How much does a field clerk make in Japan?
a year · about $19 an hour
The average field clerk in Japan makes $36,469 (¥5.47M) 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?
On a meter-reading route, workers follow a handheld device from home to home, read meters, and enter each number. They leave a printed notice, check for damage or unusual use, and report problems.
Did you know? Some Japanese water meters are underground, so meter readers may open the cover with a special hook to read them.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowWhat if you were…
In Japan, age and company size matter mostPick a company size, sex or age to see that group's average here.
How it changes with age
Tap an age to update the number above (Any company size, men and women combined)
How it changes with company size
How do you become one?
In Japan, apply after school to a utility or contractor; no special degree, exam, or license is usually needed. Age rules vary (one city contract requires applicants to be 20+); new hires learn routes and devices with an experienced worker.
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can vary with experience, region, employer size and type, work hours, and whether the job is meter reading, bill collection, or surveys. Employees may get monthly pay, while contractors may earn extra based on homes visited; no special license is usually needed, and fame is not a factor.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $36,469 | $43,475 | $23,261 | 49.4 |
| Big company | $40,959 | $50,829 | $21,067 | 47.9 |
| Mid-size | $30,564 | $34,913 | $24,198 | 50.1 |
| Small company | $39,355 | $42,287 | $28,893 | 51.9 |
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/74
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/itiran/roudou/chingin/kouzou/detail/dl/20260626-detail-06.
- www.e-stat.go.jp/dbview?sid=0003426335
- www.city.mitsuke.niigata.jp/soshiki/18/40339.html
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY