance or a tax professional for your situation.