How much does a pharmacist make in Japan?
Answer: The average pharmacist in Japan makes $37,786 (¥5.67M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $2,658 × 12 + bonus $5,890. Average age 40.1; about 95,000 people work in this job. About the same as the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Pharmacist pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $37,786 | $40,381 | $35,959 | 40.1 |
| Big company | $37,660 | $39,543 | $36,254 | 36.2 |
| Mid-size | $37,514 | $41,087 | $35,177 | 44.3 |
| Small company | $39,117 | $42,723 | $36,764 | 47 |
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can differ with experience, region, and employer type, such as a hospital, pharmacy, drugstore, or drug company. Full- or part-time work, night or holiday shifts, specialist certificates, and leadership duties can also affect pay or allowances; each employer sets its own rules.
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 pharmacist do?
What's a typical day like?
At a Japanese pharmacy, a pharmacist checks prescriptions, measures and packs medicines, and calls the doctor if something seems wrong. They explain how to take each medicine and check for side effects or interactions.
How to get this job
In Japan, finish high school, complete a six-year university pharmacy program, and do practical training in both a hospital and a pharmacy. Then pass the national pharmacist exam and apply to be registered for a pharmacist license.
Did you know?
In Japan, some pharmacists also serve as school pharmacists, checking classroom air, lighting, noise, and even swimming-pool water.
What about the US?
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
Healthcare and welfare jobsEarn more in the same field
Healthcare and welfare 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/158
- www.mhlw.go.jp/kouseiroudoushou/shikaku_shiken/yakuzaishi
- www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/files?tstat=000001011429
- yaku-job.com/column/way_of_working/pharmacist-starting-salary
- www.toyaku.or.jp/contribution/community/school_pharmacist.html
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY