Pay by Role
South Korea · Salary comparison

Physician vs Registered Nurse salary

In South Korea, a physician earns about 178% more than a registered nurse $121,699 vs $43,814 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

Pays more
Healthcare
Physician
$121,699/yr
Monthly
$10,142
Hourly
$59
Range
$77,887$175,246
10-yr outlook
+3%
Healthcare
Registered Nurse
$43,814/yr
Monthly
$3,651
Hourly
$21
Range
$31,985$58,273
10-yr outlook
+6%

Pay range, side by side

PercentilePhysicianRegistered Nurse
Entry (10th)$77,887$31,985
25th$99,793$37,899
Median$121,699$43,814
75th$148,472$51,044
Senior (90th)$175,246$58,273

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

More Healthcare comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a physician or registered nurse earn more in South Korea?
A physician earns more, at about ₩182,710,000 per year vs ₩65,780,000 for a registered nurse — roughly 178% (₩116,930,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Korea?
A physician typically earns ₩116,934,400–₩263,102,400, while a registered nurse earns ₩48,019,400–₩87,487,400 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 registered nurse about ₩5,481,700.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Korea, a physician earns about ₩116,934,400 while a registered nurse earns about ₩48,019,400 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Korea, a physician earns about ₩263,102,400 while a registered nurse earns about ₩87,487,400 per year.
Are physician and registered nurse 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.