Gaijin Hunter Careers · Japan

Japan salary insights 2026

Comprehensive benchmarks across 11 sectors, 589+ roles, East and West Japan. Combined with live percentile data from active job-board postings. Built for foreign professionals deciding what to ask for, and when to walk away.

55% of companies planning raises in 2026 5.4% avg 2025 union settlement 60.7% use AI tools daily

Japan 2026 market outlook

The macro forces shaping pay this year. Nominal wage growth is the strongest in decades, but inflation has kept real wages subdued, pushing companies to revisit base salary structures, bonuses, and benefits more aggressively than at any point since the late 1990s.

5.4%

Average 2025 union settlement
Building on the substantial hikes of 2023–24, this is now the third consecutive year of 5%+ headline raises, the strongest sustained nominal wage growth in over 30 years.

55%

Companies planning raises in 2026
Driven by inflation pressure and fierce competition for skilled professionals. Bilingual roles and STEM specialists are seeing the largest gains.

60.7%

Use AI tools daily at work
Up from 24.5% the previous year. "Data analysis", "critical thinking", and "human-AI collaboration" are now the top three skills employers say they most need.

2.3M

Foreign workers in Japan (2024 record)
Foreign residents now ~3.8M nationwide. Manufacturing, logistics, care, construction, and hospitality already rely on international talent to sustain operations.

What this means for foreigners job-hunting in Japan

Three forces are stacked in foreign candidates' favour right now:

  • Bilinguals command premium offers. Companies entering Japan and Japanese firms going global both compete intensely for English+Japanese talent. Job-changer raises of 10–20% are now normal, up to 30% for cybersecurity, AI, M&A, and HSP-qualifying profiles.
  • Visa-sponsorship reluctance is fading. Foreign-resident count has nearly doubled in a decade. Some multinationals are now hiring engineers and infrastructure specialists without requiring Japanese.
  • Flexible work is a deal-breaker. Employers without remote/hybrid options are losing top candidates regardless of base pay. Verify policy before signing.

Sector dashboard

Quick view of all 11 sectors: how confident employees feel, how many expect a raise, and the expected pay bump for job-changers. Click any sector to jump to its full role-by-role salary table below.

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Accounting & Finance

+5–15% job change
Top in demand: Financial Planning & Analysis / Strategy; Financial Manager / Controller; Accounting Manager
57% Expect raise
62% Confident
44% Mobile
building

Banking, Financial Services & Consulting

+7–20% job change
Top in demand: PE / Alternatives (Analysts / Associates); Operations (Senior Associate / AVP level); M&A Advisory
51% Expect raise
68% Confident
44% Mobile
gift

Consumer Goods, Hospitality & Retail

+15–20% job change
Top in demand: Brand Marketing — Senior Manager / Director; Client Engagement / Business Development — Senior Manager / Director; General Manager
56% Expect raise
65% Confident
52% Mobile
megaphone

Consumer & Corporate Services

+10–20% job change
Top in demand: Business Development / Sales Manager; Corporate Communication; PR Consultant (Account Manager / Director)
53% Expect raise
65% Confident
46% Mobile
users

HR & Business Support

+3–15% job change
Top in demand: HR Business Partner; HR Director; General Affairs Manager
49% Expect raise
55% Confident
48% Mobile
support

Healthcare

+5–15% job change
Top in demand: Marketing; RA / QA (Regulatory / Quality Assurance); Business Development
56% Expect raise
66% Confident
49% Mobile
scale

Legal, Compliance & Risk

+10–20% job change
Top in demand: Legal Counsel; Compliance Officer; Risk Manager
56% Expect raise
69% Confident
41% Mobile
building

Manufacturing

+10–20% job change
Top in demand: Managing Director (Country Manager); Sales Manager; Project Manager
55% Expect raise
61% Confident
50% Mobile
briefcase

Tech Sales & Marketing

+15–25% job change
Top in demand: Head of Sales; Digital Marketing Manager; Country Manager
54% Expect raise
66% Confident
47% Mobile
package

Supply Chain, Procurement & Operations

+5–15% job change
Top in demand: SCM Planning (IBP / Demand / Supply Planning); QA/QC, Factory, & EHS; Procurement
57% Expect raise
62% Confident
48% Mobile
cpu

Tech & Transformation

+10–30% job change
Top in demand: Cloud Architect / Engineer; Data Scientist / AI Engineer; Cybersecurity Specialist
50% Expect raise
67% Confident
47% Mobile

Live percentiles from active postings

Salary percentiles computed in real time from the actual job-board postings on this site (last 30 days). Treat this as the lower-bound benchmark: postings disclose posted salary, which is usually 5–15% below what a skilled negotiator actually gets in a final offer.

Hospitality / Service

701 active postings
P25 ¥2.6M Median ¥3.1M P75 ¥5.0M P90 ¥20.0M

Logistics / Manufacturing

679 active postings
P25 ¥2.6M Median ¥3.0M P75 ¥6.0M P90 ¥12.5M

Healthcare / Care

288 active postings
P25 ¥2.6M Median ¥2.9M P75 ¥3.9M P90 ¥4.4M

Teaching / Education

107 active postings
P25 ¥2.9M Median ¥3.2M P75 ¥3.7M P90 ¥6.1M

Construction / Trades

93 active postings
P25 ¥3.0M Median ¥3.2M P75 ¥3.8M P90 ¥4.3M

Retail / Sales

57 active postings
P25 ¥3.0M Median ¥3.5M P75 ¥3.5M P90 ¥5.6M

Software Engineering

47 active postings
P25 ¥3.6M Median ¥8.0M P75 ¥9.8M P90 ¥11.7M

Product Management

37 active postings
P25 ¥2.5M Median ¥3.0M P75 ¥4.1M P90 ¥9.6M

Marketing

26 active postings
P25 ¥0.1M Median ¥0.5M P75 ¥3.1M P90 ¥6.0M

Office / Administration

21 active postings
P25 ¥0.4M Median ¥3.0M P75 ¥3.2M P90 ¥8.0M

Hospitality / Tourism

10 active postings
P25 ¥2.4M Median ¥2.7M P75 ¥3.0M P90 ¥5.2M

Sales / BD

9 active postings
P25 ¥3.9M Median ¥5.5M P75 ¥7.8M P90 ¥11.5M

Consulting

6 active postings
P25 ¥4.5M Median ¥6.2M P75 ¥10.6M P90 ¥13.2M

Operations

5 active postings
P25 ¥2.8M Median ¥2.8M P75 ¥10.0M P90 ¥10.6M

Design

5 active postings
P25 ¥4.5M Median ¥10.0M P75 ¥11.0M P90 ¥11.3M

HR / Recruiting

5 active postings
P25 ¥3.5M Median ¥6.8M P75 ¥6.8M P90 ¥6.8M

Translation / Localization

4 active postings
P25 ¥2.4M Median ¥2.4M P75 ¥271.8M P90 ¥756.7M

Agriculture / Fishery

4 active postings
P25 ¥2.7M Median ¥2.9M P75 ¥3.6M P90 ¥4.7M

Legal / Compliance

3 active postings
P25 ¥5.7M Median ¥6.9M P75 ¥23.4M P90 ¥33.4M

Finance / Accounting

3 active postings
P25 ¥2.8M Median ¥2.8M P75 ¥2.9M P90 ¥3.0M

Got an offer? See where it lands.

