How much does a drafter make in Japan?
Answer: The average drafter in Japan makes $31,390 (¥4.71M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $2,223 × 12 + bonus $4,718. Average age 41.5; about 100,000 people work in this job. About the same as the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Drafter pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $31,390 | $36,162 | $25,060 | 41.5 |
| Big company | $30,541 | $39,829 | $24,617 | 39.5 |
| Mid-size | $33,188 | $38,733 | $25,136 | 40.3 |
| Small company | $29,609 | $32,009 | $25,359 | 44 |
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can differ with experience, CAD skills or qualifications, the kind of employer and its size, and the field, such as construction or manufacturing. Region, full- or short-time work, and deadline-driven overtime can matter too.
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 drafter do?
What's a typical day like?
They check a designer's instructions and specifications, then use CAD to draw or revise plans for buildings, machines, or parts. Depending on the field, they may also make 3-D models or wiring and plumbing plans, and deadlines can bring overtime.
How to get this job
In Japan, learn CAD in high school, a technical college, or vocational school, then apply for drafting jobs; no degree or license is required. Relevant high-school students can take the optional Level 3 Mechanical and Plant Drafting (CAD) skills test.
Did you know?
In a Japanese CAD contest, young makers get a machine's assembly drawing and must turn one part into a precise, JIS-rule production drawing using CAD.
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
Manufacturing and construction jobsEarn more in the same field
Manufacturing and construction 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/25
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chinginkouzou_b.html
- www.javada.or.jp/jigyou/gino/giken/pdf/panf_machine_cad.pdf
- www.javada.or.jp/jyakunen20/04/02_01_kadai_gaiyo.pdf
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY