Average Salary in North Korea 2026
Currency: KPW · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in North Korea make?
Average Monthly Salary
99,900 KPW
( 1,198,800 KPW yearly )
~ 111 USD per month ( 1,332 USD yearly )
LOW
29,700 KPW
33 USD
AVERAGE
99,900 KPW
111 USD
HIGH
299,700 KPW
333 USD
A person working in North Korea typically earns around 99,900 KPW per month. Salaries range from 29,700 KPW (lowest average) to 299,700 KPW (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Distribution of Salaries in North Korea
Median and salary distribution monthly North Korea
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What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.
The median (90,000 KPW) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (99,900 KPW) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
- 0–2 Years (Entry Level)599,400 KPW
- 2–5 Years (Junior)779,400 KPW
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)1,018,800 KPW
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)1,198,800 KPW
- 15+ Years (Senior)1,438,200 KPW
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
- High School719,100 KPW
- Certificate838,800 KPW
- Associate959,400 KPW
- Bachelor's1,198,800 KPW
- Master's1,438,200 KPW
- PhD1,678,500 KPW
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High School → Certificate
+17%
Certificate → Bachelor's
+43%
Bachelor's → Master's
+20%
Master's → PhD
+17%
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.
Salary Comparison By Gender
Salary comparison by gender monthly North Korea
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in North Korea earn 11% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in North Korea
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
9%
Average Raise
18 months
Review Frequency
9%
Annualized Increase
Employees in North Korea are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 18 months.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in North Korea is 9%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in North Korea
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
50%
Received Bonus
50%
No Bonus
50% of surveyed staff in North Korea reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.
Average Bonus Rate
4%
of annual salary
Types of Bonuses Considered:
• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
• Company Performance Bonuses
• Goal-Based Bonuses
• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal1,618,200 KPW
- Aviation1,558,800 KPW
- Information Technology1,558,800 KPW
- Banking1,498,500 KPW
- Pharmaceuticals1,498,500 KPW
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 2,997,000 KPW | 250,200 KPW |
| Pilot | 2,397,600 KPW | 199,800 KPW |
| Software Developer | 2,158,200 KPW | 180,000 KPW |
| Data Scientist | 2,037,600 KPW | 170,100 KPW |
| Financial Manager | 1,917,900 KPW | 160,200 KPW |
| Database Administrator | 1,798,200 KPW | 150,300 KPW |
| Engineer | 1,678,500 KPW | 139,500 KPW |
| Marketing Manager | 1,558,800 KPW | 129,600 KPW |
| Project Manager | 1,498,500 KPW | 125,100 KPW |
| Accountant | 1,318,500 KPW | 109,800 KPW |
| Hotel Manager | 1,198,800 KPW | 99,900 KPW |
| Nurse | 1,079,100 KPW | 90,000 KPW |
| Graphic Designer | 1,018,800 KPW | 84,600 KPW |
| Chef | 899,100 KPW | 74,700 KPW |
| Teacher | 838,800 KPW | 70,200 KPW |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Pyongyang | 1,378,800 KPW |
| Hamhung | 1,259,100 KPW |
| Chongjin | 1,259,100 KPW |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
94,500 KPW
Private Sector
105,300 KPW
Public Sector
+11%
Public sector employees in North Korea earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in North Korea
900 KPW
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in North Korea is 900 KPW. This means that the average person in North Korea earns approximately 900 KPW for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in North Korea
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
5,400 KPW
/month
Food
1,800 KPW
/month
Transport
900 KPW
/month
Utilities
900 KPW
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in North Korea and explore top-paying jobs.