S.Korean wage earners' monthly salary rises 3.6 pct in 2020

The monthly average salary of South Korean wage earners rose in single digits in 2020, statistical office data showed Monday.

Wage workers earned a monthly average of 3.2 million won (2,680 U.S. dollars) in December 2020, up 110,000 won (90 U.S. dollars), or 3.6 percent, from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea.

Salary employees, who were paid between 1.5 million won (1,260 U.S. dollars) and 2.5 million won (2,100 U.S. dollars) on a monthly average basis, accounted for 27.9 percent of the total in 2020.

Almost one-fourth of the total wage earners earned an average of less than 1.5 million won per month in the year.

The monthly average salary for employees with large companies stood at 5.29 million won (4,440 U.S. dollars), more than doubling 2.59 million won (2,170 U.S. dollars) for workers at small firms.

Men were paid higher than women. Male workers earned a monthly average of 3.71 million won (3,110 U.S. dollars), about 1.5 times 2.47 million won (2,070 U.S. dollars) for female employees.

Salary workers in the finance and insurance industry earned the highest monthly pay of 6.6 million won (5,540 U.S. dollars).

Employees in the lodging and eatery sector earned the least with 1.63 million won (1,370 U.S. dollars).