Teacher (K-12): Japan vs South Korea
Side-by-side salary comparison · Estimated based on OECD & BLS data
🇰🇷 South Korea pays 18% more
Japan
JPY
Estimated Salary (USD)
$37,045
per year
Local Currency (JPY)
¥5,519,705
per year
PPP Adjusted
$83,289
purchasing power
Big Mac Power
12,267
burgers / year
Global Percentile
Bottom 48%
South Korea
KRW
Estimated Salary (USD)
$43,661
per year
Local Currency (KRW)
₩57,632,520
per year
PPP Adjusted
$92,599
purchasing power
Big Mac Power
8,874
burgers / year
Global Percentile
Top 45%
Visual Comparison
Salary (USD)
PPP Adjusted (USD)
Big Mac Power (burgers/year)
Key Takeaways
- ●
Teacher (K-12)s in South Korea earn 18% more than in Japan (nominal USD).
- ●
After adjusting for purchasing power (PPP), South Korea actually leads by 11%.
- ●
Using the Big Mac Index, a Teacher (K-12)'s salary buys 1.4x more Big Macs in Japan.
Free · No login required
Explore More
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays Teacher (K-12)s more: Japan or South Korea?▾
South Korea pays Teacher (K-12)s an estimated $43,661 USD per year, which is 18% more than Japan's estimated $37,045 USD.
What is the PPP-adjusted salary for a Teacher (K-12) in Japan vs South Korea?▾
The PPP-adjusted salary is $83,289 USD in Japan and $92,599 USD in South Korea. PPP adjustment accounts for cost of living differences between the two countries.
How does the purchasing power compare for Teacher (K-12)s?▾
Using the Big Mac Index, a Teacher (K-12) in Japan can buy about 12,267 Big Macs per year, while in South Korea it's about 8,874 Big Macs.
Estimated based on OECD & BLS data. Actual salaries vary by experience, company, and region. Data is for informational purposes only.
Sources: BLS OEWS · OECD · World Bank · Big Mac Index