Key Facts: United States vs North Korea Wages
- United States Minimum Wage
- $7.25/hr
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- United States Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $6,228 /mo ($6,228 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor (2026-05-27), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
United States 
North Korea
Updated 2026-05-27
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, the United States mandates a wage floor of $7/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $6,228/mo in the United States versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 56.1:1 ratio.
The United States' unemployment rate is 4.2% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | United States | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $7.25 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | $1,256.67 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | $15,080 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $6,228 /mo | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $4,800 /mo | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | $44,225 /yr | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means United States is higher.
Work Week
- United States
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Overtime required after 40 hours/week under FLSA. No federal maximum hours for workers 16+.
- North Korea
-
48 hrs/wk standard
The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: the United States mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs United States
Compare United States with...
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United States vs Australia A$ 26.44 /hr 
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United States vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
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United States vs Austria Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in United States or North Korea?
In the United States, the minimum wage is $7.25/hr. In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in United States compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in the United States is $6,228/mo, compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in the United States earn approximately 5505% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between United States and North Korea 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 United States and North Korea?
North Korea has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in the United States. Workers in the United States work 40 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.