EPIK Pay Scale and Allowances: Levels 1+ to 3 Explained

EPIK publishes its pay scale and benefits on its own website, and the page we read on 6 October 2026 was marked as updated on 4 May 2026 for the Fall 2026 intake. EPIK is careful to say that the offices of education set the scale, not EPIK, and that it can change between intakes. Use this post to understand how the levels work, then check the current page and your contract.

The levels and how you qualify

Level 3: a bachelor's degree in any subject. EPIK says the offices of education are not currently hiring at Level 3, so you must qualify for at least Level 2 before you sign.

Level 2: a bachelor's in education or a teaching-related major, or a bachelor's in any subject plus a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate of 100 hours or more, or a bachelor's in any subject plus a teacher's licence.

Level 2+: a year of full-time teaching experience plus one of the Level 2 qualifications, or a master's in any subject on top of an education bachelor's, or a master's in education or a teaching field on top of any bachelor's, or a year as Level 2 with the office you are renewing with.

Level 1: two years of full-time teaching experience plus one Level 2 qualification, or a year as Level 2+ when renewing with the same province.

Level 1+: two consecutive years at Level 1 when renewing with the same province.

A Juris Doctor counts as a non-education master's. Your final level is decided from your experience, qualifications and each office's internal rules, and EPIK says it is confirmed at your contract start date.

What the scale pays

Monthly pay is listed in millions of won for each office of education, and it differs by office. Across the offices listed for Fall 2026, the values we read were:

- Level 1+: 2.5 to 2.8 million won

- Level 1: 2.4 to 2.6 million

- Level 2+: 2.3 to 2.4 million

- Level 2: 2.2 to 2.35 million

- Level 3: 2.1 to 2.2 million (not being hired)

Some offices have extra grades. Chungbuk lists S (2.9) and S+ (3.0) for teachers renewing after two consecutive years at the prior level, and Gyeonggi lists a 1++ level at 2.6 after three consecutive years at 1+ and seven total years in the province. Seoul uses its own pay scale, issued by the Seoul office, which EPIK links as a download rather than reproducing. The amount also varies by location within an office and by the number of schools you teach in. Read the table itself on EPIK's page, because the web version does not show which column belongs to which office as clearly as the original.

Benefits that apply to all EPIK teachers

Settlement allowance: 300,000 won, paid once in your first month of your first contract.

Housing: a leased apartment, house or studio provided by the office of education. Utilities and maintenance fees are yours, and size and location vary by region.

Entrance allowance: 1,800,000 won at the end of your first contract month (1,300,000 in Chungbuk). In Busan, Daegu, Jeju, Incheon and Chungbuk it is paid after the first six months. EPIK describes it as a loan from your employer that you must repay if the contract ends in the first six months for any reason.

Contract completion bonus: 1,300,000 won at the end of each contract (1,800,000 in Chungbuk). Seoul, Jeju and Gyeonggi pay no completion bonus, but a 1,300,000 won exit allowance is paid at the end of the final contract.

Renewal bonus: 700,000 won on completing each renewed contract, 2,000,000 in Gyeonggi in two payments, and a flat 1,300,000 at the start of a renewed contract in Jeju.

Severance: about one month's salary after completing the contract.

Health insurance: compulsory. Premiums are about 5.89 percent of salary, and the office pays half. It pays half for dependents living with you as well.

Orientation: unpaid, with free lodging and meals.

We did not find a flight allowance on EPIK's benefits page, so do not assume one. If an agency or an older guide promises a flight, ask for the clause in your contract.

Reading an offer

Work out take-home as salary minus your half of insurance and the tax and pension deductions your contract lists, then add the one-off payments spread over the year. If you are comparing with a hagwon, line up the same items: hours, housing, severance, flight, insurance. Our Korea salary breakdown compares the tracks, and the application guide explains how to apply. Browse current Korea jobs or set a job alert.

Sources

- EPIK: Salary and benefits (page dated 4 May 2026, read 6 October 2026)