How much does a security guard make in Japan?
Answer: The average security guard in Japan makes $25,329 (¥3.8M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $1,922 × 12 + bonus $2,265. Average age 53.8; about 246,000 people work in this job. Below the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Security guard pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $25,329 | $25,533 | $22,098 | 53.8 |
| Big company | $28,913 | $29,329 | $23,974 | 51 |
| Mid-size | $23,773 | $23,930 | $20,726 | 54.9 |
| Small company | $21,007 | $21,127 | $18,308 | 57.3 |
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can differ with experience, job certificates or rank, employer rules and size, and the kind of post, such as airport, building, or traffic security. Region, day or night shifts, and hours worked also matter.
What 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
What does a security guard do?
What's a typical day like?
A shift starts with a handover; then the guard checks visitors and patrols the building, looking for trouble and checking alarms. In an emergency, they call police or firefighters, guide people to safety, and write a report.
How to get this job
In Japan, you can apply to a security company without a special degree or license, but guards must be 18 or older. New hires take required training before work and can later earn a specialty certificate by passing written and practical tests.
Did you know?
Unlike police officers, private security guards in Japan do not have police powers.
What about the US?
Same jobJapan's figure is the average and the US figure is the median. Prices and exchange rates matter too, so it's a rough comparison.
Similar jobs
Service and food jobsEarn more in the same field
Service and food jobs that pay a bit moreSources 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
- shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/Occupation/Detail/241
- www.ajssa.or.jp/security/education
- laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/347AC0000000117
- www.toukeikyo.or.jp/education/basic/special_way.html
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chinginkouzou_b.html
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY