🏙️ How much does a ward mayor make in Japan?
The U.S. has city and town mayors, not a standard “ward mayor.” Most mayors work part-time and get about $5,400–$7,200 a year; full-time mayors average $61,723. San Francisco’s listed rate is about $406,000–$409,000, but Mayor Daniel Lurie takes $1.
Pay is set locally, and most surveyed mayor positions were part-time; big-city pay rates can be much higher, though one mayor takes only $1.
Japan Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Shinjuku ward mayor example | $139,004 | 2025 Shinjuku pay and bonus, annualized |
| Nakano's 2026 pay recommendation example | $154,762 | 12 months' pay plus recommended annual bonus |
Mayors of Tokyo's 23 special wards
Pay for the mayors of Tokyo's 23 special wards. Each ward sets its own by ordinance, so the amounts differ a little. The yearly figure runs only to the bonus and leaves out the regional allowance, so it is lower than the real total. Cuts were not checked for wards.
Highest: Chiyoda ward at $8,573. Lowest: Shinagawa ward at $6,096. Average of 23: $7,595.
| Place | Monthly salary | Approx. yearly pay | Notes and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiyoda ward | $8,573 | $150,119 | Source |
| Minato ward | $8,411 | $149,722 | Source |
| Bunkyo ward | $8,393 | $142,088 | Source |
| Nakano ward | $8,364 | $146,211 | Source |
| Shinjuku ward | $7,813 | $132,659 | Source |
| Ota ward | $7,721 | — | Source |
| Koto ward | $7,713 | $137,560 | Source |
| Chuo ward | $7,700 | $136,586 | Source |
| Kita ward | $7,670 | $137,887 | Source |
| Arakawa ward | $7,640 | $141,610 | Source |
| Edogawa ward | $7,633 | — | Source |
| Sumida ward | $7,613 | $136,505 | Source |
| Nerima ward | $7,609 | $131,945 | Source |
| Itabashi ward | $7,593 | $135,904 | Source |
| Taito ward | $7,580 | $138,082 | Source |
| Katsushika ward | $7,500 | $134,951 | Source |
| Shibuya ward | $7,429 | $135,337 | Source |
| Suginami ward | $7,420 | $137,602 | Source |
| Adachi ward | $7,192 | $122,646 | Source |
| Meguro ward | $7,053 | $127,552 | Source |
| Setagaya ward | $7,021 | $130,534 | Source |
| Toshima ward | $6,933 | $130,069 | Source |
| Shinagawa ward | $6,096 | $107,939 | Source |
As of 2024-06-01
Per month and per day
| Who | Per month | Per day (÷365) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Shinjuku ward mayor example | $11,584 | $381 |
| Nakano's 2026 pay recommendation example | $12,897 | $424 |
Where does the money come from?
- Monthly base salary: Nakano's ordinance lists the ward mayor's monthly base salary as ¥1,306,300. Source
- Year-end allowance: The ordinance provides a year-end allowance, or bonus, calculated from salary and other amounts. Source
- Retirement allowance: Some wards' ordinances also provide a retirement allowance for the ward mayor. Source
What famous ward mayors make
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| Kenichi Yoshizumi | $139,004 (2025) Estimate 2025 yearly pay (salary, regional allowance and bonus) (Source) |
How do you become a ward mayor?
In Tokyo's special wards, residents elect the ward mayor. A candidate must be a Japanese citizen aged 25 or older; no degree or civil-service exam is required. File to run, campaign, and win the vote.
- Meet the rule: be a Japanese citizen and at least 25.
- File to run in a special ward mayor election.
- Share your plans during the campaign.
- Win residents' votes and take office.
Qualifications and exams
You must be a Japanese citizen and at least 25 years old to run for special ward mayor. There is no required degree or civil-service exam; residents elect the mayor.
A day as a ward mayor
A ward mayor may start by discussing local issues such as childcare or disaster readiness with staff and community groups. Later, the mayor may attend meetings or local events, listen to residents, and guide the ward's work.
Common questions
Do all Tokyo ward mayors earn the same?
No. Each ward sets pay by its own rules. Shinjuku's mayor gets ¥1,206,000 a month plus a ¥156,780 city allowance (¥1,362,780). Add a bonus of 3.3 months of that and it comes to about ¥20.85 million a year. Source
What is Nakano's ward mayor's monthly base salary?
Nakano's ordinance lists the ward mayor's monthly base salary as ¥1,306,300. The amount can differ by ward. Source
Does a ward mayor receive a bonus?
Yes. The ordinance provides a year-end allowance, or bonus. Its amount and rules are set locally. Source
Can a ward mayor receive retirement pay?
It depends on the ward. For example, Minato Ward's ordinance provides for a retirement allowance for its mayor. Source
Who decides a Tokyo ward mayor's pay?
A pay council of residents and experts gives its advice, and the ward assembly changes the rule. Nakano did this in 2026, raising its mayor's monthly pay to ¥1,306,300. Source
This section summarizes public sources. We only show numbers that have a source.
In the US
US Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Most mayors (part-time median, depending on government type) | $5,400–$7,200 | ICMA median by form of government |
| Full-time mayors (survey average) | $61,723 | ICMA 2018 survey average |
| Highest reported San Francisco salary rate Daniel Lurie (listed rate about $405,548–$409,391; takes $1) | $405,548–$409,391 | 2026 reported city pay rates; Lurie takes $1 |
Close US jobs
Related questions
Jobs in the same group
Data table and sources
- icma.org/sites/default/files/2018%20Municipal%20Form%20of%20Government%20Survey%
- sf.gazetteer.co/daniel-lurie-is-the-highest-paid-mayor-in-the-us-even-if-he-bare
- www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/content/000441504.pdf
- www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/kusei/kaigi/toshin/tokubetsusyokutoshin/r7tokubetsus
- www.bls.gov/oes/oes_emp.htm
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chinginkouzou_b.html
- www.tokyo23city-kuchokai.jp/gaiyo/tokubetsu.html
- www.city.sumida.lg.jp/kuseijoho/senkyo/senkyo_no_sikumi.html
- www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/reiki/reiki_honbun/q600RG00000502.html
- www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/kusei/public/kuhou/2025/nakanokuho20260305.files/260
This job is not covered directly by government wage statistics, so the figures come from leagues, associations, surveys and the press.