How much does a software developer make in Japan?
Answer: The average software developer in Japan makes $38,565 (¥5.78M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $2,605 × 12 + bonus $7,301. Average age 37.1; about 818,000 people work in this job. About the same as the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Software developer pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $38,565 | $39,868 | $33,841 | 37.1 |
| Big company | $42,727 | $43,912 | $37,556 | 37.6 |
| Mid-size | $36,999 | $38,341 | $32,428 | 36.2 |
| Small company | $34,549 | $35,573 | $31,349 | 37.3 |
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can vary with experience, skill, specialties such as AI or games, employer, work arrangement, and location. Deadline-driven night or weekend work can affect conditions, and the optional national IT exam may help with hiring but is not required.
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 software developer do?
What's a typical day like?
Programmers study a design plan, write code at a computer, then test each piece to see if it works. If a bug appears, they track it down, fix it, and leave notes so the software can be maintained.
How to get this job
In Japan, many study at vocational school, college of technology, or university, but no degree or license is required. New graduates and career changers get company training and senior guidance; the national IT exam is optional but can help.
Did you know?
In Japan, fifth graders can use code to draw shapes and make LED lights blink—programming starts in elementary school.
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
Engineering and research jobsEarn more in the same field
Engineering and research 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/313
- www.ipa.go.jp/shiken/kubun/list.html
- web-japan.org/kidsweb/cool/25/202508_coding_en.html
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY