Key Facts: North Korea vs United States Wages
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- United States Minimum Wage
- $7.25/hr
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- United States Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $6,228 /mo ($6,228 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25), U.S. Department of Labor (2026-05-27)
North Korea 
United States
Updated 2026-05-27
North Korea has no statutory minimum wage, while the United States sets a floor of $7/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $111/mo in North Korea versus $6,228/mo in the United States, a 56.1:1 ratio.
North Korea's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to the United States' 4.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | North Korea | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | $7.25 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | $1,256.67 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | $15,080 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 | $6,228 /mo |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 | $4,800 /mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | $44,225 /yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means North Korea is higher.
Work Week
- North Korea
-
48 hrs/wk standard
The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.
- United States
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Overtime required after 40 hours/week under FLSA. No federal maximum hours for workers 16+.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: North Korea mandates 48 hours while the United States mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from United States's perspective: United States vs North Korea
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North Korea vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in North Korea or United States?
In North Korea, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In the United States, it is $7.25/hr.
How much less does the average worker earn in North Korea compared to United States?
The average gross salary in North Korea is ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD), compared to $6,228/mo in the United States. In USD terms, workers in North Korea earn approximately 5505% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between North Korea and United States is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the United States earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.
How do work hours compare between North Korea and United States?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in the United States. Workers in North Korea work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the United States working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.