Pick the role family, enter the salary, and we'll tell you what percentile it sits in based on our 11-sector industry data, plus where it falls on the live job-board percentile curve.

Detailed role explorer

Browse every benchmark we have: 589+ roles across 11 sectors with East/West Japan splits. Search by role title, filter by sector and region, and click any sector header to expand its full table.

Showing all roles across 11 sectors
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Accounting & Finance 37 roles

+5–15% job change 57% expect raise Hot: Financial Planning & Analysis / Strategy

2026 hiring trends

Hiring freezes and budget constraints have intensified competition for permanent hires, with companies relying more on contract talent. Demand stays strong for FP&A, treasury, tax compliance, transfer pricing, and IFRS expertise. Bilingual mid-career professionals with M&A and corporate strategy experience are seeing robust opportunities.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Companies in East Japan are responding to hiring freezes with greater reliance on senior contractors. FP&A, treasury, transfer pricing, and IFRS expertise top the demand list. Bilingual mid-career professionals with M&A and change-management experience are positioned to drive premium offers.

West Japan (Osaka/Kansai) hiring trends

Kansai's accounting/finance hiring is steady thanks to a stable manufacturing base (automotive, pharma, chemical). Growing demand for M&A, IR, financial planning, and senior accounting in hospitality. Many U-turn candidates (returning from Tokyo) are filling roles.

Expected job-changer pay bump: Job changers see 5% in cautious cases; 8–10% expected by qualified professionals; up to 15% for bilingual M&A / strategy talent.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Accounting
AP/AR Staff 2+y ¥5–7M ¥1,800–2,500
Cost Accountant 3+y ¥9–11M –
Credit Manager 5+y ¥9–12M –
Financial Accountant 3+y ¥8–10M ¥2,000–3,000
Financial Accounting Manager 6+y ¥10–15M ¥2,800–4,000
Internal Audit Manager 6+y ¥11–18M –
Internal Auditor 3+y ¥8–13M –
Senior Financial Accountant 4+y ¥8–11M ¥2,500–3,500
Tax Accountant 4+y ¥9–12M ¥2,200–3,200
Tax Manager 6+y ¥13–18M ¥3,000–4,500
Treasury Accountant 3+y ¥8–10M –
Treasury Manager 6+y ¥11–15M –
Financial Planning & Analysis
Business Controller 5+y ¥10–18M –
Financial Analyst 3+y ¥8–12M ¥2,500–3,200
Financial Planning Manager 6+y ¥12–18M ¥3,500–5,000
Senior Financial Analyst 4+y ¥10–14M –
Large Organisation
Chief Financial Officer 15+y ¥30–70M –
Financial Controller 8+y ¥15–25M ¥4,000–7,500
SME
Chief Financial Officer 10+y ¥15–30M ¥3,500–7,000
Financial Controller 10+y ¥14–18M ¥3,500–6,000
Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
General
Chief Financial Officer 10–20y ¥12–30M –
Finance Director 10–20y ¥15–25M –
Financial Controller 8–15y ¥10–18M ¥2,900–5,000
Finance Manager 5–10y ¥8–12M ¥2,100–4,800
FP&A Director 10–20y ¥13–18M –
FP&A Manager 8–12y ¥10–15M –
Financial Accounting Manager 7–12y ¥8–12M ¥2,200–4,800
Internal Audit Manager 5–10y ¥10–15M –
Tax Manager 5–10y ¥8–15M –
Treasury Manager 7–12y ¥8–12M –
Financial Analyst 5–10y ¥6–8M ¥1,700–3,900
Senior Financial Accountant 5–8y ¥7–9M ¥1,800–3,500
Tax Accountant 5–8y ¥6–9M ¥1,800–3,100
Internal Auditor 5–8y ¥6–9M –
Cost Accountant 5–10y ¥7–10M –
Financial Accountant 5–10y ¥5–7M ¥1,400–2,500
AP/AR Staff 5–7y ¥4.5–7M ¥1,400–2,500
building

Banking, Financial Services & Consulting 40 roles

+7–20% job change 51% expect raise Hot: PE / Alternatives (Analysts / Associates)

2026 hiring trends

The weak yen has made Japan attractive to foreign investors, driving expansion among alternative investment firms. Investment banks plan to grow teams in 2026, especially PE, M&A advisory, IR, and compliance. Real-estate asset management and acquisition professionals are also in high demand.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Banking and financial services continue to face a shortage of junior and mid-career talent. Companies are focusing on hiring senior candidates. Consulting demand is strong for mid-to-senior professionals with post-merger integration (PMI) and Value-Up expertise. CPA-qualified consultants with 5+ years command competitive offers; partner roles offer exceptional compensation due to talent shortages.

Expected job-changer pay bump: 7–12% standard for banking job changers; 5–10% in temp/support functions; up to 20% for skilled PE/M&A talent and partner-level consultants.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
General
Internal Audit (0-4y) 0–4y ¥7–9M –
Internal Audit (4-8y) 4–8y ¥10–12M –
Internal Audit (8-15y) 8–15y ¥11–22M –
Sales (0-4y) 0–4y ¥8–10.5M –
Sales (4-8y) 4–8y ¥9–15M –
Sales (8-15y) 8–15y ¥15–27M –
Middle Office (0-3y) 0–3y ¥7–9M –
Middle Office (4-8y) 4–8y ¥8.5–13M –
Middle Office (8-15y) 8–15y ¥12–20M –
Settlements (0-3y) 0–3y ¥7–9M –
Settlements (4-8y) 4–8y ¥8.5–13M –
Settlements (8-15y) 8–15y ¥12–20M –
Product Management (0-4y) 0–4y ¥8–10.5M –
Product Management (4-8y) 4–8y ¥8.5–13M –
Product Management (8-15y) 8–15y ¥12–25M –
Project Management (0-4y) 0–4y ¥7–10.5M –
Project Management (4-8y) 4–8y ¥8.5–13M –
Project Management (8-15y) 8–15y ¥12–25M –
Marketing Manager , ¥10–15M ¥3,800–8,100
Marketing Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Assurance
Consultant (1-5y) 1–5y ¥4–8M –
Consultant (6-10y) 6–10y ¥8–14M –
Consultant (11-25y) 11–25y ¥15–30M –
M&A Advisory (FAS)
Consultant (2-5y) 2–5y ¥6–12M –
Consultant (6-10y) 6–10y ¥12–18M –
Consultant (11-25y) 11–25y ¥20–50M –
Management Consulting
Consultant (2-5y) 2–5y ¥5–8M –
Consultant (6-10y) 6–10y ¥10–16M –
Consultant (11-25y) 11–25y ¥20–35M –
Strategy Consulting
Consultant (2-5y) 2–5y ¥7–15M –
Consultant (6-10y) 6–10y ¥15–22M –
Consultant (11-25y) 11–25y ¥20–50M –
Tax
Consultant (1-5y) 1–5y ¥4–8M –
Consultant (6-10y) 6–10y ¥8–14M –
Consultant (11-25y) 11–25y ¥15–30M –
Real Estate / Asset Mgmt
Real Estate Asset Management (0-4y) 0–4y ¥7–10M –
Real Estate Asset Management (4-8y) 4–8y ¥8.5–13M –
Real Estate Asset Management (8-15y) 8–15y ¥12–21M –
Sales Manager / Business Development Manager , ¥7–10M ¥3,800–8,100
Sales Director / Business Development Director , ¥12–20M ¥5,100–12,000
gift

