How much does a company truck driver make in Japan?
a year · about $15 an hour
The average company truck driver in Japan makes $28,683 (¥4.3M) 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 the truck and delivery papers, load and secure the goods, then drive to the planned stops. After unloading and getting a receipt, they return, report the trip, and record the vehicle check.
Did you know? By weight, trucks carry about 90% of all domestic freight in Japan.
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?
No special school diploma is required in Japan; get a first-class license that matches the truck. Ordinary or semi-medium license tests are open from age 17½, but licenses are issued at 18; new hires learn in class and by riding with an experienced driver.
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can differ with driving experience, the truck and cargo skills or licenses needed, and the size and type of employer or local area. Work hours matter too: night runs, overtime, and route-based allowances can change earnings.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $28,683 | $28,902 | $25,262 | 52.5 |
| Big company | $31,236 | $31,597 | $29,022 | 46.3 |
| Mid-size | $27,739 | $28,005 | $22,077 | 53.5 |
| Small company | $28,891 | $29,115 | $25,655 | 52.5 |
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/477
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chingin_qa.html
- www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/menkyo/menkyo/annai/other/tekisei02.html
- driver-roudou-jikan.mhlw.go.jp/truck/picture
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY