What is the minimum wage in Japan? Which job pays the most?

Have you ever wondered what the minimum wage in Japan is? Is it higher than the Brazilian salary? How does the Japanese salary system work? Which job or occupation pays more? In this article, we will explore everything about salaries in Japan.

How does the minimum wage work in Japan?

Unlike Brazil, the minimum wage in Japan is calculated per hour. This amount can vary from 600 to 1500 yen per hour, depending on the service, region, province, time, and even gender.

In Japan, the working hours are 8 or 9 hours a day, and workers receive 25% more for each hour of overtime worked, which is why many enjoy doing overtime called zangyo [残業].

Thinking this way, what is the average salary in Japan? If we take the average of 850 yen per hour, working about 8 hours a day, 22 days a month, we will arrive at an approximate value of 150,000 yen, equivalent to 5,000 reais.

It is important to clarify that this amount is quite relative and should not be defined this way. Take Brazil as an example; although the minimum wage is less than 1,000 reais, many earn 1,500, 2,000, and even 5,000 and are still classified as middle class. Similarly, Japanese people earn 150,000, 200,000, and even more than 300,000 yen.

Reaching an average of 250,000 yen per month is not that difficult; there are many jobs that pay around 1,200 yen per hour, but most of them are heavy. Many believe that the ideal salary should be at least 200,000 yen.

Which regions have the best salaries in Japan?

The majority of provinces have average salary values between 700 and 900 yen. Provinces like Tokyo and Kagawa pay more than 900 yen per hour, while provinces like Chiba, Saitama, Aichi, Osaka, and Hyogo pay an average of 850, while the rest falls between 700 yen per hour.

The prefectures stipulate an average minimum wage to be paid for any job. If the employer is paying less, you can assert your rights, and the employer may face a fine. To better compare, see the table below:

Kanji	Province	Average in Yen
北海道	Hokkaido	861
青森	Aomori	790
岩手	Iwate	790
宮城	Miyagi	824
秋田	Akita	790
山形	Yamagata	790
福島	Fukushima	798
茨城	Ibaraki	849
栃木	Tochigi	853
群馬	Gunma	835
埼玉	Saitama	926
千葉	Chiba	923
東京	Tokyo	1,013
神奈川	Kanagawa	1,011
新潟	Niigata	830
富山	Toyama	848
石川	Ishikawa	832
福井	Fukui	829
山梨	Yamanashi	837
長野	Nagano	848
岐阜	Gifu	851
静岡	Shizuoka	885
愛知	Aichi	926
三重	Mie	873
滋賀	Shiga	866
京都	Kyoto	909
大阪	Osaka	964
兵庫	Hyogo	899
奈良	Nara	837
和山	Wayama	830
鳥取	Tottori	790
島根	Shimane	790
岡山	Okayama	833
広島	Hiroshima	871
山口	Yamaguchi	829
徳島	Tokushima	793
香川	Kagawa	818
愛媛	Ehime	790
高知	Kochi	790
福岡	Fukuoka	841
佐賀	Saga	790
長崎	Nagasaki	790
熊本	Kumamoto	790
大分	Oita	790
宮崎	Miyazaki	790
鹿児島	Kagoshima	790
沖縄	Okinawa	790
All	Average Salary	901

Table updated in 2019/2020;

Is the Japanese salary enough to live in Japan?

It is noticeable that the highest salaries are located in provinces with many industries, metropolises, and a large population. Although salaries are high in these areas, as a result, rent and the cost of living tend to be higher.

Don’t worry, rent will never cost a minimum wage like in Brazil; it is possible to find good apartments for up to 30,000 yen monthly. And if you have a large family, it won’t exceed 75,000.

If you are in doubt about whether the Japanese salary is enough for the cost of living, read some articles we have written below:

• What is really expensive for the Japanese?
• Is it true that Japanese people work a lot?
• Is the cost of living in Japan expensive? Should I complain and compare?

Which job pays the highest salary in Japan?

We cannot talk about minimum wage without mentioning the highest-paying jobs in Japan. We don’t even need to mention that actresses, executives, and famous people can earn up to 10 million yen a year. Still, some mangakas, animators, directors, and other important positions in the media end up earning little or even less than an average worker.

Doctors, teachers, and lawyers have great salaries and are jobs that many young Japanese seek when attending college. It is worth remembering that all of this is quite relative. Below we will provide a table ranking jobs that pay the highest salaries. In the table below, you will find the average annual salary and also the number of hours worked per month in that job.

Job / Occupation	Average hours per month	Annual Salary (Yen)
Aircraft Pilot	138	17,121,000
Doctor	174	11,540,000
Lawyer	178	10,359,000
College and University Professor	159	8,334,000
Journalist	182	8,137,000
Dentist	172	7,343,000
Public Accountant	179	7,163,000
Real Estate Appraiser	168	7,089,000
High School Teacher	165	7,064,000
Train Driver	159	6,557,000
First-Class Architect	177	6,375,000
Train Conductor	157	6,068,000
Veterinarian	184	6,058,000
Scientific Researcher	165	5,998,000
Systems Engineer	178	5,419,000
Professional Engineer	184	5,412,000
Pharmacist	171	5,312,000
X-Ray Technician	174	5,262,000
Electricity Generation or Transformation Worker	178	5,195,000
Ticket Seller and Ticket Inspector (train)	179	5,166,000
Chemical Analyst	167	5,159,000
Automobile Assembler	180	5,088,000
Social Security Consultant	170	5,085,000
School Teacher	171	4,987,000
Stevedore	202	4,967,000
Semi-Conductor Chip Manufacturer	176	4,890,000
Cranes	199	4,860,000
Flight Attendant	151	4,780,000
Mechanical Designer	192	4,761,000
Automobile Salesperson	179	4,760,000
Professional Nurse	164	4,730,000
Clinical Examination Technician	173	4,684,000
Non-Ferrous Metal Foundry	185	4,673,000
Machinist	185	4,645,000
Chemical Fiber Spinning	169	4,640,000
Drilling Worker	170	4,608,000
Business Driver	208	4,551,000
General Chemistry	175	4,506,000
Electrician	189	4,401,000
Iron and Steel Tempering Worker	185	4,398,000
Glass Extractor	182	4,372,000
Dental Technician	191	4,317,000
Insurance Underwriter	143	4,315,000
Engineer	184	4,305,000
Welder	198	4,299,000
Metal Forming Worker	196	4,261,000
Computer Programmer	181	4,256,000
Large Truck Driver, Business	216	4,242,000
Wood Pattern Maker	181	4,234,000
Plumber	195	4,208,000
Lathe Operator	203	4,176,000
Machine Inspector, Worker	185	4,106,000
Auxiliary Nurse	165	4,088,000
Iron Worker	195	4,079,000
Construction Machinery Operator	188	4,057,000
Automobile Repair	187	4,050,000
Boiler	178	4,036,000
Milling Machine Operator	203	4,034,000
Galvanoplasty Worker	199	4,030,000
Heavy Electrical Equipment Assembler	184	4,002,000
Designer	175	3,988,000
Machine Assembler	185	3,983,000
School Tutor or Lecturer	178	3,964,000
Plastic Mold Worker	203	3,960,000
Carpenter	177	3,940,000
Metal Press Machine Operator	192	3,906,000
Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist	166	3,897,000
Plastic Mold Worker	189	3,874,000
Scaffolding Worker	186	3,851,000
Internal Truck Driver	201	3,849,000
Electronic Computer Operator	169	3,838,000
Form Builder	178	3,822,000
Small or Regular Truck Driver	215	3,787,000
Polisher	186	3,741,000
Care Manager	170	3,723,000
Paper Container Manufacturer	188	3,688,000
Weaver	190	3,661,000
Metal Materials Inspecting Worker	179	3,620,000
Word Processor Operator	172	3,618,000
Household Goods Salesperson	166	3,606,000
Steel Worker	185	3,584,000
Kindergarten Teacher	173	3,471,000
Ceramics, Pottery, and Porcelain	182	3,494,000
Guard	175	3,443,000
Receptionist	175	3,371,000
Carpenter	186	3,294,000
Communication Equipment Assembly	181	3,252,000
Salesperson	168	3,221,000
Baker, Confectioner	194	3,108,000
Taxi Driver	192	3,012,000
Nursing Assistant	162	2,903,000
Janitor	171	2,903,000
Waiter and Waitress	187	2,780,000
Barber and Hairdresser	185	2,627,000
Cashier, Supermarket	177	2,493,000
Laundry	184	2,389,000
Cook	186	2,380,000
Office Cleaning	175	2,347,000
Clothing Manufacturer, Sewing	178	1,990,000