Average Salary in Japan [2023] – In 2023, the average salary in Japan is 515,000 JPY. As Japan is currently and actively attracting more foreign workers, you might also have interest in working in Japan. But first of all, you need to figure out how much money you need to live comfortably in Japan. Specifically, the average salary as your minimum income needed to meet your basic needs in Japan.
Average salary in Japan
The average salary in Japan is 515,000 JPY per month in 2023. As for yearly, 6,170,000 JPY, according to Salary Explorer. Meanwhile, according to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, the average monthly salary in Japan is 311,800 JPY in 2022.
However, this number only applies generally. You’ll need to consider other aspects to understand the average salary in Japan as a whole. There are aspects that make certain categories are paid higher or less. Each category has its own average as well. In Japan, some of the aspects that affect the average salary are the categories. They are gender, age, educational level, area or city, and company type.
Average salary in Japan by age and gender
As one of the determinants for salary, age plays a vital role. The reason is that older age groups are perceived to be more experienced. With experience, comes competency and wisdom. And that’s what makes the older age group have a higher salary.
Below is the monthly wage by gender and age in Japan according to Nippon.
| Age group | Males | Females |
| 19 and under | 180,000 | 170,000 |
| 20 – 24 | 220,000 | 225,000 |
| 25 -29 | 250,000 | 240,000 |
| 30 – 34 | 280,000 | 250,000 |
| 35 – 39 | 325,000 | 275,000 |
| 40 – 44 | 350,000 | 280,000 |
| 45 – 49 | 380,000 | 280,000 |
| 50 – 54 | 400,000 | 280,000 |
| 55 – 59 | 416,000 | 289,000 |
| 60 – 64 | 325,000 | 250,000 |
| 65 – 69 | 270,000 | 220,000 |
| 70 and over | 240,000 | 225,000 |
Average salary in Japan by educational level
Just like most countries, employees with higher degree education usually have higher salaries. A high school graduate in Japan usually earns the minimum wage. Then college graduates or if they have a diploma can earn 17% more.
A bachelor’s degree can earn 24% higher than the diploma holders. Then post-graduate holders earn 29% higher than the bachelor’s degrees. Finally, a doctorate earns 23% more than the master’s degree holders.
Average salary in Japan by city
The cities can also affect how much they should pay you. In Japan, the highest average monthly salary in 2023 is Osaka with 555,000 JPY according to Salary Explorer. However, the gap with other cities isn’t big. The range is between 450,000 JPY and 600,000 JPY.
| City | Average monthly salary |
| Fukuoka | 526,000 JPY |
| Hiroshima | 476,000 JPY |
| Kawasaki | 495,000 JPY |
| Kobe | 515,000 JPY |
| Kyoto | 505,000 JPY |
| Nagoya | 545,000 JPY |
| Osaka | 555,000 JPY |
| Saitama | 486,000 JPY |
| Sapporo | 535,000 JPY |
| Sendai | 466,000 JPY |
| Tokyo | 574,000 JPY |
| Yokohama | 564,000 JPY |
Average salary in Japan by occupation
The occupation in Japan is quite diverse. But, there are popular jobs in Japan and they usually offer a good salary. Below are the details for the average salary for popular jobs in Japan.
| Occupation | Average monthly salary |
| Accounting and Finance | |
| Accountant | 381,000 JPY |
| Accounting Assistant | 300,000 JPY |
| Accounting Manager | 766,000 JPY |
| Bookkeeper | 242,000 JPY |
| Chartered Accountant | 489,000 JPY |
| Corporate Treasurer | 686,000 JPY |
| Financial Analyst | 708,000 JPY |
| Financial Manager | 1,050,000 JPY |
| Internal Auditor | 485,000 JPY |
| Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
| Administrative Assistant | 291,000 JPY |
| Office Manager | 479,000 JPY |
| Receptionist | 244,000 JPY |
| Secretary | 230,000 JPY |
| Advertising / Graphic Design / Events | |
| Art Director | 551,000 JPY |
| Creative Director | 524,000 JPY |
| Graphic Designer | 345,000 JPY |
| Photographer | 308,000 JPY |
| Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
| Aerospace Engineer | 669,000 JPY |
| Air Traffic Controller | 579,000 JPY |
| Flight Attendant | 359,000 JPY |
| Pilot | 929,000 JPY |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | 609,000 JPY |
| CAD Drafter | 267,000 JPY |
| Automotive | |
| Mechanic | 203,000 JPY |
| Service Advisor | 378,000 JPY |
| Banking | |
| Bank Branch Manager | 988,000 JPY |
| Teller | 206,000 JPY |
| Bilingual | |
| Teacher | 411,000 JPY |
| Translator | 489,000 JPY |
| Business Planning | |
| Business Analyst | 642,000 JPY |
| Business Development Manager | 834,000 JPY |
| Project Manager | 700,000 JPY |
| Caregiver and Child Care | |
| Nanny | 224,000 JPY |
| Nursery Teacher | 203,000 JPY |
| Construction / Building / Installation | |
| Civil Engineer | 505,000 JPY |
| Construction Project Manager | 856,000 JPY |
| Health and Safety Officer | 247,000 JPY |
| Customer Service and Call Center | |
| Call Center Representative | 207,000 JPY |
| Customer Service Manager | 718,000 JPY |
| Customer Service Representative | 201,000 JPY |
