How much does a civil engineer make in Japan?
a year · about $22 an hour
The average civil engineer in Japan makes $41,663 (¥6.25M) a year, monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, about the same as a typical worker in Japan (average, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
What do they do?
They begin with a site huddle to review tasks and hazards, then walk the worksite, check measurements and progress, and coordinate with crews. Later they meet clients, write reports, and prepare for the next day.
Did you know? Muko Bridge in Hyogo is a reinforced-concrete arch completed in 1926—and it is still in service today.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowWhat if you were…
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How it changes with age
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How it changes with company size
How do you become one?
Many in Japan study civil engineering and start after high school or college; a degree or license is not required. They learn on the job and gain experience before taking exams for civil construction-management qualifications.
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can differ as engineers gain experience, earn qualifications that let them lead larger projects, or take on more responsibility. It also depends on employer and company size, region, specialty, and overtime or night shifts, which vary by job and site.
Jobs like this
In the US, a typical civil engineer makes $100,840 → see more
Data table and sources
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $41,663 | $42,492 | $32,360 | 46 |
| Big company | $50,670 | $52,328 | $36,489 | 41.9 |
| Mid-size | $43,665 | $44,875 | $32,789 | 42.3 |
| Small company | $37,565 | $38,115 | $29,772 | 49.1 |
Source: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 (regular workers, by occupation) (e-Stat). Yearly pay = monthly contractual cash earnings × 12 + annual bonus. Averages for regular workers at firms with 10+ employees. Public employees (teachers, police, firefighters) and company executives are not in this survey. e-stat.go.jp
Pages used for the text
- shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/Occupation/Detail/23
- wakkanai-kenkyo.jp/news/2026-08-27.html
- www.jctc.jp/kentei/themes/tebiki_1d02_08.pdf
- www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/rd_mainte/column/blng420000000a7f-att/R4_03.pdf
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chinginkouzou.html
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY