How much does a sales worker make in Japan?
a year · about $19 an hour
The average sales worker in Japan makes $37,175 (¥5.58M) a year, monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, about the same as a typical worker in Japan (average, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
What do they do?
Before opening, staff arrange or restock goods and check online orders. They answer questions, explain items, handle purchases, and may assess, clean, or repair used goods before recording sales and stock at closing.
Did you know? A secondhand-shop salesperson may buy a customer’s old item, clean or repair it, and then put it back on sale.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowWhat 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
How do you become one?
In Japan, no particular degree or license is required: people apply to a shop and learn through training and on-the-job coaching. Some start as student part-timers and later become regular employees; the optional Retail Marketing (Salesperson) exam teaches useful retail skills.
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can differ with experience and whether someone takes on specialist advice, buying, appraising, or store-management work. Shop type and size, location, full- or part-time status, and hours or overtime also matter; retail credentials may show knowledge, but they are not required.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $37,175 | $38,429 | $32,334 | 42 |
| Big company | $40,968 | $42,967 | $36,896 | 42.6 |
| Mid-size | $36,757 | $38,298 | $28,911 | 40 |
| Small company | $34,573 | $35,679 | $28,444 | 43.8 |
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/449
- shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/Occupation/Detail/72
- www.kentei.ne.jp/retailsales/class3
- www.e-stat.go.jp/dbview?sid=0003445758
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chinginkouzou_b.html
- www.hellowork.mhlw.go.jp/info/mhlw_job_dictionary_04.html
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY