How much does a factory clerk make in Japan?
Answer: The average factory clerk in Japan makes $36,240 (¥5.44M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $2,367 × 12 + bonus $7,832. Average age 45.7; about 479,000 people work in this job. About the same as the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Factory clerk pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $36,240 | $41,043 | $29,181 | 45.7 |
| Big company | $45,056 | $48,777 | $36,919 | 45.1 |
| Mid-size | $33,913 | $38,313 | $27,680 | 45.4 |
| Small company | $29,921 | $34,214 | $25,628 | 47.1 |
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, experience and specialist know-how can affect pay, as can the employer’s industry, size, and local pay rules. Full-time versus part-time work, overtime, rotating shifts, and duties such as purchasing or quality control can also make pay differ; a certificate may help show relevant skills.
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 factory clerk do?
What's a typical day like?
They check a schedule and spreadsheet, track production steps, share shipment updates, and order materials. They tell managers about problems, pass instructions to the factory floor, and help fix quality or delivery issues.
How to get this job
In Japan, people can enter after high school (typically around 18), though no specific degree or license is required. New hires learn through training and on-the-job practice; the optional JAVADA production-management exam can build skills.
Did you know?
In Japan, a factory-office worker may even negotiate supply prices and help handle sudden quality or delivery changes—not just file paperwork.
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
Office, sales and retail jobsEarn more in the same field
Office, sales and retail 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/437
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chinginkouzou_b.html
- www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/files?cycle=0&layout=datalist&page=1&stat_infid=000
- www.javada.or.jp/jigyou/gino/business/seisan.html
- gpseducation.oecd.org/Content/EAGCountryNotes/EAG2023_CN_JPN_pdf.pdf
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY