8 Highest Paying Jobs In Japan For Foreigners [2022 Update]

Frankly, one matter stopping people from trying out the expat life is the worry of having to “rough it” in some shared dorm room while living on instant noodles and a modest backpacker salary. If this is your worry too, we have some good news for you. Working overseas doesn’t need to be like broke times at all – particularly if you decide to work in Japan. Japan has long been a secret tip for aspiring expats, and not only because of its stunning landscapes, bustling metropolises, and insanely good food. Japan also has some of the highest-paying jobs for people.

Did we pique your curiosity? Great! Because below, we have put together a list of 8 of the highest paying jobs in Japan in this location guide for English speakers!

Note: The figures in this article have been updated according to CareerCross 2021 data.

How much does a person working in Japan make?

In a report by the National Tax Agency, it is revealed that a person working in Japan normally earns about  ¥4,320,000 ($40,353) a year.

A snapshot of the highest paid jobs in Japan for foreigners

There are numerous factors affecting our net incomes, but for an overview of the current state of play on salaries in Japan, let’s center on typical annual incomes by industry. Here’s an overview of the most popular highest paying jobs in Japan for English speakers:

12. Service Staff

SEE MORE:

• Cost of living in Japan – is it really expensive?
• Detailed guidelines about how to move to Japan

To land a job as a high paying service staff, you will need to have adequate skills in Japanese Language and a valid visa. There are variety of posts at hand for the service staff in industries like Hotels, restaurants, cafes, etc. Owners of such industries like to hire foreign staff due to their dual-language skills. Among hospitality and tourism jobs in Japan, hotel front desk staff on average earn ¥2.97 million, while travel agents and tour guides make ¥3.18 million annually

Don’t forget the bars! Yes! This is indeed one of the highest paying jobs in Japan if you know how much Japanese love to go and spend time in bars. There are plenty of options for jobs in Bars, like waiters, managers, accountants, DJs, and above all are dancing and music.  If you are a singer or a good dancer, you can get good earning while working in bars in Japan.

• Monthly salary:¥290,000 ($2,335) – ¥671,166 ($2,615)
• % Foreigners in the Industry: 5.12%
• Requirements: Japanese Conversational (N3), Visa Sponsorship Available (Hotel Staff)

11. English teacher

Teaching English in Japan is a very common job and the vacancies for this job are also available in god quantity in Japan. Within English teaching jobs here, assistant language teachers at public (and sometimes private) schools earn about ¥250,000 a month, while salaries for instructors at privately-owned English conversation schools are around ¥300,000. Teachers of business English often earn a higher rate of pay per lesson, sometimes up to as much as ¥3,500 an hour.

• Monthly salary: ¥300,000 ($2,735)
• % Foreigners in the Industry: Well, we don’t have the exact figure here but you know it is a lot right?
• Requirements: Native-level speaker of English, sometimes Bachelor’s degree, ESL certificate and experience is a plus

Actually, there are two ways for foreigners to teach English in Japan.

Programs

Japan is of the most desired destinations for teaching abroad program. There are various programs bringing native English speakers to Japan.

• The JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching program): competitive salaries, benefits, housing allocations, and flight reimbursement.
• Interac: Perfect for graduates from all specialties, new teaching graduates who want to teach in rural Japan
• Westgate: Perfect for experienced ESL teachers with a bachelor’s degree, who want to teach at the university level in Japan
• Nova Japan: Perfect for native English speakers with no experience

Eikawa

If you enjoy a variety of teaching options in your job, then working at an English Conversation School (Eikawa in Japanese) is a good option. Eikaiwas vary radically in size and scope, from large company, family-owned businesses to smaller mom and pop schools. Class sizes can also differ, from one on one to dozens of students, you may be teaching kiddie or elderly; everyone will have a distinct reason for wanting to learn English, so you will have to adapt your teaching style accordingly.

10. Translators

There are many aspects of Japanese businesses that require translation, ranging from Manga, video games, books, movie subtitles to car development, legal documents, and the rising need for medical translation. The translator does not necessarily know Japanese, most Japanese docs in large companies are already bilingual (English & Japanese). A translator can be hired to translate these docs from English to other languages. The wage for translators in Japan depends on the technical level of content as well as the companies.

