$Who Earns What

How much does a car salesperson make in Japan?

Automobile Sales Workers

Answer: The average car salesperson in Japan makes $39,047 (¥5.86M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).

Average yearly pay of people doing this job in Japan
$39,047 (¥5.86M)

Monthly pay $2,549 × 12 + bonus $8,455. Average age 39.9; about 110,000 people work in this job. About the same as the Japan-wide average ($33,720).

Car salesperson pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)

Car salesperson pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex) — Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025
Company sizeEveryoneMenWomenAge
Any size$39,047$40,387$30,55239.9
Big company$42,286$44,161$32,70538.1
Mid-size$37,994$39,311$29,47140.2
Small company$36,088$36,897$28,01442.2

Why does pay differ?

In Japan, experience can build car knowledge and sales skill, while strong results may bring performance-based allowances. Pay also depends on the employer’s pay plan, location, work hours or status, and whether you sell new or used cars. A driving licence is needed to test-drive or deliver cars, but a special sales certificate is not required.

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$39,047
Big company$42,286
Mid-size$37,994
Small company$36,088
Men$40,387
Women$30,552

What does a car salesperson do?

What's a typical day like?

They tidy the showroom and check appointments, then greet shoppers, explain cars, arrange test drives, and prepare quotes or contracts. Later, they may call customers about inspections, handle insurance or registration paperwork, and deliver a car.

How to get this job

In Japan, people usually finish high school, college, or vocational school and apply to a dealership; no special degree or sales exam is needed. New hires train with the company and senior staff, and need a driving licence to test-drive or deliver cars.

Did you know?

In Japan, car salespeople may also handle registration, tax and insurance paperwork, value a trade-in, and deliver the new car—not just sell it.

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Sources and data

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