Consumer Goods, Hospitality & Retail 64 roles

+15–20% job change 56% expect raise Hot: Brand Marketing — Senior Manager / Director

2026 hiring trends

Inflation continues to squeeze B2C margins; consumers prefer high-quality mid-priced products and experiences over luxury. Marketing roles are critically understaffed. Hospitality and retail are prioritising re-engaging 'boomerang employees' and offering competitive packages. Skilled candidates hold significant leverage.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Marketing roles are critically understaffed; companies seek professionals who can differentiate brands beyond pricing. Business development with client-facing skills is in strong demand. Country managers with Japan-specific go-to-market strategies are highly sought after. Burnout and work-life balance are top concerns for candidates.

West Japan (Osaka/Kansai) hiring trends

Post-Osaka Expo, ~20,000 temporary workers returned to the labour market. Luxury retail recruitment is slow due to reduced Chinese inbound tourism. Strong demand for VIP-focused sales pros, BD specialists, and CX talent who can add empathy where AI falls short. U-turn job seekers returning to Kansai are increasingly attractive to employers.

Expected job-changer pay bump: Employers typically need to offer 15%+ to attract top talent; up to 20% for in-demand brand and BD profiles. Kansai averaged 5–10% in 2025 due to oversupply.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Consumer/FMCG
President / Country Manager , ¥20–35M ¥6,500–14,000
Commercial Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Commercial Manager , ¥10–15M ¥3,800–8,100
Sales Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Sales Manager , ¥10–15M ¥3,800–8,100
Key Account Manager , ¥8–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Sales Representative / Specialist , ¥5–8M ¥2,500–5,100
Marketing Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Marketing Manager , ¥10–15M ¥3,800–8,100
Consumer Insights Manager , ¥8–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Trade Marketing Manager , ¥8–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Trade Marketing Specialist , ¥5–7M ¥2,500–5,100
Senior Brand Manager , ¥10–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Brand / Product Manager , ¥8–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Assistant Brand Manager , ¥6–8M ¥3,800–8,100
Brand Specialist , ¥4–6M ¥2,500–5,100
Brand Communications Manager , ¥10–14M ¥3,800–8,100
PR / Corporate Communications Director , ¥15–20M ¥5,100–12,000
PR / Corporate Communications Manager , ¥10–12M ¥3,800–8,100
PR Staff , ¥4–6M ¥2,500–5,100
Content Creation Manager , ¥8–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Content Creation Specialist , ¥6–8M ¥2,500–5,100
Copywriter , ¥4–6M ¥2,500–5,100
Hospitality
General Manager , ¥15–25M –
Hotel Manager / Executive Assistant Manager , ¥13–18M –
Director , ¥8–15M –
Senior Manager / Manager , ¥5–7M –
Executive / Coordinator , ¥3–4M –
Retail
General Manager , ¥18–50M ¥6,500–14,000
Retail Director , ¥15–28M ¥5,100–12,000
Retail Manager , ¥10–14M ¥3,800–8,100
Area Manager , ¥5–8M ¥3,800–8,100
Retail Operations Manager , ¥10–14M ¥3,800–8,100
Retail Operations Specialist , ¥6–9M ¥2,500–5,100
Merchandising Director , ¥13–28M ¥5,100–12,000
Merchandising Manager , ¥10–13M ¥3,800–8,100
Merchandising Specialist , ¥5–8M ¥2,500–5,100
PR Director , ¥15–20M ¥5,100–12,000
PR Manager , ¥8–14M ¥3,800–8,100
PR Specialist , ¥5–7M ¥3,800–8,100
Brand Marketing Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Brand Marketing Manager , ¥11–14M ¥3,800–8,100
Marketing Director , ¥15–36M ¥5,100–12,000
Marketing Manager , ¥10–14M ¥3,800–8,100
Marketing Specialist , ¥5–8M ¥2,500–5,100
CRM Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
CRM Manager , ¥10–14M ¥3,800–8,100
CRM Specialist , ¥7–9M ¥2,500–5,100
VIP / Clienteling Manager , ¥10–14M ¥3,800–8,100
VIP / Clienteling Specialist , ¥5–8M ¥2,500–5,100
Gaisho Specialist (外商) , ¥5–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Store Manager , ¥5–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Assistant Store Manager , ¥6–8M ¥3,800–8,100
Store Staff , ¥4–6M ¥2,500–5,100
Visual Merchandising Manager , ¥8–10M ¥3,800–8,100
Visual Merchandising Specialist , ¥6–8M ¥3,800–8,100
Travel Retail Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Travel Retail Manager , ¥10–14M ¥3,800–8,100
Store Development Director , ¥12–20M ¥5,100–12,000
Store Development Manager , ¥10–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Store Expansion Director , ¥12–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Store Expansion Manager , ¥10–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Consumer/FMCG
Marketing Executive , ¥5–9M –
Sales Executive , ¥5–8.5M ¥1,500–2,500
megaphone

Consumer & Corporate Services 17 roles

+10–20% job change 53% expect raise Hot: Business Development / Sales Manager

2026 hiring trends

AI is reshaping marketing and communications; digital fluency is now table stakes. Demand is surging for globally minded English-speaking professionals supporting Japanese entertainment exports (music, anime, gaming). Japanese fluency remains strict for B2B and corporate comms, but companies are flexing on industry experience.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Marketing and communications now demand digital and AI fluency alongside creative problem-solving. Demand is high for globally-minded, English-proficient professionals supporting Japanese entertainment exports. Bilingual professionals remain critical for corporate communications and B2B roles. Remote work options are decisive in retention.

