Who Earns What

How much does a health service worker make in Japan?

Other Healthcare Service Workers, NEC
$23,459 (¥3.52M)

a year · about $12 an hour

The average health service worker in Japan makes $23,459 (¥3.52M) a year, monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, below a typical worker in Japan ($33,720) (average, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).

What do they do?

In an animal clinic, you might set out clean tools, steady a pet while the vet examines it, and answer owners’ questions. You also check on hospitalized animals, update records, and clean the room between visits.

Did you know? In Japan, licensed veterinary nurses can draw blood and place microchips in pets when a veterinarian directs them.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know
This job$23,459
Typical worker$33,720
Elementary teacher$49,011
Doctor$100,817
Cashier$25,651

What if you were…

In Japan, age and company size matter most

Pick 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

Any size$23,459
Big company$25,737
Mid-size$22,439
Small company$23,152
Men$26,682
Women$23,158

How do you become one?

In Japan, routes vary: dental assistants can learn on the job, while animal-clinic assistants often study animal care at a vocational school. To become a licensed veterinary nurse, finish an approved program and pass the national exam.

Why does pay differ?

In Japan, pay can differ with experience, qualifications, employer type and size, location, and whether the job is full-time or part-time. This broad group includes different specialties, and working hours or shifts can matter too.

Jobs like this

Next up

Who earns more?

In the US, a typical health aide makes $48,430 → see more

Data table and sources
Health service worker pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex) — Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025
Company sizeEveryoneMenWomenAge
Any size$23,459$26,682$23,15838
Big company$25,737$29,871$24,65440.2
Mid-size$22,439$26,319$21,61042.4
Small company$23,152$22,655$23,17536.4

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

Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY