As an international resident moving to Pyeongtaek-si, having an overview of resident employment opportunities, income, and housing costs can benefit you. It allows you to understand who you are competing for when renting and how much they can afford. The following data comes from in-person interviews, google searches, AI resources, the Korean government, and US government websites.
Large Employers and Average Salaries in Pyeongtaek
The table below shows the some of the largest employers in Pyeongtaek-si, the industry, the average salaries of employees, and what they generally pay for housing. The data comes from a wide variety of sites, blog posts, and articles written in Korean or English and interpreted by AI so there will be some room for error, it’s an estimate and an overview.
Since the post is an overview of easily found data, the information may not reflect everyone’s lived experience. Additionally, the data does not prescribe what you will experience as an international resident living in Pyeongtaek, it simply describes commonly reported information and averages.
Also note that the US Military employs both international residents and Korean nationals. The table does not show the income for active duty US military. Instead, the table shows the average wages for Pyeongtaek residents and citizens working for the base.
Examples of Large Employers in Pyeongtaek
| Employer | Industry | Average Salary (KRW) | Average Housing Costs (Wolse or Cheonse) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics (Pyeongtaek Campus) | Semiconductor Manufacturing | 80-100 million KRW/year | Wolse: 10-20 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 200-300 million KRW |
| Camp Humphreys (U.S. Military Base) | Military and Civilian Support | 50-80 million KRW/year (for civilian workers) | Wolse: 15-30 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 100-200 million KRW |
| Hyundai Steel | Steel Manufacturing | 60-80 million KRW/year | Wolse: 8-15 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 100-200 million KRW |
| Kia Motors (Hwaseong Plant) | Automotive Manufacturing | 40-70 million KRW/year | Wolse: 8-15 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 100-200 million KRW |
| Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port | Logistics and Shipping | 40-60 million KRW/year | Wolse: 7-12 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 80-150 million KRW |
Key Employers:
Samsung Electronics operates massive semiconductor and screen facilities in Pyeongtaek, known for being the largest in the world. The massive company often offers highly competitive salaries, especially for engineers and technicians in the semiconductor industry(Texas EDC).
Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base overseas, employs both military and civilian workers from the United States and South Korea, including contractors who often earn above-average wages (Automotive Logistics).
Hyundai Steel and Kia Motors, major employers in the region, provide jobs in automotive and steel production, critical to the local economy(World Population Review)(Automotive Logistics).
These companies drive much of Pyeongtaek’s economic growth, attracting a mix of skilled professionals, contractors, and laborers. This has to do with the presence of Pyeongtaek Port.
Now that we understand the overview of employment, income, and housing in Pyeongtaek-si related to some of the areas largest overall employers, let’s look at how employment, salary, and housing compare for the largest employers for international residents living in Pyeongtaek-si.
Top 10 Largest Employers of Foreign Residents in Pyeongtaek
| Employer | Industry | Common Job Roles for Foreigners | Average Salary (KRW) | Average Housing Costs (Wolse or Cheonse) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Humphreys (U.S. Military Base) | Military and Civilian Support | Civilian contractors, educators, admin | 50-80 million KRW/year | Wolse: 10-15 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 100-200 million KRW |
| Samsung Electronics (Pyeongtaek Campus) | Semiconductor Manufacturing | Engineers, technical specialists | 80-100 million KRW/year | Wolse: 10-20 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 200-300 million KRW |
| International Schools | Education | English teachers, administrative staff | 30-50 million KRW/year | Wolse: 8-12 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 80-150 million KRW |
| Kia Motors (Hwaseong Plant) | Automotive Manufacturing | Engineers, quality control specialists | 40-70 million KRW/year | Wolse: 8-15 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 100-200 million KRW |
| Local Hagwons (Private English Academies) | Education | English teachers | 25-35 million KRW/year | Wolse: 6-10 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 50-100 million KRW |
| LG Innotek | Electronics Manufacturing | Engineers, IT specialists | 70-90 million KRW/year | Wolse: 10-18 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 180-250 million KRW |
| Logistics and Shipping Companies (Pyeongtaek Port) | Logistics and Shipping | Supply chain coordinators, managers | 40-60 million KRW/year | Wolse: 7-12 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 80-150 million KRW |
| POSCO | Steel Manufacturing | Engineers, technicians | 60-80 million KRW/year | Wolse: 8-14 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 100-180 million KRW |
| Lotte Mart and Other Retail Chains | Retail | Store managers, customer service roles | 25-40 million KRW/year | Wolse: 6-10 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 50-100 million KRW |
| Hanwha Q CELLS | Solar Energy Manufacturing | Engineers, renewable energy specialists | 60-80 million KRW/year | Wolse: 8-15 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 100-200 million KRW |
Summary of Key Employers for International Residents:
- Camp Humphreys and Samsung Electronics remain the largest employers of foreign residents, offering jobs to contractors, engineers, and educators.
- Kia Motors, LG Innotek, and POSCO are other significant employers of foreign technical specialists and engineers, providing competitive salaries and housing support.
- International schools and hagwons (private English academies) continue to be a major source of employment for foreign teachers.
- Logistics and shipping companies, especially around Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port, employ foreigners in logistics, supply chain, and management roles.
Housing Costs:
- Wolse (Monthly Rent): Average housing costs for foreign employees range from 6-20 million KRW/year depending on job position, salary, and proximity to major employers like Camp Humphreys or Samsung.
- Jeonse (Cheonse): For those opting for the Jeonse system, deposits range from 50-300 million KRW, with higher amounts in more urbanized or desirable areas near Pyeongtaek.
