💼 How much does a trading company staff make in Japan?
Closest U.S. match—wholesale sales reps: lower-paid 10% make about $39,100, the middle worker $72,100, and the top 10% about $137,600 a year.
Pay depends on employer and role: the U.S. figure is for wholesale sales reps, while Japan's high examples are major trading houses and a company executive.
Japan Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Typical wholesale/retail full-time employee (base pay ×12) | $29,952 | MHLW 2025 monthly pay annualized; bonuses excluded |
| Employees at leading general trading houses (company averages) | $120,307–$135,560 | Company-wide averages based on securities reports |
| Top-paid trading-company executive (FY ended March 2025) Masahiro Okafuji (¥1.824B, FY ended March 2025) | $12.16M | Press report citing the company's securities report |
Per month and per day
| Who | Per month | Per day (÷365) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical wholesale/retail full-time employee (base pay ×12) | $2,496 | $82 |
| Employees at leading general trading houses (company averages) | $10,026–$11,297 | $330–$371 |
| Top-paid trading-company executive (FY ended March 2025) | $1.01M | $33,315 |
In the official statistics for "Other Sales Workers, NEC", that is $2,841 a month × 12 plus a $9,959 bonus.
Where does the money come from?
How pay changes with age
Figures for "Other Sales Workers, NEC" in official statistics (MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025). More on the Other Sales Workers, NEC page
- 20–24$25,451
- 30–34$39,779
- 40–44$48,003
- 50–54$55,339
- 60–64$42,339
What famous trading company staffs make
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| Masahiro Okafuji | $12.16M (2025) Estimate Executive compensation for the fiscal year ended March 2025 (Source) |
How do you become a trading company staff?
In Japan, many trading-company sales workers are university graduates, though the job has no specific required license. One route is to study at university, apply through a company’s new-graduate hiring process, and pass its application, test, and interview stages.
- Study at a university or graduate school.
- Apply to a trading company’s new-graduate hiring process.
- Submit application papers and take the aptitude tests.
- Complete interviews and join after receiving an offer.
Qualifications and exams
In Japan, trading-company sales has no specific required license or qualification. Many workers are university graduates, and some employers require a university degree for new-graduate hiring.
A day as a trading company staff
A trading-company salesperson checks markets and customer needs, then discusses prices and other deal terms with suppliers and buyers. Once a deal is agreed, they help arrange delivery, handover, and payment.
Common questions
What was ITOCHU’s average employee salary?
For the fiscal year ended March 2025, ITOCHU reported an average annual salary of JPY 18,045,578 for its employees. Source
When does Mitsubishi Corporation pay bonuses?
Mitsubishi Corporation says its bonuses are paid twice a year, in June and December. Source
Does Mitsubishi Corporation provide commuting support?
Yes. Mitsubishi Corporation’s hiring information lists commuting costs among its allowances. Source
What kinds of goods do trading-company sales staff handle?
They work with many kinds of raw materials and products; Japan’s job profile gives examples ranging from mineral water to communications satellites. Source
This section summarizes public sources. We only show numbers that have a source.
Close jobs in official statistics
In the US
US Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-paid 10% of wholesale/manufacturing sales reps (closest match) | $39,090 | BLS OEWS wholesale/manufacturing sales-rep wages |
| Typical wholesale/manufacturing sales rep (median) | $72,080 | BLS OEWS median |
| Top 10% of wholesale/manufacturing sales reps | $137,550 | BLS OEWS 90th percentile |
Close US jobs
Related questions
Jobs in the same group
Data table and sources
- data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?major_group=410000&occupation=414012&measure=01
- www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag42.htm
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/itiran/roudou/chingin/kouzou/z2025/dl/14.pdf
- diamond.jp/articles/-/388836
- www.wwdjapan.com/articles/2155669
- shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/Occupation/Detail/58
- www.career-mc.com/newgraduate/recruit/requirement.html
- www.itochu.co.jp/ja/files/security_101.pdf