Who Earns What

How much does a x-ray technician make in Japan?

Radiologic Technologists
$37,099 (¥5.56M)

a year · about $19 an hour

The average x-ray technician in Japan makes $37,099 (¥5.56M) 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 check and adjust scanners, explain the test, and help each patient get into the right position. Then they check the images and radiation safety, tell doctors about concerns, and care for the equipment.

Did you know? In Japan, radiologic technologists may press the injector button to give contrast dye during scans—but only with a doctor or nurse present.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$37,099
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$37,099
Big company$40,945
Mid-size$33,635
Small company$35,289
Men$40,074
Women$31,461

How do you become one?

In Japan, finish high school and study at a designated university or training school for at least three years, then pass the national exam to get licensed. People usually start work in their early twenties after qualifying; a separate apprenticeship is not the usual path.

Why does pay differ?

In Japan, pay can rise with experience and differ by region, employer type or size, and whether the job includes night shifts or overtime. Skills in areas such as CT or mammography, and extra credentials, can also make a difference.

Jobs like this

Next up

Who earns more?

In the US, a typical x-ray technician makes $80,110 → see more

Data table and sources
X-ray technician pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex) — Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025
Company sizeEveryoneMenWomenAge
Any size$37,099$40,074$31,46141.1
Big company$40,945$44,907$34,35738.6
Mid-size$33,635$36,240$28,22742.7
Small company$35,289$36,909$31,15347

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

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