Japan Private-Sector Pay Reaches Record 4.87 Million Yen

Sep 30, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - The average annual salary for employees at private-sector companies in Japan rose 1.9% to a record 4.87 million yen last year, marking the fifth consecutive annual increase, according to the National Tax Agency.

The figure was the highest since the agency began compiling the statistics in 1949, according to its annual survey of private-sector salaries.

By industry, electricity, gas, heat supply and water services recorded the highest average salary at 8.54 million yen. Accommodation and food services had the lowest average at 2.76 million yen.

Average annual pay for men increased 1.7% to 5.97 million yen, while pay for women rose 2.6% to 3.42 million yen.

Although salaries continued to increase for both men and women, the pace of growth slowed considerably, with the respective growth rates roughly half those recorded the previous year.

Source: TBS

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