How much does a foundry worker make in Japan?

Japan Foundry/Forging Workers

$33,833 (¥5.07M)

a year · about $18 an hour

The average foundry worker in Japan makes $33,833 (¥5.07M) 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?

After checking the metal, mold, and machine, a worker pours molten metal into a mold or presses heated metal into shape. They trim extra metal and check each part’s size and quality while wearing protective gear.

Did you know? Japanese sword-making is a forging craft: its technique became an Important Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1955, and repeated folding helps make strong, layered steel.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know

This job$33,833

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$33,833

Big company$43,505

Mid-size$33,987

Small company$27,992

Men$34,325

Women$25,941

How do you become one?

In Japan, many start after high school, usually around age 18; no special degree or license is required. They learn through helper tasks and on-the-job practice, then can take a national Casting or Forging Skills Test.

Why does pay differ?

Pay in Japan can differ with experience and skill certificates, and between large manufacturers and smaller specialist shops. The region, the exact process, and shift or hot-work allowances can also affect pay.

Jobs like this

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Who earns more?

In the US, a typical foundry worker makes $48,110 → see more

Data table and sources

Foundry worker 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	$33,833	$34,325	$25,941	43.4
Big company	$43,505	$43,897	$35,439	40.1
Mid-size	$33,987	$34,450	$25,734	43.4
Small company	$27,992	$28,417	$22,743	45.1

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

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