Average Daily Wage for SME Production Workers Reaches 114,000 Won... Up 3.0% from Last Year

Results of Wage Survey by Occupation from the Korea Federation of SMEs
Metal Material Quality Controllers Receive Highest Average Daily Wage

The average daily wage for production workers at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the first half of this year was 114,000 won.

On June 29, the Korea Federation of SMEs announced the results of the "2025 First Half Wage Survey by Occupation in Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises," which was conducted among 1,500 small and medium-sized manufacturing companies (with annual sales of at least 3 billion won and at least 10 regular employees).

As of March this year, the average daily wage for production workers across 129 occupations in small and medium manufacturing companies was 114,007 won. This represents a 3.0% increase compared to 110,684 won in June of last year, and a 7.8% increase compared to 105,773 won in August 2023, respectively.

By occupation, the surveyed wage for simple laborers was 90,830 won, up 0.8% from the previous year (90,085 won). The daily wage for team leaders increased by 2.5% from 135,398 won to 138,737 won, and for parts assemblers, it increased by 4.4% from 98,387 won to 102,680 won over the same period. The average daily wage for metal material quality controllers was the highest at 179,162 won, while bakery and rice cake makers had the lowest at 85,030 won.

The published survey wages will be applied as the standard labor cost in contracts involving the state as of July 1. The detailed survey results by occupation and explanations can be found on the Korea Federation of SMEs website.