Key Facts: Japan Wages
- Country
- Japan (JPN)
- Continent
- Asia
- Currency
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121 /hr ($6.89 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- ¥4,780,000 /year
- Median Individual Income
- ¥3,620,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 40 hours
- Data Source
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-23
Japan — Average Salary & Wages
Japanese Yen (JPY) Data verified Jan 2026 Sources
The average salary in Japan is
¥4,780,000 a year
But half of all workers earn less than ¥3,620,000 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in Japan is ¥1,121/hr ($6.89 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is ¥398,333 ($2,448.12 USD). The median monthly income is ¥301,666.67 ($1,854.01 USD).
Estimated median salary of private-sector workers, derived from the National Tax Agency 2024 survey, whose mean salary is higher at 4,780,000 yen. The median is the better measure of a typical earner because high earners pull the mean upward. Japan's incomes have been largely flat in real terms for three decades.
Overall average annual salary for private-sector workers, including bonuses (¥4.03M base salary plus ¥0.75M average bonus). The 2024 figure was a record high, up 3.9 percent year on year. Full-time regular workers average higher (about ¥5.45M). After income tax, resident tax, and social insurance, take-home pay is roughly 70 to 75 percent of gross; net figures here use a 73 percent take-home estimate.
About the Japan economy
Japan operates the world's fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP, valued at $4.026 trillion in 2024. Services generate 69.8 percent of output, industry 28.6 percent, and agriculture 0.9 percent (OpenFactBook, 2023 est.). Manufacturing remains globally significant, anchored by motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel, and chemicals. The United States overtook China as the leading export destination in 2023, absorbing 19 percent of exports, followed by China at 18 percent, Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Real GDP growth has averaged near 1 percent since the pandemic recovery, posting 2.6 percent in 2021, 1.0 percent in 2022, 1.5 percent in 2023, and 0.1 percent in 2024.
The labor force totals approximately 69.382 million workers as of 2024. Unemployment sits at 2.5 percent in 2025, among the lowest in the OECD. Youth unemployment for workers aged 15 to 24 is 3.9 percent. The working-age share of the population has fallen to 58.4 percent, reflecting sustained demographic aging. 29.5 percent of the population is now 65 or older. Female labor force participation reached 55.3 percent in 2024, a record high since 1973. Japan has expanded its Specified Skilled Worker visa program to address shortages.
Tight labor markets and persistent worker shortages have pushed wages upward, though productivity growth and prefectural cost differences keep regional variation wide. Tokyo sets the top hourly floor at ¥1,226, while Kochi, Miyazaki, and Okinawa sit at ¥1,023. Prime Minister Ishiba has committed to raising the national average minimum wage to ¥1,500 per hour by the end of the 2020s. The current weighted national average of ¥1,121 per hour translates to roughly ¥194,303 monthly, or about $2,544 USD at current exchange rates.
• SECTOR RATES
Tokyo
¥1,226 /hr
Since 2025-10-03
Highest prefectural minimum wage.
Osaka
¥1,177 /hr
Since 2025-10-01
Third highest prefectural minimum wage.
Lowest prefectures (Kochi, Miyazaki, Okinawa)
¥1,023 /hr
Since 2025-10-01
Lowest prefectural minimum wages.
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2015, the minimum wage has grown +40% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Japan, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $11.87/hr in the United States, adjusted for local cost of living using the World Bank PPP conversion factor.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in Japan earns ¥194,303/mo. That is 49% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- ¥194,303 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 49% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $1,194.17/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +40% since 2015
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- ¥1,121
- Monthly
- ¥194,303Based on 173.33 hours/month (40 hrs/week)
- Annual
- ¥2,331,680Based on 2,080 hours/year (40 hrs/week, 52 weeks)
National weighted average across 47 prefectures. Rates vary from ¥1,023 (Kochi, Miyazaki, Okinawa) to ¥1,226 (Tokyo). All prefectures now exceed ¥1,000/hr for the first time. Government targets ¥1,500/hr by late 2020s.
Work Week
- Standard
- 40 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.25x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.
Prefectures · 47 regions
35 more prefectures — ¥1,023 – ¥1,081 /hr
How Japan Compares
| Metric | Japan | Asia Avg. | Asia Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $6.89/hr | $2.61/hr | $11.89/hr (Israel) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $2,448.12/mo | $1,185.31/mo | $4,472.55/mo (Singapore) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Croatia | $6.90 |
| New Caledonia | $7.04 |
| Cyprus | $7.15 |
| South Korea | $6.62 |
| Curaçao | $6.55 |
| Japan | $6.89 |
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Bhutan Cost of Living
Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Japan on our sister site.
Cost of living in Japan on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Japan?
The minimum wage in Japan is ¥1,121/hr (approximately $6.89 USD), effective since 2025-10-01. National weighted average across 47 prefectures. Rates vary from ¥1,023 (Kochi, Miyazaki, Okinawa) to ¥1,226 (Tokyo). All prefectures now exceed ¥1,000/hr for the first time. Government targets ¥1,500/hr by late 2020s.
What is the average salary in Japan?
The average gross monthly salary in Japan is ¥398,333 (approximately $2,448.12 USD). Overall average annual salary for private-sector workers, including bonuses (¥4.03M base salary plus ¥0.75M average bonus). The 2024 figure was a record high, up 3.9 percent year on year. Full-time regular workers average higher (about ¥5.45M). After income tax, resident tax, and social insurance, take-home pay is roughly 70 to 75 percent of gross; net figures here use a 73 percent take-home estimate. Source: National Tax Agency, Survey on Private-Sector Wages (2024) (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in Japan?
The standard work week in Japan is 40 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.25x the normal rate. Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.
How has the minimum wage in Japan changed over time?
The minimum wage in Japan has changed as follows: ¥798 in 2015, ¥823 in 2016, ¥848 in 2017, ¥874 in 2018, ¥901 in 2019, ¥902 in 2020, ¥930 in 2021, ¥961 in 2022, ¥1,004 in 2023, ¥1,055 in 2024, ¥1,121 in 2025. This represents 11 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Japan in USD?
The minimum wage in Japan converts to approximately $6.89/hr in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
What is the average salary in Japan in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Japan is approximately $2,448.12 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Japan's minimum wage compare to the Asia average?
Japan's minimum wage ranks #2 out of 34 countries with statutory minimum wages in Asia, placing it among the highest in Asia.
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