SMOE Salary Levels
Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education uses 6 letter grades (S, A, B, C, D, E) — a unique structure with the highest top-tier salary and no Level 3 entry tier.
₩2300K–3000K
Monthly Salary Range
6
Salary Grades (S–E)
E
Entry Grade (Min)
S
Top Tier Grade
SMOE teachers earn between ₩2,300,000 and ₩3,000,000 per month depending on grade placement. Seoul uses letter grades (S, A, B, C, D, E) instead of numbered levels — grade E is the entry tier, grade S is the highest salary in the entire EPIK system.Source: Official SMOE salary data updated 2026.01.07.
Monthly Salary by Grade
| Grade | Monthly Salary | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| S | ₩3,000,000 | After 2 consecutive years as grade A with SMOE renewal. |
| A | ₩2,800,000 | After 2 consecutive years as grade B with SMOE renewal. |
| B | ₩2,600,000 | 2 years full-time teaching experience + one Level 2 requirement. OR after 1 year as grade C with SMOE renewal. |
| C | ₩2,500,000 | 1 year full-time teaching experience + one Level 2 requirement. OR Master's in Education/TESOL/SLS + Bachelor's in any field (or vice versa). |
| D | ₩2,400,000 | Bachelor's in Education/TESOL/SLS, OR Bachelor's + TEFL/TESOL/CELTA (100+ hr), OR Bachelor's + Teacher's License. |
| E | ₩2,300,000 | Minimum Seoul placement grade. Bachelor's + TEFL required. |
Source: SMOE 2026 employment contract. Salary amounts reflect base monthly pay before bonuses and allowances.
How Seoul Differs from Other EPIK Regions
SMOE's salary structure is unique in EPIK — here are the key differences to understand.
Letter Grades Only
Seoul uses 6 letter grades (S, A, B, C, D, E) — unique in EPIK. Most other provinces use numeric Levels 1+, 1, 2+, 2, 3.
No Level 3 Placement
Seoul does not hire at Level 3 (bachelor's only). Minimum placement is grade E, which requires TEFL + bachelor's degree or education degree.
TEFL Effectively Required
Because grade E is the floor, applicants without TEFL certification or education degrees cannot qualify for SMOE at all.
Highest Top Tier
Grade S at ₩3,000,000/month is tied with Chungbuk's S+ for the highest EPIK salary — available only after long-term renewal.
SMOE Salary FAQ
Q.Can I apply to SMOE without teaching experience?
Yes — if you have TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification or an education-related degree, you qualify for grade D or E. Without TEFL and without a teaching-related degree, you will not meet SMOE's minimum grade (E) and cannot be placed in Seoul.
Q.How do I move up from grade E to grade A?
Grade progression requires contract renewal. Grade E → D by adding TEFL. Grade D → C by completing 1 year of EPIK teaching + additional qualification. Grade C → B requires renewing at SMOE. Grade B → A requires 2 consecutive SMOE renewals. Grade A → S requires another 2 years of consecutive renewals.
Q.Are bonuses and allowances included in the salary?
No. The listed amounts are base monthly salary only. On top of that, you receive an entrance allowance (₩1.3M first-year only), completion bonus (₩1.3M at contract end), ₩300K settlement allowance, free housing or ₩500K housing stipend, and 50% of health insurance premiums.
Q.Do I pay Korean income tax on my SMOE salary?
Teachers from countries with tax treaties (USA, Canada, UK, Australia) may be exempt from Korean income tax for the first 2 years. After that, you pay either a flat 19% or progressive rate. Your school handles withholding — you don't need to file manually in most cases.
Apply for SMOE Through Korvia
Korvia places teachers into grades D, C, and above — our document review and interview coaching help you rank higher than baseline grade E.