How much does a crane operator make in Japan?
Answer: The average crane operator in Japan makes $39,112 (¥5.87M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $2,753 × 12 + bonus $6,080. Average age 47.7; about 16,000 people work in this job. About the same as the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Crane operator pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $39,112 | $39,217 | $30,146 | 47.7 |
| Big company | $43,221 | $43,233 | $37,680 | 42.8 |
| Mid-size | $40,616 | $40,639 | $36,307 | 45.5 |
| Small company | $37,621 | $37,764 | $29,249 | 49.7 |
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, experience and licenses can lead to different crane jobs, and pay may depend on the crane type, lifting capacity, and the employer’s rules. Region and schedules—such as night or early shifts—also differ by workplace.
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 crane operator do?
What's a typical day like?
They review the day’s work and inspect the crane, then watch ground signals as they lift and steer heavy loads into place. At the end, they check the machine, report problems, and tidy up.
How to get this job
In Japan, you must be 18; many start after high school. Employers may hire beginners, who get the right license or training for their crane, pass written and practical tests when required, then learn on the job.
Did you know?
If signals are unclear or two people signal at once, a crane operator must stop—not guess what to do.
What about the US?
Nearly the 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
Driving and transport jobsEarn more in the same field
Driving and transport 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/549
- www.exam.or.jp/introduction/h_shokai206/
- www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/000628542.pdf
- www.e-stat.go.jp/dbview?sid=0003426315
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY