Pay by Role
South Korea · Salary comparison

Dentist vs Surgeon salary

In South Korea, a surgeon earns about 53% more than a dentist $331,259 vs $216,974 per year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is KRW). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Healthcare
Dentist
$216,974/yr
Monthly
$18,081
Hourly
$104
Range
$148,627$300,509
10-yr outlook
+4%
Pays more
Healthcare
Surgeon
$331,259/yr
Monthly
$27,605
Hourly
$159
Range
$212,006$477,013
10-yr outlook
+3%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileDentistSurgeon
Entry (10th)$148,627$212,006
25th$182,801$271,633
Median$216,974$331,259
75th$258,742$404,136
Senior (90th)$300,509$477,013

National South Korea figures in KRW. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Healthcare comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a dentist or surgeon earn more in South Korea?
A surgeon earns more, at about ₩497,330,000 per year vs ₩325,750,000 for a dentist — roughly 53% (₩171,580,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Korea?
A dentist typically earns ₩223,138,800–₩451,163,800, while a surgeon earns ₩318,291,200–₩716,155,200 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Korea?
On a monthly basis before tax, a dentist averages about ₩27,145,800 and a surgeon about ₩41,444,200.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Korea, a dentist earns about ₩223,138,800 while a surgeon earns about ₩318,291,200 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Korea, a dentist earns about ₩451,163,800 while a surgeon earns about ₩716,155,200 per year.
Are dentist and surgeon similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Healthcare category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.