Samsung Electronics and SK hynix among semiconductor giants nearing 10 million won in monthly pay

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\r\n[Financial News] The average monthly pay for regular workers at large electronics-component workplaces rose to 9,418,797 won last year, coming close to 10 million won. The recovery in semiconductor earnings, driven by expanded investment in artificial intelligence, and the payment of performance bonuses directly pushed up wages at large manufacturing sites.
According to the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) on the 17th, the average monthly total pay per regular worker last year at large workplaces with 300 or more employees in the electronics components, computers, video, audio and communications equipment manufacturing sector came to 9,418,797 won. That figure includes base pay, overtime pay and special pay, and was up 13.0% from 8,336,818 won a year earlier. The increase was nearly twice the 6.9% rise in the overall manufacturing sector for workplaces with 300 or more employees over the same period.
By industry subcategory, the electronics components manufacturing sector posted the second-highest increase, after water transport at 23.0%. In terms of total pay, it ranked near the top, behind coke, briquettes and refined petroleum products manufacturing at 10,881,379 won, postal and telecommunications services at 10,327,430 won, financial and insurance-related services at 10,027,224 won, and water transport at 9,504,067 won. The electronics components manufacturing category includes key export industries such as semiconductors, displays and communications equipment.
At large workplaces in the electronics components manufacturing sector, average monthly pay rose from 6,924,922 won in 2020 to 8,839,559 won in 2023, before easing to 8,336,818 won in 2024. Last year, it climbed back above 9 million won as the semiconductor industry recovered and companies expanded performance bonuses. In particular, stronger earnings at major semiconductor firms, helped by rising demand for AI servers and high-bandwidth memory, were strongly reflected in the wage data.
In Samsung Electronics' 2025 business report released in March, the average employee salary was listed at 158 million won. That was 28 million won higher than the previous year's average compensation of 130 million won, an increase of 21.5%. It marked the highest level ever reported in the company's business filings.
SK hynix's average employee salary rose even more sharply, reaching 185 million won. Compared with 117 million won a year earlier, it increased by 68 million won, or 58.1%. The gains reflected stronger earnings and larger bonus payments as shipments of high-bandwidth memory expanded and memory prices recovered.
If average monthly pay at large workplaces in the electronics components manufacturing sector rises by more than 6.2% from a year earlier, the annual average will exceed 10 million won. This year, average pay stood at 25,625,027 won in January and 25,053,036 won in February, staying above 25 million won for two straight months. Although monthly figures for January and February tend to fluctuate sharply depending on the timing of Lunar New Year bonuses, semiconductor firms' performance bonuses appear to have been reflected in early-year wage data.
Compared with the same months a year earlier, average pay in January fell 0.24% from 25,685,506 won to 25,625,027 won. In February, it jumped from 8,354,832 won to 25,053,036 won, an increase of about 200%. This year's monthly statistics were compiled under a revised industrial classification system, limiting direct comparison with last year's figures.
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jjw@fnnews.com Jung Ji-woo Reporter