• Monthly salary: ¥300,000 ($2,735) to ¥538,000 ($4,903)
• Requirements: Language proficiency, certification

9. Recruitment Consultant

Human resource services pay ¥3.68 million on average annually. Their job is mainly cold calling and matching the candidate with the job openings.

• Monthly salary: ¥375,000 ($3,421) – 750,000 ($6,843)
• % Foreigners in the Industry: 5.12%
• Requirements: Bachelor Degree, 1-2 years of experience

8. Engineer

Of course, this is a well-paid job all over the world. When the matter is of Japan we know this country is famous for its technologies and machinery. That’s why if you have an engineering background then you can get a handsome amount of salary in Japan.

• Monthly salary: ¥380,000 ($3,549) – ¥830,000 ($7,500)
• % Foreigners in the industry: 4.17%
• Requirements: Can speak Japanese is a plus, Experience is a plus

7. Marketing & Sales

At number four, we have sales staff as a profitable job in Japan. In Japan, the sales staff is in high demand. In sales staff, sales manager, salesperson, sales representatives come. Japanese like to take these services from foreigners. Besides, marketing jobs in Japan can make a nice ¥4.90 million.

• Monthly salary: ¥380,000 ($3,549) – ¥830,000 ($7,500)
• % Foreigners in the Industry: 2.63%
• Requirements: Business Level Japanese at least 3 years of experience, Visa Sponsorship available

6. Business Analyst

Next, among the highest paying jobs in Japan, demanded one is Business Analyst. This is a particularly high-paying job as this position is accountable for better performance and competitiveness. For this job, the ability to influence change in an organization is important. Also, a professional in this field should be able to use quantitative techniques to analyze data and make decisions.

Requirements: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in business administration is required. Employers prefer candidates with a graduate degree or specialization in a relevant field.

• Monthly salary: ¥450,000 ($4,203)
• % Foreigners in the industry: 2.63%
• Requirements: Fluent in English & Japanese, 1-2 years experience

5.      IT Professional

No doubt use of technology is very necessary for every field of life. That is why IT professionals can get superior and high paying jobs in Japan. Among all in this sector, IT consultant is the highest-earning job, which offers on average a ¥6.04 million yearly. Web service engineers make around ¥4.25 million, while web designers can earn about ¥3.57 million.

• Monthly salary: ¥376,000 ($3,400) – ¥830,000 ($7,500)
• % Foreigners in the industry: 2.63%
• Requirements: Can speak Japanese is a plus, Experience is a plus

4. Investment Banking

Of course, like all other countries, people working in Finance and Banking are typically on the list of highest paying jobs in Japan. The investment banking profession is a highly desired field with a lot of welfares including high job demands, higher salaries, and other financial awards that take you to a bright career. Banks or corporations that have large investments like to hire foreign bankers to increase the reputation of the banks in the international market.

• Monthly salary: ¥458,000 ($4,175) – ¥1,083,000 ($9,881)
• % Foreigners in the Industry: 0.62%
• Requirements: Fluent in English & Japanese, Experience is a plus

3. Pilots

According to Japan Aerospace Industry, Japan’s aerospace industrial market is not only the largest but also the most experienced in Asia. The blooming privatization of Japanese airports leads to higher quality standards and demands for pilots with expertise.

The job requires rigorous training programs and extensive experience to handle its huge responsibility. Aside from the excitement of traveling around the world, the pilot has to look after the safety of thousands of people every day.

•       Monthly salary: ¥360,000 ($3,284) – ¥1,210,000  ($11,000)
•       Requirements: Qualification, Extensive Experience

2. Surgeons / Doctors

It is not easy to practice medicine in a foreign country, especially where the healthcare system is on the next level like Japan. A profound medical knowledge through a long learning path is a must. Working long hours under pressure is part of the job. But these are necessary ingredients for a noble profession that gets paid handsomely.

•       Monthly salary: ¥900,000 ($8,200) – ¥3,020,000 ($27,500)
•       % Foreigners in the industry: 0.4%
•       Requirements: Japanese fluency, Qualification

1. Business Manager/ Director

To land a job as a business manager or C-level in Japan, a foreigner needs good communication and cultural awareness of Japanese business ethics. The job also involves extreme pressure and high responsibility but the salary is rewarding. For instance, a country manager, who represents a foreign company in Japan, can earn around ¥14,900,000 ($136,675) a year. An operations director or a sales director normally gets paid ¥15,000,000 ($137,620) yearly. The high-power role in an organization, Chief executive officer (CEO), earns no less than ¥21,600,000/ year ($198,220).

•       Monthly salary: ¥1,160,000 ($10,572) – ¥4,600,000 ($41,926)
•       Requirements: Japanese fluency, Qualification, Experience

Job Search

There are many ways for foreigners to search for a job in Japan. The most simple and popular way is to look for jobs on job portal websites. Here, you can know which Japanese companies are recruiting and the kinds of jobs available in Japan. Some websites have nice advice and content about living and working in Japan, besides job listings.

• Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigner 
• The Japan Times
• Gaijin Pot
• CareerCross
• YOLO Japan
• Craigslist Tokyo – available for a few other cities too

Tips for Landing a Job in Japan

1. Understanding What the Employer is looking for in Applicants

Experience or certification: these may not be required when you apply for an entry-level job. But for higher-paying works, the employers expect experienced and certified applicants instead of risking their money and effort on under-educated amateurs. 

Reliability: this is one make-and-break point that Japanese recruiters particularly consider when choosing between two almost equally talented candidates. It is reasonable since Japanese companies dislike workers taking work as a paid vacation. They prefer someone who will always be punctual, polite, clean, and available. Therefore, they try their best to avoid hiring people regularly taking time off or not adhering to the corporation’s procedures. Therefore, you should illustrate in the recruitment process that you have worked in a position for a long time, your attendance record, or how you took charge of a project.

Native speaker: Some roles will need somebody who is Japanese or at least speaks Japanese fluently. Besides, some companies simply aren’t open to employing foreigners. My advice is that you should check in advance whether the Job Description mentions they welcome foreigners. If they don’t mention it, you should research their history and business model so that you won’t waste your time on places that not gonna hire you no matter what.

2. Resume & Cover Letter

The next step involves writing a CV or resume and cover letter which both on standard and stand out. First, make sure you avoid all these fundamental mistakes and catch up with some DO tricks to get you noticed:

DON’T

• Referring to the recruiter by his/ her first name. While in the US or Europe, you can address them by family name or title, Japanese prefer “last name + San” (San is the same as Mr. or Ms.), for example, Tanaka San.

• Using speaking language and slang: If some teen code like “i c” or slang terms like “pimping” appear on your CV or cover letter, it is considered unprofessional. I recommend you use proper English in all business writing settings including the email. 

• Be all about yourself. Remember that Japan’s working culture emphasizes team goals, not individual’s. So rambling too much about your future career paths and mentioning what benefits you get from the job as the reason for application will fail you. For instance, “I want to get a job here so I can improve my Japanese ability”. Focus on what you can contribute to the company by your expertise and experience.

DO

• Follow the format and content instructions. You may be surprised how many candidates are ignorant of the CV and cover letter requirement from the recruiters. At least, you do the opposite and you can get ahead of these people. Sometimes, the recruiters also ask for some detailed information about your contact, VISA status, and work permissions, the place you are staying in Japan, or your pictures. Make sure you provide them with adequate information. 

• Tailor your CV and cover letter. The easiest way of this is to match the job description with your job achievements. For instance, the school is looking for “a teacher for 5-12 aged children”. Then, you can write “Attained 90% contract renewal rate with young students”
• Get creative with the resume filename. This is definitely something unique in Japan. Screening hundreds of CVs a day, Japanese recruiters are prone to eye-catching names like experienced-bilingual-sales-resume.pdf rather than resume.pdf.

