Pay by Role
South Korea · Salary comparison

Physician vs Physician Assistant salary

In South Korea, a physician assistant earns about 33% more than a physician $161,763 vs $121,699 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
Physician
$121,699/yr
Monthly
$10,142
Hourly
$59
Range
$77,887$175,246
10-yr outlook
+3%
Pays more
Healthcare
Physician Assistant
$161,763/yr
Monthly
$13,480
Hourly
$78
Range
$118,087$215,145
10-yr outlook
+27%

Pay range, side by side

PercentilePhysicianPhysician Assistant
Entry (10th)$77,887$118,087
25th$99,793$139,925
Median$121,699$161,763
75th$148,472$188,454
Senior (90th)$175,246$215,145

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

More Healthcare comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a physician or physician assistant earn more in South Korea?
A physician assistant earns more, at about ₩242,860,000 per year vs ₩182,710,000 for a physician — roughly 33% (₩60,150,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Korea?
A physician typically earns ₩116,934,400–₩263,102,400, while a physician assistant earns ₩177,287,800–₩323,003,800 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Korea?
On a monthly basis before tax, a physician averages about ₩15,225,800 and a physician assistant about ₩20,238,300.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Korea, a physician earns about ₩116,934,400 while a physician assistant earns about ₩177,287,800 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Korea, a physician earns about ₩263,102,400 while a physician assistant earns about ₩323,003,800 per year.
Are physician and physician assistant 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.