According to the National Statistical Portal (KOSIS) on May 17, the average monthly wage per regular employee at large workplaces with 300 or more employees in the "electronic components, computers, visual, audio, and communication equipment manufacturing" sector was tallied at 9,418,797 won last year. This figure represents a sharp 13.0% increase from the previous year.

Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek campus is bustling with people coming to work and the constant flow of shuttle buses.

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This growth rate is nearly twice the average wage increase rate for all manufacturing industries with 300 or more employees during the same period (6.9%). By specific sector, it recorded the second highest surge among all industries, following only water transport (23.0%).

The wage level itself also ranks among the highest across all industries nationwide. It has firmly established itself as one of Korea's top five high-wage sectors, following petroleum products (10,880,000 won), postal·telecommunications (10,320,000 won), finance·insurance (10,020,000 won), and water transport (9,500,000 won). Although the electronic components sector experienced a slowdown in growth until 2023 and a temporary decline in 2024, last year saw salaries soar as the boom in artificial intelligence (AI) led to a turnaround in business performance.

SK hynix Headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang

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This sharp increase reflects the record-high total compensation at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which drive the global semiconductor market. According to each company's business report released in March this year, the average annual salary at Samsung Electronics last year rose 21.5% from the previous year to 158 million won, while SK hynix saw a 58.1% surge to 185 million won—both companies hitting all-time highs.

The market expects that, with the semiconductor supercycle (boom period) anticipated this year, the average monthly wage in the electronic components sector will comfortably reach the 10 million won mark. Based on last year's annual results, an additional 6.2% growth would be enough to surpass 10 million won.