Key Facts: Japan vs Sint Maarten Wages
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- Sint Maarten Minimum Wage
- ƒ10.93/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23), Government of Sint Maarten — Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labour (2026-05-04)
Japan
Sint Maarten
Updated 2026-05-23
Minimum Wage
ƒ10.93 /hr
$6.11 USD
Both high-income economies, Japan and Sint Maarten set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Japan | Sint Maarten |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ¥1,121 $7.03 | ƒ10.93 $6.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ¥194,303 $1,218.28 | ƒ1,894.53 $1,058.40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60 | ƒ22,734.40 $12,700.78 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 | N/A/mo |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Japan is higher.
Work Week
- Japan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
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%.
- Sint Maarten
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Governed by the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labour (VSA).
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Sint Maarten to Japan would see a 15% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Sint Maarten's perspective: Sint Maarten vs Japan
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Japan or Sint Maarten?
In Japan, the minimum wage is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). In Sint Maarten, it is ƒ10.93/hr ($6.11 USD). Japan has the higher rate by 15% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Sint Maarten may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How do work hours compare between Japan and Sint Maarten?
Both Japan and Sint Maarten mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.