How much does a dentist make in Japan?
a year · about $37 an hour
The average dentist in Japan makes $70,846 (¥10.63M) a year, monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, about 2.1× a typical worker in Japan (average, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
What do they do?
They listen to a patient, use a small mirror and X-rays to check teeth, then fill a cavity or remove a tooth. Between visits, they give brushing advice, review treatment plans with staff, and keep tools safe.
Did you know? In Japan, dentists may help cancer patients recover after surgery by caring for their mouths as part of a medical team.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowWhat 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
How do you become one?
Study dentistry at a Japanese university for six years, pass the national exam, and get a license; then complete at least one year of clinical training. This path usually starts around age 24, with practice around 25; training is supervised, not an apprenticeship.
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can vary with experience, region, employer size and type, and whether a dentist is an employee or owns a practice. Specialist credentials, senior roles, and full-time, part-time, or night and emergency shifts can also affect pay; every dentist needs the same basic license.
Jobs like this
Kids' questions
In the US, a typical dentist makes $170,950 → see more
Data table and sources
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $70,846 | $74,608 | $66,587 | 39.6 |
| Big company | $53,679 | $55,301 | $50,941 | 40.3 |
| Mid-size | $68,889 | $70,754 | $63,197 | 49.6 |
| Small company | $78,059 | $86,497 | $71,095 | 37.6 |
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/159
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/itiran/roudou/chingin/kouzou/z2024/index.html
- www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=80064000&dataType=0&pageNo=1
- www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iryou/shikarinsyo/gaiyou/i
- www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10804000/001364222.pdf
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY