How much does a ceramics worker make in Japan?
Answer: The average ceramics worker in Japan makes $31,172 (¥4.68M) a year (monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
Monthly pay $2,112 × 12 + bonus $5,828. Average age 43.8; about 105,000 people work in this job. About the same as the Japan-wide average ($33,720).
Ceramics worker pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex)
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $31,172 | $32,611 | $21,858 | 43.8 |
| Big company | $38,284 | $39,457 | $25,893 | 43.4 |
| Mid-size | $29,962 | $31,673 | $21,843 | 41.7 |
| Small company | $28,311 | $29,423 | $20,241 | 46.2 |
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, pay can differ with experience, skill certificates, employer size, region, hours, and full-time or part-time status. Shaping, decorating, and machine work need different skills; pottery jobs are usually daytime, though schedules vary by workplace.
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 ceramics worker do?
What's a typical day like?
At a ceramics plant, workers mix clay with mineral powders, shape it on a wheel or machine, then dry, glaze, and fire it. They inspect each piece, smooth rough spots, and pack finished items for shipping.
How to get this job
In Japan, no special school or license is required: people can join a factory or studio and learn on the job. Industrial high school or vocational training can help, and the Ceramics Manufacturing Skills Test can prove skill.
Did you know?
Hasami once had a climbing kiln over 150 metres long, helping make porcelain common enough for ordinary people to buy by the late 1600s.
Similar jobs
Manufacturing and construction jobsEarn more in the same field
Manufacturing and construction 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?occupationId=17
- www.e-stat.go.jp/classifications/terms/20/02/532
- www.aichivti.ac.jp/site/yogyo
- www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/chinginkouzou_b.html
- www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/201611/201611_13_jp.html
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY