The present invention relates to a super absorbent polymer and a preparation method thereof, the super absorbent polymer including: surface cross-linked polymer particles prepared by surface cross-linking particles of a base resin, the base resin polymerized from a monomer composition including water-soluble ethylene-based unsaturated monomers having at least partially neutralized acidic groups; and a water-soluble component, wherein the water-soluble component has a weight average molecular weight of 150,000 to 300,000 g/mol. The super absorbent polymer may have high centrifuge retention capacity and excellent permeability at the same time, while having low content of the water-soluble component.