| Engineering | |
| Civil Engineer | 508,000 JPY |
| Electrical Engineer | 501,000 JPY |
| Engineer | 489,000 JPY |
| Mechanical Engineer | 495,000 JPY |
| Executive and Management | |
| Chief Executive Officer | 1,220,000 JPY |
| Chief Financial Officer | 1,150,000 JPY |
| General Manager | 931,000 JPY |
| Project Manager | 619,000 JPY |
| Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
| Chef | 325,000 JPY |
| Executive Chef | 382,000 JPY |
| Hotel Manager | 946,000 JPY |
| Receptionist | 192,000 JPY |
| Travel Agent | 323,000 JPY |
| Waiter / Waitress | 163,000 JPY |
| Health and Medical | |
| Dentist | 1,290,000 JPY |
| Dietitian | 1,020,000 JPY |
| Laboratory Technician | 393,000 JPY |
| Nurse | 418,000 JPY |
| Human Resources | |
| Human Resources Manager | 806,000 JPY |
| Human Resources Officer | 331,000 JPY |
| Information Technology | |
| Computer Technician | 404,000 JPY |
| Database Administrator | 548,000 JPY |
| Developer / Programmer | 536,000 JPY |
| Information Technology Manager | 841,000 JPY |
| Network Engineer | 467,000 JPY |
| Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
| Police Officer | 313,000 JPY |
| Legal | |
| Attorney | 1,080,000 JPY |
| Legal Assistant | 293,000 JPY |
| Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
| Journalist | 626,000 JPY |
| Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
| Biomedical Engineer | 464,000 JPY |
| Pharmacist | 681,000 JPY |
| Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
| Cashier | 207,000 JPY |
| Sales Manager | 891,000 JPY |
| Sales Representative | 338,000 JPY |
| Teaching / Education | |
| Elementary School Teacher | 379,000 JPY |
| Secondary School Teacher | 412,000 JPY |
Average salary in Japan for foreigners
Japan is getting more open with accepting foreign workers. The governments provide programs where foreign people are encouraged to work in Japan. The main reason for this program is the lack of working age people in Japan who are willing to do blue collar jobs.
So they are dominantly blue and white collar workers. It comes from Japan’s need for more workers but the population can’t help. Therefore they open more vacancies for foreign workers.
The annual average salary in Japan for foreigners is 2,737,200 JPY in 2021, according to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. This number is higher than in the previous year. In the same year, Japanese citizens themselves earn 3,688,800 JPY annually.
The reason for the gap is because while Japan is accepting more foreign workers, their length of service is rather short compared to Japanese citizens.
The average length of service for Japanese citizens is 12.3 years. While the average age is 43 years old. The gap is big compared to foreign workers. Because the length of service for foreign workers is between three and five years. And the average foreign workers’ age is 32 years old.
Jobs with promising average salary increment
According to some Japanese sources, many Japanese employees are having a difficult time because the salary increment is getting nowhere. This is not good for the present time, and obviously the future. Simply because everyone needs to survive and will do everything to survive.
Inflation keeps rising but their salary isn’t? That’s a nightmare for every worker in the world. Because it means that they will have such a hard time to meet their basic needs only with their main job.
Whether you like it or not, realistically speaking, there are promising jobs in Japan, and promising jobs with promising salary increments. These are probably what you should aim for in your career path.
The determinants for salary increment are two. They are industry and experience level. Below are the details.
Industry with promising increment rate in Japan 2022 annually
There are seven industries in Japan with promising increment rates. It means that if you’re working in one of these industries, your salary and increment salary will be guaranteed. If you’re searching for a career that gives you financial security, you should pay attention to these industries.
- Banking 8%
- Energy 7%
- Information and technology 6%
- Healthcare 5%
- Travel 4%
- Construction 3%
- Education 2%
Salary increment based on experience level
Experience level also plays a vital role in guaranteeing salary increment. Company wants to retain experienced employees more than anything. Because they’re valuable to the company, contribution to the company, and they are much harder to acquire than new employees or less experienced employees.
- Junior level 3 – 5%
- Mid-career 6 – 9%
- Senior level 10 – 15%
- Top management 15 – 20%
The average salary in Japan is rather enough to make a decent living in Japan. However, the increment rate in general is quite difficult to make a comfortable living in the long term. As long as you’re aware of which career path you should take in Japan, followed by your knowledge of Japan’s workforce system, Japan is a good country to work in nevertheless.
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