Airlines / Korean Air / Salary
Korean Air cabin crew salary
What Korean Air actually pays cabin crew — entry level, senior level, the pay structure behind the numbers and how it stacks up against rival airlines.
Entry level · per month
$2,000-$2,600
Rank 30 of 59 indexed airlines
Senior crew · per month
$3,300-$4,400
+67% over an entry-level package
vs the Asia-Pacific average
+35%
Regional average entry pay: $1,706
vs the global index average
+12%
Index average entry pay: $2,054
How the pay is built
Junior take-home approximately KRW 2.7-3.5 million/mo including flight-hour and layover allowances; purser ranks KRW 4.5-6 million+. Interns earn slightly less until permanent conversion.
Income is taxed at this base, so compare the figure above against tax-free Gulf packages carefully: a smaller tax-free salary can be worth more in real terms. You fund your own housing, so local rent is the number that decides what this salary is really worth.
Accommodation
No housing benefit; most crew live in Seoul or Incheon and use extensive company shuttle networks to the airport. Layover hotels and per diems are good quality.
Korean Air vs its Asia-Pacific rivals
| Airline | Entry $/mo | Senior $/mo | Tax-free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Air | 2,000-2,600 | 3,300-4,400 | No |
| Qantas | 2,600-3,300 | 4,000-6,000 | No |
| Singapore Airlines | 2,400-2,900 | 4,400-5,600 | No |
| Cathay Pacific | 2,300-2,900 | 3,800-5,100 | No |
| Air New Zealand | 1,900-2,400 | 2,800-3,800 | No |
Is the money the right reason to pick this airline?
Tax-free money or home every night? Fast promotion or a calm roster? Seven questions, ranked against pay, lifestyle, career and hiring data.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Korean Air cabin crew earn per month?
New joiners take home roughly $2,000-$2,600 a month including flying pay. Senior crew reach about $3,300-$4,400.
Is Korean Air well paid compared with other airlines?
On entry-level pay it ranks 30 of the 59 airlines we index, about 12% above the global average in this index.
Does Korean Air provide accommodation?
No housing benefit; most crew live in Seoul or Incheon and use extensive company shuttle networks to the airport. Layover hotels and per diems are good quality.
Figures are independent estimates in USD compiled from collective agreements, public reporting and crew-shared data, including typical flying pay at average block hours. They are not official Korean Air figures and actual offers vary with experience, fleet and roster.