How much does a metal inspector make in Japan?
a year · about $16 an hour
The average metal inspector in Japan makes $30,699 (¥4.6M) 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 compare metal parts with drawings, scan for scratches or warping, and measure sizes with calipers or gauges. They record results, report out-of-spec parts, and send accepted items to the next production or packing step.
Did you know? Some metal inspectors can check for hidden cracks inside a part without breaking it, using ultrasound or radiation.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowWhat if you were…
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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?
In Japan, many start after high school and learn on the job; a degree is usually not required. Some move from factory production into inspection, then may earn a Machine Inspection Technician or JSNDI nondestructive-testing qualification.
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can vary with experience and skill: advanced measuring or non-destructive testing, and related certificates, can lead to more specialized work. Employer size and industry, region, full- or part-time status, and night shifts or overtime can also make a difference.
Jobs like this
In the US, a typical quality inspector makes $48,570 → see more
Data table and sources
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $30,699 | $35,376 | $23,114 | 44 |
| Big company | $40,429 | $45,835 | $25,890 | 43.1 |
| Mid-size | $30,913 | $34,595 | $24,674 | 43.5 |
| Small company | $25,493 | $29,288 | $20,848 | 45 |
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/526
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chinginkouzou_b.html
- www.jsndi.jp/qualification/index1n-01.html
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY