How much does a dentist make in Japan?
Answer: The average dentist in Japan makes $70,846 (¥10.63M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $5,666 × 12 + bonus $2,854. Average age 39.6; about 11,000 people work in this job. Well above the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Dentist pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| 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 |
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.
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 dentist do?
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
Did you know?
In Japan, dentists may help cancer patients recover after surgery by caring for their mouths as part of a medical team.
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/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