The average monthly salary in Japan in 2024 is 516,000 JPY (about 3,485 USD). Meanwhile, the median salary stands at 472,000 JPY (about 3,188 USD) as of 2024. The average salary varies significantly by profession, region, education level, gender, and age.
In this article, we are going to examine Japan’s salary landscape. The data is sourced from OECD, Salary Explorer, and Statista.
All figures used in the article are gross salary figures.
Key highlights:
- Japan’s average monthly salary in 2024 is 516,000 JPY (3,485 USD), with a median salary slightly lower at 472,000 JPY (3,188 USD).
- There are notable disparities in salaries across different professions, regions, education levels, genders, and age groups in Japan.
- The average salary growth in Japan from 2000 to 2022 was a mere 0.2%, lagging behind many OECD countries when adjusted for purchasing power parity.
- Tokyo offers the highest average monthly salary at 576,000 JPY (3,884 USD), while Sendai has the lowest at 467,000 JPY (3,149 USD).
- Factors such as academic qualifications and gender significantly influence salary levels in Japan, with males generally earning more than females.
The average salary in Japan in 2024
The average salary in Japan stands at 516,000 JPY (3,485 USD) in 2024. This amounts to an average annual salary of 6,192,000 JPY (41,838 USD).
Japan adheres to a 40-hour workweek, which means that the average hourly wage in the country is 2,980 JPY (20.1 USD).
However, as in any country, there are significant differences within Japan when it comes to average salary. Here’s a breakdown of different salary ranges and how many Japanese workers fall within each range:
- 313,000 JPY (2,110 USD) or less: 20% of people in Japan
- 313,000 JPY (2,110 USD) to 804,000 JPY (5,430 USD): 65% of people in Japan
- 804,000 JPY (5,430 USD) to 1,030,000 JPY (6,959 USD): 10% of people in Japan
- 1,030,000 JPY (6,959 USD) or more: 5% of people in Japan
In general, most Japanese people earn a 5-figure salary, at least when talking about USD amounts. There are only a couple of percentage of people that earn a 6-figure salary.
Between 2000 and 2022, the average salary in Japan barely increased, recording just a 0.2% growth over the two decades. When adjusted for purchasing power parity denominated in the US Dollar, Japan fared considerably worse than many of its OECD counterparts.
Source: OECD
Here’s the complete salary data for each of the countries included in the chart, along with their respective salaries in 2000 and 2022. All figures are adjusted for 2022’s USD purchasing power parity.
| 2000 | 2022 | Salary Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | $41,428 | $41,509 | 0.20% |
| United States | $61,132 | $77,463 | 26.71% |
| United Kingdom | $44,967 | $53,985 | 20.05% |
| Canada | $62,530 | $79,362 | 26.92% |
| Germany | $51,344 | $58,940 | 14.79% |
| OECD Countries | $45,489 | $53,416 | 17.43% |
Source: OECD
Median salary
The median salary in Japan is 472,000 JPY (3,182 USD), which basically means that half of the population earns more than that and the other half less than that.
The median salary is more indicative of an average worker’s take-home pay as it ignores extreme outliers on either side of the spectrum.
Minimum wage
The lowest monthly minimum wage paid in Japan in 2024 is in the Iwate Prefecture region, at 166.573 JPY (1,123 USD). Meanwhile, the region with the highest minimum wage is Tokyo at 192,920 JPY (1,301 USD). The minimum hourly rate of pay is 961 JPY (6.48 USD).
It’s worth noting that the cost of commuting as well as extra and temporary pay (working on holidays, at night, overtime, bonus, tips, etc.) cannot be used to calculate toward the minimum wage and must be paid separately.
Average salary by city
There are significant differences in average salary between different regions and cities in Japan. Tokyo leads the chart with an average monthly salary of 576,000 JPY (3,884 USD). On the other hand, Sendai is in last place with a salary of 467,000 JPY (3,149 USD).
| City | Average Salary | Average Salary (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka | 528,000 JPY | 3,560 USD |
| Hiroshima | 477,000 JPY | 3,220 USD |
| Kawasaki | 497,000 JPY | 3,351 USD |
| Kobe | 517,000 JPY | 3,485 USD |
| Kyoto | 507,000 JPY | 3,418 USD |
| Nagoya | 547,000 JPY | 3,690 USD |
| Osaka | 557,000 JPY | 3,760 USD |
| Saitama | 487,000 JPY | 3,280 USD |
| Sapporo | 537,000 JPY | 3,621 USD |
| Sendai | 467,000 JPY | 3,149 USD |
| Tokyo | 576,000 JPY | 3,884 USD |
| Yokohama | 566,000 JPY | 3,816 USD |
Source: Salary Explorer
Average salary by education and gender
Another important factor that determines the level of pay in Japan is the academic situation and gender. On average male workers earn over 15% more than their female counterparts with the same education. The highest-paid individuals are those with a completed graduate degree, who earn nearly double that of senior high school graduates.
Source: Statista
Average salary by profession
The highest-paid professions in Japan include Dentist (1,290,000 JPY/8,697 USD), Chief Executive Officer (1,220,000 JPY/8,225 USD), Chief Financial Officer (1,150,000 JPY/7,753 USD), Attorney (1,080,000JPY/7,281 USD), and Financial Manager (1,050,000 JPY/7,079 USD).
The five lowest-paid professions are Waiter (163,000 JPY/1,099 USD), Receptionist (192,000 JPY/1,294 USD), Customer Service Representative (201,000 JPY/1,355 USD), Nursery Teacher (203,000 JPY/1,369 USD), and Mechanic (203,000 JPY/1,369 USD).
Here’s the full breakdown of average salaries by sector:
| Sector | Salary in JPY | Salary in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Finance | 567,444 JPY | 3,826 USD |
| Administration / Reception / Secretarial | 311,000 JPY | 2,097 USD |
| Advertising / Graphic Design / Events | 432,000 JPY | 2,913 USD |
| Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | 634,000 JPY | 4,274 USD |
| Architecture | 438,000 JPY | 2,953 USD |
| Automotive | 290,500 JPY | 1,959 USD |
| Banking | 597,000 JPY | 4,025 USD |
| Bilingual | 450,000 JPY | 3,034 USD |
| Business Planning | 725,333 JPY | 4,890 USD |
| Care Giving and Child Care | 213,500 JPY | 1,439 USD |
| Construction / Building / Installation | 536,000 JPY | 3,614 USD |
| Customer Service and Call Center | 375,333 JPY | 2,531 USD |
| Engineering | 498,250 JPY | 3,359 USD |
| Executive and Management | 980,000 JPY | 6,607 USD |
| Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | 388,500 JPY | 2,619 USD |
| Health and Medical | 780,250 JPY | 5,260 USD |
| Human Resources | 568,500 JPY | 3,833 USD |
| Information Technology | 559,200 JPY | 3,770 USD |
| Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | 313,000 JPY | 2,110 USD |
| Legal | 686,500 JPY | 4,628 USD |
| Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | 626,000 JPY | 4,221 USD |
| Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | 572,500 JPY | 3,860 USD |
| Sales Retail and Wholesale | 478,667 JPY | 3,227 USD |
| Teaching / Education | 395,500 JPY | 2,666 USD |
Source: Salary Explorer
On average, executives get paid the most, with an average salary of 980,000 JPY (6,607 USD). It’s worth noting that some executives at high-profile firms can earn a 7-figure annual salary. In rare cases, such as Sony’s former CEO Kenichiro Yoshida, executives get paid 8-figures annually.
On the other end, people working in caregiving and child care earn the least, with an average salary of just 213,500 JPY (1,439 USD).
The bottom line
The average annual salary in Japan in 2024 is high compared to most of the world. However, compared to some of the wealthier OECD countries, Japan’s salary situation is not the greatest, especially when considering the high costs of living in bigger cities. That means that the average liquid net worth of Japanese people is relatively low – according to a study cited by the WSJ, just 11% of Japanese households invest in stocks, for example. Compare that to 58% of US households, and the difference is quite stark.
If you want to know how to increase your net worth over the long run, check our analysis of the best appreciating assets.
Source: https://coincodex.com/article/36991/average-salary-in-japan/