Wondering what the average salary in Japan is? The country is one of the top economies right now, with businesses booming in the automobile, technology, and innovation industries. Speaking of which, we can easily say that it is one of the best environments for business expansion and outsourcing processes.
An average Japanese salary is about 6200000 Yen or 42052 USD per year in 2025. So, that makes it clear that hiring or outsourcing a Japanese workforce will be expensive.
Average Salary Stats in Japan in 2025
As per our sources, 3 stats affect the average salary in Japan. This includes the pay range, median salary, and minimum wage. Understanding this will give you an understanding of the basic labor costs you will incur while expanding your business there.
Furthermore, factors including region, job location, education, and experience also affect salaries. According to an expert report, the average monthly salary in the country is around 516000 Yen.
1. Salary Range
The average pay range in Japan per month is around 958 USD or 130000 JPY to 16944 USD or 2300000 JPY.
2. Median Salary
Before knowing it, let us first understand what the median income in Japan means. The median salary in Japan is the midpoint, differentiating working people into two categories. This represents that half of the working population gets more higher salary than this value, whereas the other half receives a salary lower than this amount.
The median salary in Japan is about $3470, i.e., 471000 Yen per month. This indicates that 50% of the working population in Japan earns less than $3470, and the other 50% get higher wages than this amount.
3. Minimum Wages
The workforce in Japan generally works for 40 hours per week, and the minimum wage in Japan is decided by the regional Minimum Wage Council in the country.
The average minimum wage in Japan is around 961 JPY in 2025.
Also, workers working more than their working hours get overtime pay as decided by the Labor Standards Act of 1947.
The minimum wage in Japan also varies from location to location. For example, people in Tokyo get approximately 1113 JPY, i.e., 8.50 USD per hour. This indicates that the basic salary in Japan is higher in some areas. This is because of improved business operations and better infrastructure.
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Average Salary in Japan: Industry-Wise in 2025
We have shared the industry-wise Japan average salary compensation in Japan for popular industries in Japan in the given table:
| Industries | Average Annual Salary (in Yen) |
| Real Estate | 6990000 |
| Finance & Accounting | 6360000 |
| Education | 6550000 |
| Medical | 9220000 |
| Scientific and Technical Research | 8270000 |
Average Salary in Japan: By Region in 2025
The average wage in Japan per month also depends on the location. For instance, people in Tokyo earn the highest income due to the high level of activities and it being the largest city in the nation:
| City | Average Monthly Salary (in Yen) |
| Tokyo | 574000 |
| Yokohama | 564000 |
| Osaka | 555000 |
| Nagoya | 545000 |
| Fukuoka | 526000 |
| Kyoto | 505000 |
| Kawasaki | 495000 |
| Saitama | 486000 |
| Hiroshima | 476000 |
| Okinawa | 390000 |
Average Salary in Japan: By Education Level in 2025
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Another factor to consider for the average salary in Japan is the education level you hold. Again, here, the higher your degree or certificate, the more your salary hike:
| Education | Salary Increase |
| College or diploma | 17% more than high school |
| Bachelor’s | 24% more than a college or a diploma |
| Master’s | 29% more than bachelor’s |
| Ph.D | 23% more than a master’s |
Average Salary in Japan: By Experience in 2025
The salary distribution in Japan by experience is seemingly ordinary. The more experience you have, the higher your salary increase in percentage:
| Experience (in Years) | Salary Increase |
| >2 | Starting salary |
| 2-5 | 32% more than >2 |
| 5-10 | 36% more than >5 |
| 10-15 | 21% more than <10 |
| 15-20 | 14% more than <15 |
| 20+ | 9% more than >20 |
Average Salary: Japan Profession-Wise in 2025
If you are thinking about moving to Japan as a professional, you need to be careful, as the average annual salaries vary drastically by profession. Take a look at the top 6 highest-paying professions, which are decided according to role specialization and leadership skill requirements:
| Profession | Average Annual Salary (in Yen) |
| Dentist | 15600000 |
| CEO | 14200000 |
| Software Engineer | 70000000 |
| English Teacher (ALT) | 32000000 |
| Accountant | 63600000 |
| Waitress / Waiter | 24000000 |
Average Salary in Japan: According to Age Range in 2025
As we can observe, the average salary in Japan per month increases with age range. For example, a person in their 50s is earning 450000 Yen, which is 50000 Yen more than someone in their 40s:
| Age Range | Average Monthly Salary (in Yen) |
| 20s | 280000 |
| 30s | 340000 |
| 40s | 400000 |
| 50s | 450000 |
Average Salary in Japan in USD vs Global Average Salaries in 2025
This table helps you to compare the basic salary in Japan on average with the approximate salaries in a few different countries:
| Country | Average Salary (Annual) |
| Japan | $42052 |
| The USA | $66622 |
| Germany | $60953 |
| China | $17000 |
| South Korea | $35731 |
- Green = Japan’s Salary
- Yellow = Lower than Japan’s Average Yearly Salary
- Red = Higher than Japan’s Average Yearly Salary
Average Salary in Japan: Gender Pay Gap in 2025
Although there is some hope and progress in the nation, the wage gap in the salary in Japan is still observable. For instance, according to recent stats, women earn 75.7% of what men earn. Another instance from 2023 made it clear that male workers averaged 342000 Yen per month, compared to 259000 Yen for females:
| Fact |
| This gap may be closing in. However, the inequality is due to traditional employment practices and the lower representation of women in leadership designations. |
Is the Average Salary in Japan Enough to Live a Comfortable Life in 2025?
