Salary index · JPY
Japan flag

Average salary in Japan

National medians for 3 careers in Japan, shown in JPY. Software Engineer is the highest covered role at ¥10,710,000 a year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is JPY). FX as of Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Japan salary pages: 3 roles with a national median

National medians for 3 careers in Japan, shown in JPY. Software Engineer is the highest covered role at ¥10,710,000 a year.

This page is the pay index: one national midpoint per occupation. Below it you will find the ten highest-paying covered careers and World Bank economy context; city salary pages exist only when we have observed metro percentiles.

Software Engineer (¥10,710,000) sits above Mechanical Engineer (¥9,130,000). Gaps this wide usually mix occupation, hours, and employer type — not a single “Japan average salary” you can apply to every desk.

Japan shows about 3.2% CPI in 2025. A raise that trails that rate is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. Figures are gross JPY estimates for research.

How to use Japan salary pages

Start with the role you actually hold or want. Click through to that national page for the city table. If your metro is missing, stay on the national midpoint and run tax plus rent separately.

Highest-paying jobs in Japan

The 3 best-paid covered careers by national median, gross per year.

  1. 1.Software EngineerUS$68,002/yr
  2. 2.Mechanical EngineerUS$57,970/yr
  3. 3.TeacherUS$48,001/yr

Economy & work context

Public statistics that help read salaries alongside prices, labour markets, and the working year in Eastern Asia.

CPI inflation (2025)
3.2%
GDP per capita (2025)
US$35,951
Unemployment (2025)
2.5%
Public holidays (2026)
16

Languages: Japanese. Timezones covered: 1. Inflation, GDP, and unemployment from World Bank Open Data; holidays from Nager.Date.

Start with an observed city page when we have metro percentiles, otherwise the national role page.

Salaries by job in Japan

Cities in Japan

City hubs list roles with observed metro percentiles. If a city page is missing, use the national role page above.

Tokyo, JPYokohama, JPOsaka, JPNagoya, JPSapporo, JPFukuoka, JPKawasaki, JPKobe, JPKyoto, JPSaitama, JPHiroshima, JPSendai, JP

Calculators and guides for take-home pay, living costs, and reading the numbers behind an offer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average salary in Japan?
There is no one number. Among covered careers, Software Engineer leads at about ¥10,710,000 a year; other roles sit lower. Open the occupation you care about.
How many jobs have salary data for Japan?
3 occupations currently have a national median on this site.
Where should I go next?
Pick a role for the national band and city list, or scroll to the highest-paying list and economy context on this page.