Expected job-changer pay bump: 10–15% for job changers across the board; up to 20% in asset management. Beyond salary, candidates expect meaningful responsibilities and DEI / mental health benefits.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Banking / Asset Management / IB
Corporate Communication Manager , ¥12–15M ¥5,100–12,000
Corporate Communication Director , ¥15–25M ¥3,800–8,100
Corporate Education
Marketing Manager , ¥8–10M ¥3,800–8,100
Marketing Director , ¥10–15M ¥5,100–12,000
Financial Services
Marketing Manager / Communication Manager , ¥10–15M ¥3,800–8,100
Marketing Director / Communication Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Insurance / Entertainment / Consulting
Marketing Manager , ¥8–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Marketing Director , ¥13–18M ¥5,100–12,000
Insurance / Real Estate / Service
Corporate Communication Manager , ¥8–11M ¥3,800–8,100
Corporate Communication Director , ¥13–18M ¥5,100–12,000
Marketing Research Agency
Research / Sales Manager , ¥7–10M ¥3,800–8,100
Research / Sales Director , ¥11–14M ¥5,100–12,000
PR Agency
Manager-Level Consultant , ¥6–10M ¥3,800–8,100
Director-Level Consultant , ¥11–20M ¥5,100–12,000
Record Label
A&R Manager , ¥6–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Shared Office / Real Estate / Education
Sales Manager / BD Manager , ¥7–10M ¥3,800–8,100
Sales Director / BD Director , ¥12–20M ¥5,100–12,000
users

HR & Business Support 50 roles

+3–15% job change 49% expect raise Hot: HR Business Partner

2026 hiring trends

HR and business support are diverging. HR remains hot — especially at international companies — while business support is contracting as AI replaces administrative work. Bilingual real-time interpreters remain valuable as they handle nuance AI cannot.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Demand stays high for senior HR, talent acquisition, and HRBP. Executive assistant roles are declining as AI replaces traditional functions, though older candidates (avg age 55+) are increasingly being hired for contract roles. Remote/hybrid options remain a competitive differentiator.

West Japan (Osaka/Kansai) hiring trends

Kansai HR is reshaping fast with AI handling admin tasks. Demand is rising for senior and director-level positions due to retirement-driven succession planning. Real-time interpreters in high demand; translators declining. Compensation design, HRBP, and bilingual professionals are best positioned.

Expected job-changer pay bump: HR side: 5–15% (global Japanese companies pay most). Business Support side: 3–5% — modest as AI replaces administrative work.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Financial Services HR
HR Director , ¥16–30M –
HR Business Partner , ¥10–20M –
HR Generalist 0–6y ¥6–9M ¥1,700–2,500
Recruitment / Staffing Manager , ¥8–20M ¥3,000–7,000
Recruitment / Staffing Coordinator , ¥4.5–9M ¥1,700–2,500
Learning & Development Head , ¥12–18M ¥3,000–7,000
Training Specialist , ¥5–12M ¥1,700–2,500
Compensation & Benefits Director , ¥13–20M –
Compensation & Benefits Specialist , ¥6–12M ¥1,700–2,500
Payroll Specialist , ¥5–9M ¥1,700–2,500
Facilities Manager , ¥7–14M ¥2,000–3,300
Financial Services Support
Administration Manager , ¥6–10M ¥1,800–2,800
Executive Secretary , ¥6–12M ¥1,700–2,500
Translator / Interpreter , ¥5–10M ¥2,200–4,000
General Affairs Administrator , ¥5–8M ¥1,700–2,500
Office Administrator , ¥4.5–6.5M ¥1,700–2,500
Group Secretary , ¥5–7M ¥1,700–2,500
Receptionist , ¥3.6–5.5M ¥1,700–2,300
Non-Financial HR
HR Director / Head , ¥12–25M –
HR Generalist (6y+) 6+y ¥6–13M ¥1,700–2,500
HR Manager , ¥8–18M ¥3,000–6,000
HR Specialist , ¥5.5–11M ¥1,700–2,500
HR Administrator , ¥4.5–7M ¥1,700–2,500
Compensation & Benefits Manager , ¥8–16M ¥1,700–2,500
Recruitment / Staffing Manager , ¥8–16M ¥3,000–7,000
Non-Financial Support
Office Manager , ¥8–12M ¥2,000–2,800
Administration Manager , ¥7–10M ¥2,000–2,800
Administrative Assistant , ¥5–7M ¥1,500–2,500
Executive Secretary , ¥6–11M ¥1,700–2,500
General Affairs Manager , ¥8–13M ¥2,000–2,800
General Affairs Administrator , ¥5–8M ¥1,700–2,500
Translator / Interpreter , ¥6–10M ¥2,200–4,000
Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Financial Services
Operations VP 14–19y ¥15–22M ¥1,500–1,700
Operations Director 9–14y ¥10–16M ¥1,800–3,800
Operations Associate 7–9y ¥8–10M ¥1,700–3,700
Operations Analyst 6–8y ¥7–9M –
Professional Services
HR Director 10–20y ¥10–23M –
HR Business Partner 5–10y ¥7–18M –
HR Manager / Generalist (6y+) 6–10y ¥8–12M ¥2,000–3,900
Senior HR Generalist 6–9y ¥6–9M –
HR Generalist / Staff 3–5y ¥5–8.5M ¥1,400–2,400
Compensation & Benefits Specialist 2–5y ¥7–10M –
Payroll Specialist 3–6y ¥5–10M ¥1,400–2,400
General Affairs Manager 5–10y ¥7–15M –
General Affairs Administrator 3–6y ¥5–8M –
Office Manager 5–10y ¥5–10M –
Administration Manager 5–10y ¥6–9M –
Administrative Assistant 3–6y ¥5–7M –
Executive Secretary 3–6y ¥5–10M –
Translator / Interpreter 3–6y ¥5–10M –
support

Healthcare 71 roles

+5–15% job change 56% expect raise Hot: Marketing

2026 hiring trends

Japan's ageing population continues driving demand across pharma, medical devices, and health services. Pharmaceutical sector picked up after restructuring. Medical device sector is expanding around age-related disease products. Health services rely increasingly on part-time and foreign workers.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Pharma hiring picked up after restructuring. Strong demand for marketing, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, and BD. Job changers expect 10–15% gains; diversity hiring and hands-on experience prioritised for executives. Medical device sector expanding for age-related disease products at steady 5–7% increases.

West Japan (Osaka/Kansai) hiring trends

Kansai healthcare saw workforce reductions in 2025, increasing talent mobility. Strong demand for Medical Affairs specialists, Clinical Specialists, and Real-World Data experts. Many companies are implementing 'no relocation' policies and offering relocation support including company housing, sign-on bonuses, and Shinkansen commute subsidies.

Expected job-changer pay bump: Pharma: 10–15%. Medical device: 5–7%. Health services: 10–15%. Diversity hiring and hands-on experience valued for executive roles.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Contract Research Organisation
CRO Clinical Development Manager , ¥10–17M ¥3,500–7,500
CRO Clinical Research Associate , ¥6–14M ¥3,000–6,000
Data Manager , ¥6–9M ¥3,500–7,500
CRO/CMO Business Development Manager/Director , ¥12–22M ¥4,500–11,000
CRO Pharmacovigilance Specialist / Manager , ¥7–10M ¥4,500–11,000
CRO Regulatory Affairs Manager , ¥7–12M ¥4,500–11,000
Regulatory Affairs Consulting , ¥8–15M ¥4,500–11,000
CSO MSL / Medical Affairs , ¥7–10M ¥3,500–7,500
Healthcare Agency
Healthcare Marketing Research , ¥6–9M ¥3,500–7,500
Healthcare Account Manager / Executive / Sales , ¥7–15M ¥3,500–7,500
Healthcare PR / Medical Communication , ¥5–13M ¥3,500–7,500
Healthcare Consulting
Healthcare Consulting , ¥8–18M ¥4,500–11,000
RWE / Epidemiology , ¥8–15M ¥4,500–11,000
Medical Device / Life Science
Commercial Excellence Director , ¥14–20M ¥5,100–12,000
Commercial Excellence Manager , ¥12–17M ¥4,500–11,000
Commercial Excellence Specialist , ¥7–12M ¥3,500–7,500
PR / Communication Director , ¥14–22M ¥5,100–12,000
PR / Communication Manager , ¥12–16M ¥4,500–11,000
PR / Communication Specialist , ¥5–9M ¥3,500–7,500
Clinical Director , ¥14–22M ¥5,100–12,000
Clinical Manager , ¥10–15M ¥4,500–11,000
Clinical Research Associate (CRA) , ¥5–9M ¥3,500–7,500
Business Development Director , ¥14–22M ¥5,100–12,000
Business Development Manager , ¥12–17M ¥4,500–11,000
Business Development Specialist , ¥7–12M ¥3,500–7,500
Pharmaceutical
President / Country Manager , ¥25–40M ¥6,800–16,000
Business Unit Head , ¥20–30M ¥5,700–14,000
Marketing Director , ¥16–24M ¥5,100–12,000
Marketing Manager , ¥14–19M ¥4,500–11,000
Product Manager , ¥10–15M ¥3,500–7,500
Corporate Strategy / Business Strategy , ¥12–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Commercial Excellence Director , ¥18–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Commercial Excellence Manager , ¥11–16M ¥4,500–11,000
Business Development Director , ¥15–24M ¥5,100–12,000
Business Development Manager , ¥10–15M ¥4,500–11,000
Governmental Affairs , ¥10–20M ¥5,100–12,000
Market Access / Pricing / Health Economics , ¥10–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Medical Affairs Director , ¥20–30M ¥5,100–12,000
Medical Affairs Manager , ¥13–19M ¥4,500–11,000
Medical Affairs Specialist , ¥8–14M ¥3,500–7,500
RA / QA Head , ¥20–30M ¥5,700–14,000
Regulatory Affairs Manager , ¥12–19M ¥4,500–11,000
Regulatory Affairs Specialist , ¥8–14M ¥3,500–7,500
Quality Assurance Manager , ¥10–15M ¥4,500–11,000
Quality Assurance Specialist , ¥7–12M ¥3,500–7,500
Pharmacovigilance Manager , ¥10–16M ¥4,500–11,000
Pharmacovigilance Specialist , ¥7–11M ¥3,500–7,500
Data Management / Biostatistics , ¥6–14M ¥4,500–11,000
Medical Writing , ¥7–14M ¥4,500–11,000
Clinical Director , ¥15–25M ¥4,500–11,000
Clinical Project Manager , ¥10–16M ¥4,500–11,000
Clinical Research Associate (CRA) , ¥6–10M ¥3,500–7,500
Medical Science Liaison , ¥7–15M ¥4,500–11,000
CMC Researcher , ¥8–20M ¥4,500–11,000
Senior Scientist , ¥8–14M ¥4,500–11,000
Scientist , ¥6–11M ¥3,500–7,500
Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
General
General Manager / Country Manager , ¥18–50M –
Marketing Director , ¥12–25M –
Sales Manager , ¥12–22M –
Clinical Development Manager , ¥10–18M –
Regulatory Affairs Manager , ¥10–20M –
Regulatory Affairs Specialist , ¥8–12M ¥1,700–3,100
Marketing / Product Manager , ¥8–15M –
Clinical Scientist / Researcher , ¥6–12M –
Clinical Research Associate (CRA) , ¥5.5–10M –
Quality Assurance Manager , ¥10–16M –
Quality Assurance , ¥5–10M ¥1,500–2,200
Field Service Manager , ¥8–12M –
Field Service Engineer , ¥6–9M –
Field Application Specialist , ¥7–11M –
Sales Representative , ¥6–12M –
building

Manufacturing 63 roles

+10–20% job change 55% expect raise Hot: Managing Director (Country Manager)

2026 hiring trends

Mobility/auto faces external pressure (tariff uncertainty, China competition), driving cautious hiring but strong demand for SDV/AI-manufacturing talent. Semiconductor sector growing strongly with government subsidies. Energy & infrastructure sees rapid expansion in data centres, BESS, and energy trading.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Mobility/auto: Cautious hiring volumes but salary increases robust (10–15%). SDV and AI-manufacturing specialists in demand. Semiconductor: Government-backed growth driving 10–20% raises with key engineers seeing 15–20%. Energy & infrastructure: Data centres and BESS booming; 15–20% increases in 2025, more expected. Some companies hiring without Japanese language requirements.

West Japan (Osaka/Kansai) hiring trends

Tariff uncertainty caused hiring freezes in some sectors, but weak yen drove foreign-investment-led hiring in construction. E-commerce/supply chain in high demand. Severe shortage of mechanical/electrical maintenance engineers and QA. Highly skilled foreign candidates being actively recruited. Salary gains for top engineers reached 20–40% in 2025.

Expected job-changer pay bump: Mobility/automotive: 10–15%. Semiconductor: 10–20% with key candidates seeing 15–20%. Energy & infrastructure: 15–20%, sometimes 20–40% for engineers with rare skills.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Chemical
Sales Executive / Engineer , ¥6–10M –
Application Engineer , ¥7–13M –
Sales & Marketing Manager , ¥9–15M –
R&D Manager , ¥10–15M –
Product Manager , ¥8–12M –
Business Development Manager , ¥12–18M –
Sales & Marketing Director , ¥16–25M –
R&D Director , ¥15–25M –
President / CEO , ¥20–40M –
Energy & Infrastructure
Project Manager , ¥10–15M –
Commissioning Engineer , ¥7–12M –
O&M Manager , ¥9–14M –
Architectural Project Manager , ¥9–15M –
MEP Design Manager , ¥10–15M –
Construction Manager , ¥8–13M –
Business Development Manager , ¥9–12M –
Sales Director , ¥10–15M –
Project Development Director , ¥10–15M –
Marketing Manager , ¥8–12M –
Construction Director , ¥14–20M –
Business Development Director , ¥13–16M –
President / CEO , ¥18–30M –
Industrial Engineering
Field Service Manager / Director , ¥14–17M –
Automation Engineer , ¥10–15M –
Application / Design Engineer , ¥10–15M –
Engineering Manager / Director , ¥15–20M –
Project Manager , ¥10–15M –
Industrial Sales & Marketing
Sales Manager / Director , ¥18–25M –
Product Marketing Manager , ¥12–15M –
Country Manager / President / CEO , ¥25–35M –
Field Marketing Manager , ¥12–20M –
Marketing Manager / Director , ¥15–20M –
Mobility Engineering
Application / Design Engineer (Mechanical) , ¥6–12M –
Application / Design Engineer (Electronics) , ¥8–13M –
Engineering Manager , ¥10–16M –
Project / Program Manager , ¥8–15M –
Engineering Director / VP , ¥15–35M –
Mobility Sales & Marketing
Sales Executive / Associate , ¥5–8M –
Account Manager / Sales Engineer , ¥8.5–12M –
Sales Manager , ¥9–15M –
Business Development Manager , ¥9–15M –
Sales Director , ¥13–25M –
Country Manager / Managing Director , ¥17–40M –
Semiconductor
Process Engineer , ¥8–13M –
Field Service Engineer , ¥7–10M –
Design Engineer , ¥6–13M –
Sales / Business Development Manager , ¥10–18M –
Field Application Engineer , ¥7–15M –
Service Manager , ¥12–17M –
Sales Director , ¥18–30M –
Project Manager / Program Manager , ¥10–15M –
Marketing Manager , ¥10–15M –
Marketing Director , ¥15–20M –
President / CEO , ¥20–55M –
Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Industrial
President / CEO , ¥16–30M –
Sales Director , ¥12–18M –
Sales Manager , ¥9–13M –
Marketing Manager , ¥9–13M –
Application Engineer , ¥8–14M –
Process Engineer / Manager , ¥9–15M –
R&D Engineer , ¥8–15M –
Project Manager , ¥8–12M –
Design Engineer , ¥7–10M –
briefcase

Tech Sales & Marketing 43 roles

+15–25% job change 54% expect raise Hot: Head of Sales

2026 hiring trends

AI is restructuring tech sales and marketing roles. Large corporations focus on AI transformations; mid-sized companies increase hiring of account managers and executives. E-commerce remains a hot growth area with active hiring for junior talent. Foreign firms offering USD-based RSU compensation is increasingly common.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Restructuring continues as AI adoption shifts roles. Average 15–25% salary increases for job changers. Hunter sales account executives and performance marketing managers in high demand. Some e-commerce roles don't require Japanese. Female leadership promotion is gaining attention. Companies without remote-work options are losing top candidates.

West Japan (Osaka/Kansai) hiring trends

Kansai is digitalising fast as consumers shift to mobile and cashless. Strong demand for SAP engineers, product managers, cybersecurity specialists. Bilingual technical leaders see the largest premiums.

Expected job-changer pay bump: Average 15–20% for job changers in 2025; up to 25% in specific fields. Foreign firms offering attractive USD-based RSU packages. E-commerce hiring junior talent under 30 aggressively.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Digital & Online
Country Manager , ¥25–50M ¥6,800–14,000
E-commerce Director , ¥15–30M ¥5,100–12,000
E-commerce Manager , ¥8–12M ¥3,800–8,100
E-commerce Specialist , ¥5–8M ¥2,500–5,100
Digital Marketing Director , ¥15–30M ¥5,100–12,000
Digital Marketing Manager , ¥9–18M ¥3,800–8,100
Digital Marketing Specialist , ¥5–9M ¥2,500–5,100
Digital / Ad Tech Sales Manager , ¥8–18M ¥3,800–9,300
Digital Product Manager , ¥10–17M ¥3,800–8,100
Advertising Account Manager , ¥8–12M ¥3,800–8,100
Advertising Account Director , ¥12–18M ¥5,100–12,000
Graphic / Web / UI / UX Designer , ¥6–15M ¥3,800–8,100
Art Director , ¥6–15M ¥3,800–9,300
Creative Director , ¥15–23M ¥3,800–9,300
Social Media Manager , ¥8–13M ¥2,500–7,100
IT Infrastructure & Services
Country Manager , ¥25–60M ¥6,800–14,000
Marketing Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Marketing Manager , ¥10–20M ¥3,800–8,100
Marketing Specialist , ¥5–10M ¥2,500–5,100
Channel Sales Manager , ¥10–25M ¥3,800–8,100
Product Marketing Manager , ¥10–25M ¥3,800–8,100
Sales Account Manager , ¥10–30M ¥3,800–8,100
Sales Development Representative , ¥5–13M ¥2,500–5,100
IT Software
Country Manager , ¥30–60M ¥6,800–14,000
Sales Director , ¥20–40M ¥5,100–12,000
Sales Manager , ¥15–25M ¥3,800–9,300
Marketing Director , ¥15–25M ¥5,100–12,000
Marketing Manager , ¥10–15M ¥3,800–8,100
Marketing Specialist , ¥6–10M ¥2,500–5,100
Channel Sales Manager , ¥15–25M ¥3,800–8,100
Customer Success Manager , ¥10–20M ¥3,200–7,700
Product Marketing Manager , ¥15–25M ¥3,800–8,100
Sales Account Manager , ¥10–20M ¥3,800–8,100
Sales Development Representative , ¥7–15M ¥2,500–5,100
Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Digital & Online
Branch Manager , ¥10–15M –
Sales Manager , ¥9.2–15M –
Sales Account Manager , ¥7–11M –
Sales Executive , ¥5–10M –
Account Manager , ¥8–13M –
Senior Manager , ¥10–15M –
Sales Director , ¥13–20M –
Marketing Specialist , ¥8–10M ¥1,700–3,100
Customer Service Manager , ¥7–13M –
package

Supply Chain, Procurement & Operations 47 roles

+5–15% job change 57% expect raise Hot: SCM Planning (IBP / Demand / Supply Planning)

2026 hiring trends

Logistics disruptions, driver shortages, and tariff volatility continue impacting hiring. Companies adopting flexible hiring (experienced seniors + recent graduates). Trade compliance and customs procedures expertise is increasingly valuable. Conversion of temp/contract workers to permanent continues.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Demand growing for SCM (inbound logistics, demand/supply planning), QA/QC, EHS, and procurement. Digital transformation specialists with automation skills have an advantage. Soft skills like team management critical alongside technical knowledge.

