Legal · Japan

Lawyer Salary in Japan

The Japan median is $148,071 per year, with observed city pay up to Tokyo at $111,085.

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

Lawyer pay in Japan: Tokyo leads, Nagoya trails

The Japan national median for a lawyer is ￥23,660,000 a year. Among 3 metros with observed data, pay runs from about ￥13,820,000 in Nagoya to ￥17,750,000 in Tokyo (1.3×).

Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal rights, disputes, and transactions. Common screening skills include Research, Writing, Negotiation, and Advocacy.

A modeled national band runs about ￥13,013,000–￥36,673,000 around that midpoint. Licensing and immigration rules are independent of this cash sort. Employment outlook for the occupation is sketched at +8% over a decade — a national demand guess, not a hiring guarantee in every Japanese city.

Tokyo sits -25% vs the national median; Nagoya sits -42%. Relocating inside Japan for this title can move cash more than a small raise at the same desk. Open a city page for take-home and rent context — this national page is the map, not the offer.

Japan shows about 3.2% CPI in 2025. A lawyer raise that trails inflation is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. This occupation is also covered in 39 other countries — useful for remote or relocation shortlists, after FX and local tax. Nearby legal titles on this site include Paralegal and Corporate Attorney.

How to use Lawyer pay data in Japan

Start with the national median (￥23,660,000), then pick the metro where you would actually work. Observed city rows below are stronger than a pay-index guess. If your city is missing, stay on this page for the country figure and check the Japan hub for other careers.

Convert gross through the salary calculator before comparing two cities — tax and rent often reorder a cash ranking. Figures are estimates for research, not employer bands.

National band vs top metro

National sketch: ￥13,013,000 (10th) → ￥23,660,000 (median) → ￥36,673,000 (90th). Tokyo’s observed median is ￥17,750,000, with a local band about ￥10,630,000–￥29,650,000. If an offer is “at the Japan median” but the job is in Tokyo, you may still be under local market.

National median
$148,071
per year
Monthly (national)
$12,339
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$111,085
Tokyo, JP
Hourly (national)
$71.19
varies by city

Lawyer salary by city in Japan

Cities below have observed metro percentiles for this role. Prefer these over national-only estimates when you are relocating to a specific market.

CityPer year
Tokyo, JP$111,085
Osaka, JP$91,872
Nagoya, JP$86,490

Lawyer salary in other countries

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Related Legal salaries in Japan

ParalegalCorporate Attorney

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lawyer make in Japan?
The national median is about ￥23,660,000 per year. Across 3 observed cities, pay ranges from about ￥13,820,000 to ￥17,750,000.
Which Japan city pays lawyers the most?
Tokyo, JP leads observed metros at about ￥17,750,000 per year (-25% vs national).
Which Japan city pays lawyers the least?
Among observed cities, Nagoya, JP is on the lower end at about ￥13,820,000 per year.
How many Japan cities have lawyer salary data?
3 metros list observed lawyer percentiles in JPY on this site.
Is lawyer in demand in Japan?
Occupation-level employment is projected at about +8% over ten years. Local hiring still follows Japanese industry mix.