How much does a school teacher (k-9) make in Japan?
Answer: The average school teacher (k-9) in Japan makes $49,011 (¥7.35M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $3,076 × 12 + bonus $12,099. Average age 42.2; about 25,000 people work in this job. Well above the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
School teacher (K-9) pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $49,011 | $51,002 | $45,734 | 42.2 |
| Big company | $54,909 | $55,578 | $53,715 | 41.3 |
| Mid-size | $48,255 | $51,386 | $43,103 | 42.6 |
| Small company | $43,399 | $43,789 | $42,813 | 42.1 |
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can differ with experience and employer: public-school salaries follow local government rules, while private schools use their own pay systems. Some remote posts may include extra allowances.
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 school teacher (k-9) do?
What's a typical day like?
Elementary teachers teach many subjects, while middle-school teachers focus on one. They guide students in lessons and at lunch, check their work, then plan tomorrow’s classes or meet colleagues after school.
How to get this job
In Japan, finish a university teacher-training course and school practice, then earn an elementary or middle-school license. Pass the local public-school hiring exam or the private school's own selection.
Did you know?
In TALIS, Japanese elementary and middle-school teachers reported the longest weekly work time among participating countries and regions.
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
Education jobsEarn more in the same field
Education 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
- www.mext.go.jp/kids/find/kyoiku/mext_0005.html
- shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/Occupation/Detail/179
- shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/Occupation/Detail/180
- www.dokyoi.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/hk/kks/kyuryo-teate.html
- www.e-staff.jp/reading/2761
- www.mext.go.jp/content/20251015-mext_zaimu-00030_8.pdf
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY