The present invention relates to a thermoelectric material and, specifically, to a thermoelectric material manufacturing method for increasing potential density. The thermoelectric material manufacturing method of the present invention can comprise the steps of: preparing a bulk thermoelectric material by using thermoelectric material raw materials; preparing a powder of the bulk thermoelectric material; adding, to the powder, a metal additive selected from the thermoelectric material raw materials; forming an intermediate in which the metal additive is dispersed in the thermoelectric material; and sintering same at at least the melting point temperature of the metal additive.