Average Salary in Japan

Written by Luis Minvielle Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Luis Minvielle

Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: October 7, 2024

Next update: Scheduled for February 1, 2025

What is the average salary in Japan?

In 2024, the average monthly salary in Japan was about ¥379,434 (€2,344), according to a report by the OECD. This means the average yearly salary was about ¥4,553,218 (€28,137). The daily average salary is around ¥17,247 (about €106), assuming 22 workable days, and the hourly wage for an 8-hour workday would be about ¥2,155 (around €13).

What is the average salary in Tokyo?

In Tokyo, the average monthly salary in 2024 is approximately ¥576,000 (€3,533). Yearly, this translates to ¥6,912,000 or €42,636. This figure reflects the wages in a city known for its high cost of living, but significantly better opportunities than in smaller cities and rural areas.

What is the average salary in Yokohama?

Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city, has an average monthly salary of around ¥566,000 (€3,472) and a yearly salary of ¥6,792,000 (€41,671). Yokohama’s diversified economy, proximity to Tokyo, and industry-leading companies—both Isuzu and Nissan are based in Yokohama—contribute to these competitive wages. Despite the higher salaries, living costs in Yokohama are still generally lower than in Tokyo.

What is the minimum wage in Japan?

As of 2024, the average minimum wage in Japan is set to be ¥1,004 per hour, with a proposed increase to ¥1,054 per hour. This marks an increase of ¥50, continuing a trend of annual raises that aim to assist workers amidst rising costs of living. Each prefecture in Japan has the authority to set its own minimum wage based on these recommendations, which allows for variations across the country.

Minimum wages by prefecture

Source: Japan External Trade Organization

What is a good salary in Japan?

To live comfortably in Japan, it's important to factor in both income and living costs. The average gross monthly net income is around ¥269,423 (€1,903). In Tokyo, total living expenses average ¥317,305 (€1,946). Outside of Tokyo, average expenses are lower, with a single person’s total living expenses round ¥219,568 (€1,347) with rent. In other words, to live comfortably in Japan, particularly in Tokyo, while also saving money, would be around ¥450,000 to ¥500,000 (€2,760 to €3,067) net per month.

Average salary after tax in Japan

In Japan, the tax system is progressive, meaning the more you earn, the higher your tax rate. Overall, after these deductions, it is common to see around 20-30% of your gross salary going to taxes and social security in Japan. An average net annual salary would round ¥3,233,080 (€22,842). You can use our tax calculator to estimate other values.

What are the highest-paying jobs in Japan?

Some of the highest-paying jobs in Japan are found in industries such as finance, technology, and medicine. Let’s look at the most common professions' yearly salaries for expats moving to and working in Japan (source: Payscale).

• Digital Marketing Specialist: ¥4,000,000 (€24,541)
• HR Generalist: ¥4,211,656 (€25,839)
• Data Analyst: ¥4,000,000 (€24,541)
• UX Designer: ¥4,964,538 (€30,459)
• Project Manager (IT): ¥5,409,522 (€33,189)
• Business Manager: ¥6,067,822 (€37,228)
• Software Engineer: ¥4,540,147 (€27,855)
• DevOps Engineer: ¥5,000,000 (€30,676)
• Finance Analyst: ¥4,750,000 (€29,142)

Average salary comparison by country