3. Interview

3.1 How to make a good impression

• Dress in professional attire even though a Japanese interviewer tells you to be casual. You have to understand the definition of casual in Japan is totally different. Look, salaried workers in Japan all wear suits and black dresses. So wear formally since you can never be overdressed for a job in Japan.  

• Practice your assigned demo at home. You may be asked to perform a demo for certain job positions, such as a teacher. Get somebody to listen to your demo and give feedback. Even though that person is not specialized in your work, he or she can still give you some insights on your voice volume, whether the content is too boring.

• Properly greet with a slight bow and only sit once the interviewer signal you to 

• Only ask questions when the interviewers suggest you. Asking questions out of turn is rude 

• Coming not too early or late. In Japan, it is not a plus point to arrive fifteen to twenty minutes before the interview. You can even end up interrupting the interviewer’s workflow and waste their precious time.
• Mind your body language and your gesture. Even if you do a Skype or Hangout interview, don’t let yourself be at home. What I mean is relaxing in the coach, drinking cola regularly, putting your arms over something are all unacceptable. This is an interview and they want you to be serious.

3.2 Most Common Interview Questions From Japanese Interviewers

Regardless of industries, Japanese interviewers seek some of the same things. They want their foreign staff to quickly adapt to the Japanese workplace, be professional, and comply with the contract. Most of the time, they will not ask you directly. So you should be able to interpret some following popular questions:

3.3 Questions to Ask Recruiters during the interview

At the end of the interview, the recruiters usually ask you if you have any questions. Careless questions revealing that you didn’t research the website in advance or pointless questions with no thought or creativity can cost you the whole interview. 

Work Culture in Japan – Is it the information you are curious about?

• Working principle: Don’t finish work, don’t rest. Arriving 5 minutes before the appointment time is the minimum culture of commuters. The working style is very agile, proactive, and professional. They are happy to work and contribute to society.
• Working quality: They believe that good quality can maintain and develop the company. So product quality, quality with the very strict inspection process.
• Respect the other party: Greet politely when meeting your partner. At work very serious. Do not gossip and speak loudly to affect all other colleagues. Show respect to elders, and heads.
• Collective spirit: “The rule of not making your own judgment” is applied in many Japanese companies. They enhance teamwork, everyone has to coordinate and discuss to come up with ideas. They love to support and guide each other to work.
• Tactfully refuse: They speak softly and do not refuse outright. Always stay calm, listen to the other party, and do not impose any personal thoughts while working. Always say thank you and sorry in communication, which is typical of Japanese culture.

See more: 

• How To Find Jobs In Japan? The Ultimate Guide 2021  
• Buying A House In Japan As A Foreigner? – A Detailed Answer
• Starting A Business In Japan As A Foreigner  

Allowances in Japan

In addition to the main salary, the basic salary for each day, there are also allowances in Japan. Are you curious about when you get your allowance?

Shipping allowance

According to Alexandru Arba, as of June 2021, most of the companies in Tokyo are entitled to an allowance for the cost of a limited-time travel ticket. Up to 75.2% of businesses were surveyed. It proves that transportation is important for employees in Japanese cities.

Overtime allowance

If working overtime outside office hours, each employee will receive an additional 25% of the basic salary.

Example: If working at a restaurant from 12 to 24 hours, the basic salary is ¥1500, 1-hour break.

• 12:00 to 21:00 (8 hours break 1-hour break): ¥1500 x 8 hours = ¥12000
• 9 pm to 10 pm: ¥1500 x 1.25 (overtime allowance) x 1 hour = ¥1875
• 22 hours to 24 hours: ¥1500 x 1.5 (overtime allowance) x 2 hours = ¥4500

→ Total allowance is: ¥18,375

Allowance for working days off

If the company’s overwork situation has not been resolved, the company will ask to work overtime on the days off each week. But the company will have to pay 35% more than the basic salary.

Retirement allowance

Working in Japan, if the employee reaches retirement age, the employee will receive a pension. That is the result, marking the contributions that the employees have worked hard, devoted to the profession, and contributed non-stop to the company. That is an amount that can be called a pension.

