How much does a metal press worker make in Japan?

In Japan, pay can differ with experience and skill: setting dies, checking precision, or monitoring automated presses takes different know-how, and a metal-press certificate can show those skills. Pay also depends on employer size and industry, location, full- or part-time hours, and overtime or night shifts.

What's a typical day like?

They fit a die into a press, load sheet metal, make a test piece, and measure it to check the size. Once it is right, they run or watch the press as it punches, bends, or draws parts, then inspect the pieces.

Many people in Japan enter after high school, around age 18; no specific qualification is needed to start. They learn on the job, then may take the written and practical metal-press skills test; special safety training is needed to install or adjust dies.

Some fine-blanking presses use three actions for precise cutting and can make complex parts for products ranging from cars to IT devices.

Japan's figure is the average and the US figure is the median. Prices and exchange rates matter too, so it's a rough comparison.