How much does a construction worker make in Japan?

In Japan, pay can differ with experience, trade, employer size and industry, location, and whether someone is regular, temporary, or works overtime, nights, or holidays. Some tasks require special training or licenses, so workers’ skills and the jobs they can do may also affect pay.

What's a typical day like?

Tasks vary by site, but workers first hear the day's plan and safety instructions from a crew leader. They may dig, move soil, smooth concrete, or stack blocks, using hand tools or small machines.

In Japan, this broad group has varied entry routes; site workers can start after middle or high school without special qualifications. They learn safety on site and take task-specific courses or licenses; free construction training is available.

Japan's “other construction workers” category includes divers who help salvage sunken ships or carry out sea-rescue work—not just people building houses.

Japan's figure is the average and the US figure is the median. Prices and exchange rates matter too, so it's a rough comparison.