How much does a religious worker make in Japan?
Answer: The average religious worker in Japan makes $36,406 (¥5.46M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $2,478 × 12 + bonus $6,670. Average age 46.5; about 8,000 people work in this job. About the same as the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Religious worker pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $36,406 | $38,143 | $29,729 | 46.5 |
| Big company | $26,851 | $28,038 | $23,786 | 52.4 |
| Mid-size | $37,989 | $41,312 | $27,488 | 45.9 |
| Small company | $36,664 | $37,907 | $31,341 | 46.2 |
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can vary with experience, religious training or rank, and the size and type of the temple, shrine, or church. Location, hours, and full-time versus part-time work can matter too; some shrine priests also hold another job.
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 religious worker do?
What's a typical day like?
They may begin by opening and cleaning a shrine or temple, then lead a prayer or ceremony and welcome visitors. Later they answer questions, prepare for events, and handle records or other office work.
How to get this job
In Japan, routes and starting ages vary by faith: after high school, study at a religious school or with a mentor. Buddhist monks receive ordination and train; Shinto priests complete recognized study and shrine practice to earn a rank.
Did you know?
Some Japanese shrines have no priest on site; a Shinto priest may serve while also holding another job.
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
Management and professions jobsEarn more in the same field
Management and professions 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.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chinginkouzou_b.html
- www.e-stat.go.jp/dbview?sid=0003426315
- www.kokugakuin.ac.jp/education/fd/shinto/about/p5
- kids.gakken.co.jp/shinro/shigoto/buddhistmonk202404
- fukuoka-jinjacho.or.jp/faq/
- jp.indeed.com/career-advice/careers/what-does-a-shinto-priest-do
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY