How much does a metal inspector make in Japan?
Answer: The average metal inspector in Japan makes $30,699 (¥4.6M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $2,101 × 12 + bonus $5,483. Average age 44; about 105,000 people work in this job. About the same as the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Metal inspector pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| 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 |
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.
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 metal inspector do?
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
Did you know?
Some metal inspectors can check for hidden cracks inside a part without breaking it, using ultrasound or radiation.
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
Healthcare and welfare jobsEarn more in the same field
Healthcare and welfare 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/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