Mechanical Engineer: United States vs South Korea
Side-by-side salary comparison · Estimated based on OECD & BLS data
🇺🇸 United States pays 64% more
United States
USD
Estimated Salary (USD)
$88,320
per year
Local Currency (USD)
$88,320
per year
PPP Adjusted
$79,005
purchasing power
Big Mac Power
15,522
burgers / year
Global Percentile
Top 0%
South Korea
KRW
Estimated Salary (USD)
$53,932
per year
Local Currency (KRW)
₩71,190,240
per year
PPP Adjusted
$114,383
purchasing power
Big Mac Power
10,962
burgers / year
Global Percentile
Top 45%
Visual Comparison
Salary (USD)
PPP Adjusted (USD)
Big Mac Power (burgers/year)
Key Takeaways
- ●
Mechanical Engineers in United States earn 64% more than in South Korea (nominal USD).
- ●
After adjusting for purchasing power (PPP), South Korea actually leads by 45%.
- ●
Using the Big Mac Index, a Mechanical Engineer's salary buys 1.4x more Big Macs in United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays Mechanical Engineers more: United States or South Korea?▾
United States pays Mechanical Engineers an estimated $88,320 USD per year, which is 64% more than South Korea's estimated $53,932 USD.
What is the PPP-adjusted salary for a Mechanical Engineer in United States vs South Korea?▾
The PPP-adjusted salary is $79,005 USD in United States and $114,383 USD in South Korea. PPP adjustment accounts for cost of living differences between the two countries.
How does the purchasing power compare for Mechanical Engineers?▾
Using the Big Mac Index, a Mechanical Engineer in United States can buy about 15,522 Big Macs per year, while in South Korea it's about 10,962 Big Macs.
Estimated based on OECD & BLS data. Actual salaries vary by experience, company, and region. Data is for informational purposes only.
Sources: BLS OEWS · OECD · World Bank · Big Mac Index