Average Salary Japan: What We Know and What We Don't
If you've searched for "average salary japan", you're likely curious about how earnings in Japan compare to those in Australia. This site is built around Australian salary data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Fair Work, and the Australian Tax Office. We don't have a published figure for the average salary in Japan from these sources, so we can't give you a precise number. Instead, we can show you how Australian salaries sit against our national full-time average, and explain where you might find Japanese data.
The Australian Reference Point
Our national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, which works out to about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. This is the line we use to compare any salary you enter. For example, if you earn $100,000 a year, you can see how far you are from the average. The full-time median is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). Men's full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412; women's is about $100,594.
A Resident Take-Home Sketch
Let's look at what a resident earning the national full-time average takes home after tax. For 2026–27, the tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). On $108,352 a year, the tax is roughly:
- First $18,200: $0
- Next $26,800 (to $45,000): 15% = $4,020
- Remaining $63,352 (to $108,352): 30% = $19,005.60
- Total tax: $23,025.60
- Medicare levy (2% of $108,352): $2,167.04
- Total tax and levy: about $25,193
- Take-home: about $83,159 per year, or $1,599 per week.
This is a sketch – actual amounts vary with deductions and offsets. If you have a salary in mind, you can place a salary on the line to see your own take-home.
Where to Find Japanese Salary Data
For the average salary in Japan, you would need to consult Japan's official statistics. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) publishes annual surveys on wages, such as the Basic Survey on Wage Structure. Figures are often reported as average monthly contractual cash earnings (e.g., around ¥300,000–¥330,000 per month in recent years) but these vary by industry, age, and region. Exchange rates also affect comparisons. We cannot verify or reproduce those figures here.
State and Territory Averages in Australia
If you're comparing a salary to Australian averages, note that they differ by state. The full-time averages (annualised from ABS May 2026) are:
- New South Wales: about $109,658
- Victoria: about $106,137
- Queensland: about $106,064
- South Australia: about $102,450
- Western Australia: about $115,825
- Tasmania: about $96,008
- Northern Territory: about $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090
You can see more details on our states and territories page.
Industry and Occupation Medians
If you're curious about how your job or industry compares, we have medians from the ABS. For example, managers earn a median hourly rate of $69.20, professionals $64.50. See our job medians and industry medians pages.
Minimum Wage Context
Australia's national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75%. This is the floor – most full-time workers earn above it.
Final Note on Japan
Without a reliable source for the average salary in Japan, we cannot provide a figure. If you're comparing an Australian salary to Japanese earnings, you'll need to find a Japanese source and consider currency conversion and cost of living. Our site is focused on Australian data, so you can use it to benchmark any Australian salary against our national average. For more on how we calculate figures, see how the figures are set and about this site.