Korea Salary Calculator 2026
How much of your Korean salary actually lands in your bank account? This paycheck calculator takes the 4 major insurances and income tax off your gross to leave the net figure, updated for 2026 rates.
The child tax credit covers children aged 9–20 for the 2026 tax year. Children count as dependents, so the dependent count is kept in sync.
Monthly deductions
- Gross monthly pay₩4,166,667
- National Pension (4.75%)−₩188,417
- Health Insurance (3.595%)−₩142,602
- Long-term Care Ins.−₩18,738
- Employment Ins. (0.9%)−₩35,700
- Income Tax−₩236,360
- Local Income Tax−₩23,636
- Monthly take-home₩3,521,214
What gets deducted from a Korean paycheck?
Korean employers withhold the 4 major social insurances and income tax every month. For 2026, the employee shares are: National Pension 4.75% (rising 0.5%p every year until 2033 under the pension reform), Health Insurance 3.595%, Long-term Care Insurance (13.14% of your health premium), and Employment Insurance 0.9%. Income tax is progressive (6–45%) with a local income tax surcharge of 10% on top.
Foreign workers are generally enrolled in the same system as Korean employees. Some nationalities are exempt from National Pension under social security agreements (e.g. lump-sum refund rules vary by country) — check with the National Pension Service. A flat 19% tax rate election is also available to eligible foreign engineers/executives for their first 20 years in Korea; this calculator uses the standard progressive rates.
Sources: National Pension Service, National Health Insurance Service, Ministry of Employment and Labor, National Tax Service (2026 rates). Results are estimates (within ~1.5% of payroll withholding tables); your actual payslip may vary with company-specific allowances. This is not tax advice.
Net pay at a glance (2026 rates)
Single filer, no dependents, ₩200,000/month non-taxable meal allowance. Use the calculator above for your own situation.
| Annual salary | Monthly gross | Deductions | Monthly net | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₩30,000,000 | ₩2,500,000 | −₩266,807 | ₩2,233,193 | |
| ₩40,000,000 | ₩3,333,333 | −₩446,597 | ₩2,886,736 | |
| ₩50,000,000 | ₩4,166,667 | −₩645,453 | ₩3,521,214 | |
| ₩60,000,000 | ₩5,000,000 | −₩850,532 | ₩4,149,468 | |
| ₩70,000,000 | ₩5,833,333 | −₩1,055,601 | ₩4,777,732 | |
| ₩80,000,000 | ₩6,666,667 | −₩1,347,802 | ₩5,318,865 | |
| ₩100,000,000 | ₩8,333,333 | −₩1,852,909 | ₩6,480,424 | |
| ₩120,000,000 | ₩10,000,000 | −₩2,458,497 | ₩7,541,503 |
The effective deduction rate climbs from roughly 11% at ₩30M to about 24% at ₩120M — Korean income tax is progressive (6–45%), while the four social insurances are mostly flat with a pension cap.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate net salary in Korea?
Take the four social insurances off your gross pay first, then income tax on what is left. For 2026 the employee shares are National Pension 4.75%, Health Insurance 3.595%, Long-Term Care at 13.14% of the health premium, and Employment Insurance 0.9%. Income tax is progressive, and a local income tax equal to 10% of that tax is added on top.
What is deducted from a salary in Korea?
Four social insurances plus income tax. For 2026 the employee shares are National Pension 4.75%, Health Insurance 3.595%, Long-Term Care 13.14% of the health premium, and Employment Insurance 0.9%, followed by income tax and a local income tax equal to 10% of it.
How much tax do foreigners pay in Korea?
The same progressive rates as Korean employees, 6% to 45%, plus the 10% local income tax surcharge. Eligible foreign engineers and executives can instead elect a flat 19% rate for their first 20 years in Korea. This calculator uses the standard progressive rates.
Do foreign workers pay into the National Pension?
Generally yes, since foreign employees join the same system as Korean employees. Some nationalities are exempt or have special lump-sum refund rules under bilateral social security agreements, so check with the National Pension Service for your country.
Why does my payslip differ from this estimate?
Employers withhold using the National Tax Service simplified withholding table, while this calculator approximates your annual settled tax and divides by twelve. The monthly gap is usually within about 1.5% and is reconciled in the year-end tax settlement.
What is the non-taxable meal allowance?
If your pay includes a meal allowance, up to ₩200,000 per month is excluded from both social insurance and income tax. Set it to zero in the calculator if your employer does not break it out separately.
Why is my take-home lower in 2026 than last year?
The pension reform raises the National Pension rate by 0.5 percentage points every year until 2033, and Health Insurance also rose for 2026. The same gross salary therefore nets slightly less than it did in 2025.