How much of a raise you keep
App formula, 2025 rates, no dependents, 200,000 KRW non-taxable meal allowance, progressive tax (not the flat rate).
| Current → offered (KRW) | Extra take-home per month | Share of raise kept |
|---|---|---|
| 40M → 43M | about 191,000 | about 76% |
| 50M → 53M | about 189,000 | about 76% |
| 50M → 55M | about 315,000 | about 76% |
| 70M → 75M | about 277,000 | about 67% |
Higher salaries keep a smaller share because of the progressive brackets, but only the part above a bracket is taxed at the higher rate, so a raise never lowers your take-home. See the tax bracket myth. If you are on the 19% flat rate, roughly 70% of each extra won stays after the flat tax, local tax and premiums below the pension cap.
Working back from the take-home you want
If you decide you need 200,000 KRW more per month to make a move worthwhile, the gross raise is roughly target × 12 ÷ share kept: 200,000 × 12 ÷ 0.76 ≈ 3.16M, so ask for about 3.2M KRW more. Try a few candidate salaries in a calculator to fine-tune it.
Using it in a negotiation
- The company thinks gross; you think take-home. Convert each offer to monthly take-home before you answer.
- Separate base pay from incentives. A “total compensation” figure may include money you might not receive.
- Ask whether severance is included. Some Korean contracts divide the annual figure by 13. See salaries divided by 13.
- Non-cash and allowance items count. Housing support, relocation, flights home and a non-taxable meal allowance can matter more than a small base raise. See the meal allowance.
Comparing two numbers in the app
Calculate your current salary
Choose “Annual”, enter your current salary and tap “Calculate take-home”. Note the big monthly figure and “Net / year”.
Recalculate with the offer
Change only the amount and compare the monthly figures. The app saves the last input, so switch back to your current salary afterwards.
FAQ
Should I ask for more because tax takes a quarter?
Everyone faces similar deductions, so “tax” is a weak argument. Set your target in take-home terms and present the gross number with reasons based on your experience and results.
Do dependents change the share I keep?
Under progressive tax, yes slightly, because personal deductions lower your taxable income. Enter your dependents in the app and compare.
Sources: National Tax Service (English) · KOSCA, 2026 social insurance rates (Korean)
Salary to Chicken: Take-Home
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