Pay by Role
Japan · Salary comparison

School Principal vs Teacher salary

In Japan, a school principal earns about 85% more than a teacher $111,194 vs $59,983 per year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is JPY). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Pays more
Education
School Principal
$111,194/yr
Monthly
$9,266
Hourly
$53
Range
$76,168$154,003
10-yr outlook
+1%
Education
Teacher
$59,983/yr
Monthly
$4,999
Hourly
$29
Range
$43,787$79,777
10-yr outlook
+1%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileSchool PrincipalTeacher
Entry (10th)$76,168$43,787
25th$93,681$51,885
Median$111,194$59,983
75th$132,598$69,880
Senior (90th)$154,003$79,777

National Japan figures in JPY. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Education comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a school principal or teacher earn more in Japan?
A school principal earns more, at about ¥18,000,000 per year vs ¥9,710,000 for a teacher — roughly 85% (¥8,290,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Japan?
A school principal typically earns ¥12,330,000–¥24,930,000, while a teacher earns ¥7,088,300–¥12,914,300 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Japan?
On a monthly basis before tax, a school principal averages about ¥1,500,000 and a teacher about ¥809,200.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Japan, a school principal earns about ¥12,330,000 while a teacher earns about ¥7,088,300 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Japan, a school principal earns about ¥24,930,000 while a teacher earns about ¥12,914,300 per year.
Are school principal and teacher similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Education category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.