Personal development allowance

Self-development is something that cannot be ignored, but it needs to be updated every day. If people do not develop themselves, people will gradually fall behind, and behind will be people who are inferior to many others.

Therefore, in order for the company’s personnel to develop their thinking and exploit themselves in the right place and in the right way, they will provide employees with courses to support the expertise and skills needed at the moment and future. Thus, the breakthrough in new ideas and research projects will improve the value and quality.

Cost of Living in Japan- Is it as expensive as you think?

Accommodation

As we have read through a number of websites, we find that Tokyo is a hub, which is quite expensive. But besides that, there are cheap apartments around 10 square meters because it’s small. In the same suburbs, the cost is quite cheap.

And you can also watch a video we found, it’s a day living in Tokyo. It will give a more authentic look at what life in Tokyo is like.

A little summary through the video above, we can see the prices for some items such as electricity (2,588 yen/month = $23.81), toothpaste (627 yen= $5.77); detergent ( ¥217= $2.00); shampoo (¥657 = $6.04); water (¥3,895/ month= $35.83)…

Obviously, not all things are expensive, some are cheap, average, and then expensive. According to a recent survey, a month’s living expenses are about $3,364.65, which is the amount that most Vietnamese people also spend.

According to Statista’s research, the monthly rent for a one-room apartment is up to ¥74.36 thousand in Greater Tokyo. As for apartments from 2LDK to 3DK, it is up to ¥137.33 thousand (2LDK is an apartment with a living, dining, kitchen, and two separate rooms). Results were recorded in March 2022. 

One thing to pay attention to when renting a house is that utility costs such as electricity, gas, and water, … are calculated separately. For example, electricity is about $23.81, water is about $35.83…

Interior

Surely if there is no furniture, it is impossible to live in the apartment, right? Therefore, buying furniture is essential for each person. Refrigerators, washing machines, and electronic equipment, … are sold in supermarkets. About  ¥9,922 (about $68K) will be used to pay for this furniture purchase.

Dining, shopping

According to a survey by Statista Research, households in Japan spend about  ¥8.1 thousand per month on eating out. This number has decreased due to the Covid-19 epidemic situation that took place in 2021, stores had to temporarily close. Aeon and Ito-Yokado are also online supermarket channels you can refer to and buy online conveniently.

There is also a lot of shopping demand, Ito Yokado or Uniqlo are stores that sell affordable clothes, which are chosen and purchased by many people in Japan. And Boutique will be a good choice if you like expensive fashion styles.

Entertainment service

Shopping and eating are enough, entertainment is also indispensable in daily life. Your needs are high or low, there will be different options, and the places you want to explore and experience are also different.

You have to spend ¥1800-2000 (about $20) for going to the movies, if you include the cost of popcorn and soft drinks, it’s about $25-$30 per person.

How to watch cheap movies? Are you curious as well? A secret for those of you who are passionate about watching movies and want to save some money, you should go to the movies on a special day. It will have promotions or discounts after 8 pm. Another tip is to register as a member to accumulate points…

Movement

Going to work directly at the offices, you will have to travel by means of transport. With one card you can move unlimitedly for 1 month or more. That cost is covered by the Japanese company in whole or in part, depending on.

Besides, there are also a number of other means such as bicycles, cars, and taxis to move. Bicycles are the optimal choice if in the city. Because cycling has a lot of time, opportunities, initiative time and location want to explore, sightseeing.

Taxis are the solution if the bus stops working in the middle of the night. If renting a taxi in a group is also a way to reduce economic costs.

If you have ever thought of buying a car to travel in Japan, you should be sure to know some notes such as inspection costs, car insurance, parking fees, and car prices that are not cheap.

CONCLUSION

There you have it, 8 highest paying and rewarding jobs in Japan. Highly qualified professions were most prevalent among the highest-earning types of jobs. This included IT professionals and consultants in business, banking, and management. So if you’re looking for a big salary, consider seeking qualifications and experience in these areas. Together with your knowledge and experience of overseas markets as a foreigner, they would make you a valuable asset to global-oriented Japanese companies.

So, which job will you choose?