Whether you will live comfortably or uncomfortably in Japan depends on various factors, such as your location, personal financial habits, and lifestyle expectations:
- Thanks to an average salary in Japan of around 6 million, you can live a modest yet comfortable life outside of Tokyo.
- However, if you plan to live in Japan’s largest city, living off of this income can be a struggle. For a more comfortable life there, you need at least an annual income of around 7-8 million Yen due to the higher housing, transportation, and leisure expenses.
- For a single person living in Tokyo, the monthly expenses, for instance, for a 1-bedroom rent are between 110000 and 115000, while it will cost around 100000 to 120000 Yen for food, utilities, and transportation. Altogether, it totals to about 210000 to 270000 JPY.
- This increases gradually to 10-12 million Yen for a family of 3-4, considering housing, education, childcare, health insurance, and grocery expenses. Some families even allocate 300000-400000 JPY per month for basic living expenses. This depends on lifestyle options.
- Cities such as Fukuoka, Sapporo, or Hiroshima are much more affordable. For instance, the rent and daily expenses there are around 30-40% lower.
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Average Salary in Japan vs India in 2025
For example, the average annual salary in Japan for a software engineer is 70000000 Yen, whereas the same profile earns an average salary in India of around 800000 INR. This means that the average salary of Japanese employees is around 10 times higher than what people in India receive. The prominent reasons for better salaries in Japan are better infrastructure and businesses operating more effectively, as people are more productive than people in India.
Average Salary in Japan in USD vs Dubai in 2025
The average salary in Dubai is around $4275 per month (after taxes), whereas the average salary of working employees in Japan is around $3058 per month (after taxes). We can conclude that people in Dubai earn more than those in Japan.
Why is DeskTrack the Best for Salary Management?
DeskTrack is the best employee monitoring software in the industry. With its comprehensive time tracking and integration features, managing salaries and payroll becomes more efficient, accurate, simple, and fast. Let’s take a brief look at the most useful features for the same.
- With the software, you get accurate details on your employees’ work hours and attendance.
- Insightful details let you identify top performers and employees who need more training, letting you easily manage the various expenses.
- Remote work management is also simplified with automated timesheets, task timers, and other Remote Work Monitoring Software features.
- Easy integration with payroll tools ensures smooth and accurate salary processing.
- You get detailed reports, which let you manage the various costs. Especially if you have outsourced from Japan.
Conclusion
Knowing the average salary in Japan is a good way to outsource or expand your business there. With the country being one of the top economies worldwide, it offers a great environment for businesses in the automobile, tech, and innovation industries. Furthermore, the average Japanese salary depends on various factors, including median salary, minimum wages, and salary range based on location, region, education, profession, and experience. Furthermore, this blog also compares Salaries in Japan with Dubai, India, and worldwide. Identifying all these values will make you want to establish your organization in the country. However, you still need good software to manage salaries and monitor employees. We recommend DeskTrack as the best.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. How Much is the Average Salary in Japan?
Ans. Japan is one of the largest economies in the world. With businesses booming in the tech, automobile, and innovation industries, it offers a good scope for you to expand or establish your business. However, you must remember that the average salary in the country is about 6200000 Yen or 42052 USD. This ensures that you:
- Accurately manage labor costs.
- Your business expands to growth and success without any payroll issues.
Q. What is the Basic Hourly Pay in Japan?
Ans. Japan is one of the biggest economies worldwide. Especially in the tech, automobile, and innovation sectors. The hourly pay in the country is about 961 JPY. However, remember that:
- It varies as per the location, region, education, profession, and experience.
- Accurately managing all these expenses is essential for your business to succeed in Japan.
- We strongly suggest using specialized software for salary management for more precision.
Q. What are the Average Wages of Software Engineers in Japan?
Ans. Japan is a booming hub for businesses in the tech, automobile, and innovation industries. Thus, it’s common for software engineers to get good pay in the nation.
- Software engineers get paid approximately 7000000 Yen/year in Tokyo.
- Software developers and engineers also get additional compensation.
- They may get paid more or less, depending on the region, job location, experience, and education.
Q. What is the Average Salary Increment in Japan?
Ans. Japanese employees and workers earn an average salary increment of around 8% every 16 months. However, this varies according to aspects, such as:
- Industry
- Experience
Q. Which Salary is Considered Good in Japan?
Ans. Japan is a country with high economic stability and growth, since its average salary values are gradually increasing every year. In 2025:
- The average salary in the nation is about 6200000 Yen.
- This is considered quite good compared to other countries.
- The average monthly salary in the country can range between 390000 Yen ($2639) and 574000 Yen ($3885).
