How much does a ceramics worker make in Japan?

Japan Ceramics/Stone Product Manufacturing Workers

$31,172 (¥4.68M)

a year · about $16 an hour

The average ceramics worker in Japan makes $31,172 (¥4.68M) 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?

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.

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.

Is that a lot?

Compared with jobs you know

This job$31,172

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$31,172

Big company$38,284

Mid-size$29,962

Small company$28,311

Men$32,611

Women$21,858

How do you become one?

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.

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.

Jobs like this

Next up

Who earns more?

Data table and sources

Ceramics worker pay in Japan (2025, averages by company size and sex) — Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025
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

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