Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Labor Union
Wage Comparison of Nuclear Power Workers in Major Operating Countries
The wage levels of nuclear power workers in South Korea are 25-30% lower than those in major countries overseas. In addition, the number of personnel per nuclear power plant is only about half that of other countries.
On December 16, the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Labor Union held a final presentation of the commissioned study, "Analysis of Wage Status Based on Wage Comparisons Among Major Nuclear Power Operating Countries," at the Vision Hall of the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences.
At this event, the union shared the final results, which expanded and deepened the research scope following the interim report in September. The findings included a comprehensive comparative analysis of wages and workforce structures in five major nuclear power operating countries: the United States, France, Canada, Japan, and South Korea.
The final results showed that in major overseas nuclear power countries, the wages of nuclear power workers are 25-35% higher than the national average for general industries, whereas in South Korea, the figure is less than 5% above the industry average.
The wage levels of South Korean nuclear power workers were found to be about 70% of those in the United States, 76% of those in France, and 73% of those in Canada.
The research team stated that, for highly skilled personnel (top 25%), nuclear power workers overseas earn up to 70% more than their South Korean counterparts. They also identified a structural problem in which the wage gap widens as experience accumulates. This is because major overseas countries compensate for the high-risk, high-skill nature of the nuclear industry through a career- and proficiency-based pay system.
Furthermore, the number of full-time staff per power plant in major countries such as the United States and Canada is between 800 and 1,000, which is more than double the figure in South Korea (about 400-450 people). The research team pointed out that this difference in workforce structure is directly linked to nuclear power plant safety.
Kang Changho, head of the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Labor Union, stated, "This final study objectively proves with concrete data that the treatment of nuclear power workers is not just a labor-management issue, but a core challenge for national energy security and industrial sustainability." He emphasized, "The workforce foundation supporting nuclear power, which provides the stable baseload power essential for the growth of advanced industries such as AI and semiconductors, must not be allowed to weaken any further."
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