Expected job-changer pay bump: Salary growth varies widely by role and digital skillset. Top performers in trade compliance / customs and automation see premium offers; routine logistics roles closer to 5%.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Procurement
Procurement Director / Head of Procurement , ¥15–25M –
Procurement Manager (Direct) , ¥10–17M –
Procurement Manager (Indirect) , ¥10–17M –
Procurement Senior Specialist / Lead , ¥7–10M –
Purchaser / Buyer , ¥5.5–8M –
Supply Chain & Logistics
SCM Director / Head of SCM , ¥15–40M –
Operations Director , ¥15–20M –
Supply Chain Manager , ¥10–17M –
Call Centre Manager , ¥7–15M –
Customer Service Manager , ¥9–14M –
Customer Service Specialist , ¥5–8M –
EHS Director , ¥15–22M –
EHS Manager , ¥10–15M –
EHS Specialist , ¥6–9M –
Factory / Plant Manager , ¥20–30M –
Logistics Director , ¥15–20M –
Logistics Manager , ¥9–15M –
Logistics Specialist , ¥5–8M –
Country Manager (Logistics / Freight) , ¥15–40M –
Sales Manager (Logistics / Freight) , ¥9–15M –
Operations Manager (Logistics / Freight) , ¥9–15M –
Sales Specialist (Logistics / Freight) , ¥5–8M –
Production Manager , ¥12–17M –
Production Specialist , ¥8–11M –
SCM Project Manager , ¥9–17M –
QA/QC Director , ¥15–30M –
QA/QC Manager , ¥12–16M –
QA/QC Specialist , ¥8–11M –
Warehouse Manager , ¥9–14M –
Planning Manager , ¥10–16M –
Planning Senior Specialist / Lead , ¥7–12M –
Planning Specialist , ¥6.5–9M –
Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
Industrial
Facilities Engineer (Non-Data Centre) , ¥7–10M –
Facilities Engineer / Manager , ¥8–17M –
Factory / Plant Manager , ¥10–16M –
Procurement
Procurement Director , ¥15–25M –
Procurement Manager , ¥10–15M –
Buyer / Procurement Staff , ¥6–10M ¥1,400–2,800
Supply Chain & Logistics
Operations Director , ¥15–30M –
Logistics Manager , ¥8–15M –
Customer Service Manager , ¥8–12M –
EHS Director , ¥12–20M –
EHS Manager , ¥10–16M –
Production Control Manager , ¥8–16M –
Supply Chain Manager , ¥8–13M –
Warehouse Manager , ¥6–15M –
Planner , ¥8–12M –
cpu

Tech & Transformation 133 roles

+10–30% job change 50% expect raise Hot: Cloud Architect / Engineer

2026 hiring trends

Tech vendor sector picked up in late 2025 with growing demand for presales engineers, project managers, AI specialists, and solution architects. Cybersecurity engineers, ERP specialists, and IT managers are critically short. Bilingual professionals with cloud security / AI governance / DevOps expertise command 15–20% raises, sometimes 30% for rare skills.

East Japan (Tokyo) hiring trends

Mid-to-senior level demand growing fastest. Bilingual technical talent for client-facing roles commands premium offers. Fintech sees wage inflation and labour shortages. Consulting firms hiring aggressively for cloud, data analytics, AI, and ERP. Career growth opportunities increasingly important alongside salary.

West Japan (Osaka/Kansai) hiring trends

Kansai catching up on digitalisation creates growth opportunities. Strong demand for SAP engineers, product managers, cybersecurity specialists, AI. Japanese language proficiency increasingly required alongside technical skills. Bilingual tech leaders see the largest premiums; junior employees often see 10–30% raises.

Expected job-changer pay bump: Vendor sector 10–20%, up to 30% for critical roles. Product IT 8–12%. Fintech 15–20%, up to 30% for rare skills. Consulting 10–20%. Junior West Japan tech: 10–30%.

Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
General
IT Director , ¥10–20M ¥4,000–8,000
IT Manager , ¥7–12M ¥4,000–6,000
Chief Technology Officer , ¥12–25M ¥8,400–26,000
Infrastructure Manager , ¥10–15M ¥7,000–9,500
Infrastructure Engineer , ¥7–12M ¥6,000–9,000
Network Engineer , ¥8–13M ¥4,000–9,000
Database Administrator , ¥7–13M ¥7,000–9,000
Systems Engineer , ¥6–10M ¥4,000–7,000
Systems Administrator , ¥7–11M ¥5,350–7,500
Application Manager , ¥10–16M ¥3,500–11,000
Project Manager , ¥7–15M ¥3,000–7,000
Project Manager (Senior) , ¥9–14M ¥2,500–6,000
Program Manager , ¥15–20M ¥3,500–5,000
Business Analyst , ¥9–15M ¥3,000–7,000
Business Partner , ¥12–16M ¥3,500–11,000
Enterprise Architect , ¥10–15M ¥3,500–9,000
Solution Architect , ¥12–20M ¥3,500–11,000
Data Analyst , ¥7–14M ¥2,000–4,500
Data Scientist , ¥8–16M ¥3,000–6,000
Data Centre Engineer , ¥10–12M ¥2,400–9,800
CRM Engineer , ¥8–15M ¥2,500–6,300
E-commerce Engineer , ¥6–10M ¥4,000–9,000
End User Support , ¥6–9M ¥2,000–5,000
ERP Engineer , ¥8–13M ¥2,500–6,300
ERP Consultant , ¥7–13M ¥3,000–12,000
POS Engineer , ¥7–10M ¥3,500–6,000
Security Engineer , ¥8–20M ¥5,000–12,000
Security Specialist , ¥9–15M ¥3,000–8,000
Service Delivery Manager , ¥10–15M ¥4,000–7,000
Service Delivery Director , ¥16–25M ¥8,000–12,000
Back-End Developer , ¥7–14M ¥2,000–11,000
Front-End Developer , ¥7–14M ¥2,000–8,000
Web Application Developer , ¥8–14M ¥2,400–11,000
Web Developer , ¥8–14M ¥2,400–11,000
Web Designer , ¥7–9M ¥2,100–4,500
Web Director , ¥7–12M ¥2,000–6,300
Mobile Developer , ¥8–14M ¥2,000–8,000
DevOps Engineer , ¥8–15M ¥2,000–11,500
Site Reliability Engineer , ¥8–15M ¥2,400–11,500
Software Developer , ¥6–17M ¥4,000–7,000
Machine Learning Engineer , ¥7–16M ¥3,500–6,000
Cloud Engineer , ¥10–16M ¥5,000–14,000
Customer Success Manager , ¥10–20M ¥2,000–4,000
Field Application Engineer , ¥9–12M ¥2,000–6,300
IoT Consultant , ¥7–15M ¥5,000–14,000
IT Consultant , ¥9–20M ¥4,000–7,000
Pre-sales Engineer , ¥10–18M ¥2,400–11,000
Post-sales Engineer , ¥7–14M ¥3,500–11,000
Product Manager , ¥9–20M ¥3,000–5,000
Quality Assurance Engineer , ¥5–12M ¥2,500–8,000
RPA Consultant , ¥7–16M ¥3,000–9,400
Technical Consultant , ¥8–15M ¥2,400–9,400
Technical Support Engineer , ¥8–13M ¥4,000–8,000
Telephony Engineer , ¥9–14M ¥5,000–11,000
UI / UX Designer , ¥8–12M ¥3,000–6,000
Game Producer , ¥7–12M ¥4,000–9,000
Graphic Designer , ¥6–9M ¥4,500–7,000
Localisation Engineer , ¥6–8.5M ¥3,000–7,000
Project Coordinator , ¥6–8M ¥2,000–4,000
Banking
Chief Information Officer , ¥30–50M ¥8,400–26,000
Head of Development , ¥25–33M ¥8,400–26,000
Head of Infrastructure , ¥25–33M ¥9,000–16,000
Head of Support , ¥25–33M ¥8,000–12,500
Information Security Officer , ¥17–30M ¥5,000–15,000
Systems Manager , ¥16–22M ¥8,000–9,500
Developer , ¥12–28M ¥2,000–11,000
Database Administrator , ¥11–15M ¥5,000–9,500
Application Support , ¥13–18M ¥1,800–7,000
Business Analyst , ¥13–18M ¥3,000–6,000
Incident Manager , ¥13–18M ¥4,000–10,000
Network Engineer , ¥13–19M ¥4,000–13,000
Project Manager , ¥13–19M ¥5,000–8,000
Systems Administrator , ¥11–15M ¥6,000–10,500
Non-Banking
Chief Information Officer , ¥22–35M ¥8,400–26,000
IT Director , ¥14–25M ¥3,000–6,000
Head of Development , ¥17–20M ¥8,400–26,000
IT Manager , ¥9–14M ¥3,000–5,000
Architect , ¥12–18M ¥3,500–11,000
Information Security , ¥9–18M ¥5,000–15,000
Cloud Engineer , ¥10–16M ¥5,000–14,000
Data Scientist , ¥10–16M ¥3,000–6,000
Data Analyst , ¥10–14M ¥2,500–4,500
Database Administrator , ¥10–12M ¥5,000–9,500
Developer , ¥8–12M ¥2,000–11,000
DevOps Engineer , ¥10–16M ¥2,000–12,000
Application Support , ¥8–11M ¥1,800–7,000
Business Analyst , ¥10–12M ¥2,500–4,500
Business Process Re-engineering , ¥11–14M ¥3,000–9,400
Infrastructure Manager , ¥12–14M ¥6,500–9,500
Program Manager , ¥12–17M ¥3,000–6,000
Project Management Officer , ¥9–12M ¥2,200–4,000
Project Manager , ¥10–16M ¥3,000–5,000
Systems Analyst , ¥10–12M ¥5,000–9,000
UI / UX Designer , ¥9–12M ¥3,000–5,500
Web Developer , ¥9–12M ¥2,000–8,500
UNIX Systems Administrator , ¥10–12M ¥6,000–9,500
Wintel Systems Administrator , ¥8–10M ¥7,500–9,000
Role Years Perm salary range (¥/yr) Contract (¥/hr)
General
Chief Technology Officer , ¥18–45M –
IT Director , ¥13–25M –
IT Manager , ¥7–15.5M –
Enterprise Technical Sale , ¥8–30M –
Technical Sales , ¥5–17M –
Technical Account Manager , ¥7–18M –
Pre Sales Engineer , ¥8–18M –
Post Sales Engineer , ¥7–16M –
Project Manager , ¥7–18M ¥2,500–5,200
Service Delivery Manager , ¥10–17M ¥4,000–6,500
Infrastructure Engineer , ¥5.5–14M ¥2,200–4,600
Infrastructure Manager , ¥8–16M ¥4,000–6,000
Network Engineer , ¥5–12M ¥2,200–5,000
Database Administrator , ¥5–14M ¥3,200–5,500
System Engineer , ¥5–12M ¥2,200–3,600
DevOps Engineer , ¥6–14.5M ¥3,500–7,500
Site Reliability Engineer , ¥6–16M ¥3,200–7,000
Security Engineer , ¥6–16M ¥3,200–9,000
Service Delivery Director , ¥16–27M ¥5,000–10,000
Technical Support Engineer , ¥6–15M ¥2,200–5,000
Desktop Support / Help Desk , ¥4–10M ¥2,000–3,200
Banking
Information Security Officer , ¥12–25M ¥4,300–10,000
Head of Infrastructure , ¥12–20M ¥5,800–10,000
Head of Support , ¥9–18M ¥5,000–8,100
Incident Manager , ¥10–18M ¥4,000–7,100
Application Support , ¥8–16M ¥2,000–3,500
Project Manager , ¥13–19M ¥2,200–5,500
Systems Administrator , ¥8–15M ¥4,000–6,000
Database Administrator , ¥5–14M ¥3,000–5,500
Network Engineer , ¥6–13M ¥2,200–5,500
Non-Banking
Information Security , ¥5–16M ¥3,000–7,000
Infrastructure Manager , ¥9–18M ¥4,000–6,000
Program Manager , ¥10–18M ¥3,000–7,500
Project Management Officer , ¥6–18M ¥2,500–6,500
Project Manager , ¥7–18M ¥2,200–5,500
DevOps Engineer , ¥6–14.5M ¥3,000–7,100

Methodology & how to read these numbers

What's in the data

Industry-wide 2026 forecast salaries are aggregated from permanent placements made across major recruitment disciplines in 2025 plus forward-looking projections. Each number is the advertised salary range (basic salary only, excluding bonuses and benefits unless noted). Live percentile data is computed from the actual postings indexed on this job board (last 30 days), using the midpoint of each posting's disclosed range.

Reading the ranges

  • Permanent salary: annual gross JPY before tax. Most Japanese contracts quote 年収 (nenshu), annual base + bonus. Some employers list base only; always confirm.
  • Contract rates: hourly JPY for fixed-term / temp staffing. Multiply by ~2000 hours/yr for rough annual equivalent (no bonus, no benefits).
  • Years: minimum experience expected, not a hard floor. Strong candidates routinely slot in below.
  • Where you'll land: for first-time candidates without leverage, expect the bottom 1/3 of the range. For experienced bilinguals or in-demand specialists, mid-to-top.

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