Observations Regarding Employment, Income, and Housing
After reviewing the employment, income, and housing in Pyeongtaek-si some findings stand out.
Salary Differences:
- Foreign employees tend to be concentrated in industries like education, technology, and logistics, where salaries vary. For instance, teachers (in international schools or hagwons) earn significantly less (25-50 million KRW/year) compared to foreign engineers or technicians at companies like Samsung or LG Innotek, who earn 70-100 million KRW/year.
- This contrasts with the general largest employers, where salaries for roles in semiconductor manufacturing or steel production are much higher (60-100 million KRW/year), indicating that foreign workers in teaching and customer service roles may face lower wage scales.
Housing Costs:
- Housing costs are comparable across both tables, with Wolse ranging from 6-20 million KRW/year and Jeonse deposits from 50-300 million KRW depending on the job sector. For higher-paid foreign workers (e.g., engineers at Samsung), housing costs lean toward the higher end, while workers in education or retail often face lower housing costs due to their more modest salaries.
- For both general and foreign employees, Camp Humphreys and Samsung Electronics provide relatively similar housing support, as these companies are known to offer comprehensive housing allowances or assistance, particularly for foreign employees.
What does this all mean for international residents living in Pyeongtaek?
As the Pyeongtaek community moves from farming to industry, international residents no longer hold the same economic advantages.
US Military
For example, U.S. affiliated people were once some of the highest earners in the area. However, Samsung employees now have more buying power and a competitive edge for things such as housing.
Housing has become extremely competitive for US military-affiliated staff. Such US military employees used to find housing easy and affordable, and no competition for higher-end homes existed. However, the high wages at Samsung and other new factories now compete with the military. Housing near Samsung and Osan Air Force Base can be hard to find and very expensive.
Low-income Earners Such as Teachers
With incomes and housing competition rising across Pyeongtaek-si, teachers’ salaries remain fixed from over 20 years ago. This means they struggle to find adequate housing without school support. Teachers struggle to save for deposits and wolse is 200,000 – 300,000 KRW above the average wolse stipend of 400,000 KRW.
These findings made us wonder more about the lowest-paid industries for international residents in Pyeongtaek-si and how their increase in wages compares to the rise in housing costs. We went to ChatGpt to find out the answer. We read the associated research and found the data accurate and concerning.
Industries with the Lowest Wages for International Workers
The following updated table for industries with the lowest wages for foreign nationals in Pyeongtaek, including their typical job roles, average salaries, housing costs, and the percentage change in wages over the last 5 years:
| Industry | Common Job Roles | Average Salary (KRW) | Average Housing Costs (Wolse or Jeonse) | Percentage Change in Wages (Last 5 Years) | Percentage Increase in Housing Costs (Last 5 Years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Education (Hagwons) | English teachers, curriculum developers | 25-35 million KRW/year | Wolse: 6-10 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 50-100 million KRW | +5% (slight increase) | +10-15% (rising demand for rentals near schools) |
| Retail and Customer Service | Store managers, customer service roles | 25-40 million KRW/year | Wolse: 6-10 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 50-100 million KRW | +3% (gradual rise in line with inflation) | +8-12% (due to urban housing demand) |
| Hospitality (Hotels, Restaurants, Cafes) | Hotel staff, restaurant workers, baristas | 20-35 million KRW/year | Wolse: 5-8 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 40-80 million KRW | +2% (minimal change) | +7-10% (slightly rising costs) |
| Logistics and Shipping (Entry-Level) | Warehouse workers, shipping clerks | 30-40 million KRW/year | Wolse: 7-12 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 80-150 million KRW | +7% (logistics growth) | +12-18% (increased demand due to e-commerce growth) |
| Agriculture and Manual Labor | Farm workers, general laborers | 20-30 million KRW/year | Wolse: 4-7 million KRW/year, Jeonse: 30-60 million KRW | +1% (very little wage growth) | +5-8% (moderate rise in rural areas) |
Observations:
When we look at the employment, income, and housing in Pyeongtaek-si for lowest lowest-paying industries in Pyeongtaek-si, we see a few things:
Housing Cost Increases
- The largest increases in housing costs occurred in logistics and English language education, with Wolse and Jeonse rising by 12-18% and 10-15% respectively. These industries are located closer to urban areas or high-demand rental zones, driving housing prices higher.
- Retail and hospitality sectors have seen more moderate increases of 7-12% over the past five years, reflecting general urban growth and inflation in housing costs.
- Agriculture and manual labor workers in more rural areas faced smaller increases in housing costs, with Wolse and Jeonse rising by 5-8%.
Disparity in Wage vs. Housing Cost Increases:
- While housing costs have increased significantly (up to 18% in some cases), wage growth has not kept pace, with most industries seeing wage increases of 1-7%. This highlights a growing disparity between income and cost of living for foreign nationals working in lower-paying sectors.
Impact on Living Standards:
- As housing costs continue to rise faster than wages, foreign nationals in these industries may face tighter budgets, especially in urban areas near key employers. This is particularly evident for English teachers and logistics workers, who may struggle with the increased cost of living despite slight wage improvements.
These trends underscore the increasing pressure on lower-wage workers in Pyeongtaek as housing costs continue to outpace wage growth, making it crucial for workers in these sectors to seek affordable housing options.
Learn More About Employment, Income, and Housing in Pyeongtaek-si
Of course, this article simply looks at data. We encourage you to read more about all of these topics on the South of Seoul Blog and other sources across the internet when choosing to move to Pyeongtaek-si, South Korea. We love it here, but you need ensure the situation is right for you.
Founded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences.
