How much does a store clerk make in Japan?

Japan Retail Salespersons/Store Clerks

$25,651 (¥3.85M)

a year · about $13 an hour

The average store clerk in Japan makes $25,651 (¥3.85M) a year, monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, below a typical worker in Japan ($33,720) (average, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).

What do they do?

They straighten displays, refill shelves, and greet shoppers, then listen to what each person wants and explain or recommend products. They ring up and wrap purchases, check stock, and keep the sales floor tidy.

Did you know? In Japan, clothing-store staff may post outfit ideas on social media—and experienced staff can help choose which clothes the shop orders.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know

This job$25,651

Typical worker$33,720

Elementary teacher$49,011

Doctor$100,817

Cashier$25,651

What if you were…

In Japan, age and company size matter most

Pick 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

Any size$25,651

Big company$26,222

Mid-size$25,547

Small company$24,277

Men$30,619

Women$21,229

How do you become one?

In Japan, no special degree or license is required; new hires learn customer service and product knowledge on the job. The official job profile gives no typical starting age, and the optional Level 3 retail-marketing exam teaches basic sales-floor skills.

Why does pay differ?

Pay in Japan can differ with experience, useful certificates, an employer’s size and type, location, and full- or part-time hours or early and late shifts. Specialists who know their products or take on stock and ordering duties may earn differently.

Jobs like this

Next up

Who earns more?

In the US, a typical store clerk makes $35,410 → see more

Data table and sources

Store clerk pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex) — Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025
Company size	Everyone	Men	Women	Age
Any size	$25,651	$30,619	$21,229	43.6
Big company	$26,222	$32,014	$21,231	43.9
Mid-size	$25,547	$30,139	$21,787	41.9
Small company	$24,277	$27,879	$20,337	45

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

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Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY