Japan average salary and the Australian full-time average
When comparing salaries across countries, it is important to understand the definitions and currencies involved. This article looks at the latest Japanese average salary figure from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and compares it to Australia's full-time average earnings as measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The Japanese average salary figure
The MHLW's Monthly Labour Survey for fiscal 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026) reports that average scheduled cash earnings (所定内給与) were ¥107,626 per month. This is an increase of 2.1% from the previous fiscal year. Scheduled cash earnings are the base pay for contracted hours and do not include overtime, bonuses, or other special payments. In Japan, bonuses are typically paid twice a year and can be substantial, so total cash earnings are higher than this figure.
To put this in annual terms, multiply by 12: about ¥1,291,512 per year. However, this is still scheduled earnings only. The MHLW also publishes total cash earnings, but the latest available figure from the web search is for scheduled earnings.
Australia's full-time average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 shows that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 per week (seasonally adjusted). Multiplied by 52, this gives an annual figure of about $108,352. This is the national full-time average used on this site as the benchmark line. It includes ordinary time earnings for full-time employees, excluding overtime.
For context, the full-time median weekly earnings from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (August 2025) were $1,436 per week for all employees, and $1,674 for men and $1,250 for women. The all-employees median weekly earnings were $1,425 per week (about $74,100 per year). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week (about $52,255 per year).
Comparing the two
A direct numerical comparison between the Japanese figure and the Australian figure is not straightforward because of two main factors: currency and definition.
First, the Japanese figure is in yen, and the Australian figure is in Australian dollars. Without a current exchange rate, we cannot convert one to the other. Exchange rates fluctuate daily, so any conversion would be approximate and quickly outdated.
Second, the definitions differ. The Japanese figure is scheduled cash earnings per month, while the Australian figure is ordinary time earnings per week for full-time adults. The Japanese figure excludes overtime and bonuses, whereas the Australian figure includes ordinary time earnings but not overtime (though overtime is less common in Australia than in Japan). In Japan, bonuses are a significant part of total compensation, often equivalent to several months' salary. Therefore, the Japanese total cash earnings would be higher than the scheduled figure.
If we were to compare using purchasing power parity (PPP), which adjusts for price levels, the gap might narrow, but the ABS and MHLW do not provide PPP-adjusted figures. The on-site notes and web search results do not include PPP data, so we cannot make that adjustment here.
Other Australian benchmarks
To give further context, here are some other Australian earnings figures from the ABS:
- Full-time adult average weekly total earnings (including overtime): $2,160.00 per week (about $112,320 per year).
- All employees average weekly total earnings: $1,579.20 per week (about $82,118 per year).
- Men's full-time ordinary time average: $2,181.00 per week (about $113,412 per year).
- Women's full-time ordinary time average: $1,934.50 per week (about $100,594 per year).
State full-time averages also vary, from Tasmania at about $96,008 per year to the ACT at about $119,090 per year. You can explore state-by-state comparisons on our States and territories page.
If you want to see how your own salary compares to the national full-time average, you can Place a salary on the line using our tool.
Conclusion
The Japanese average scheduled cash earnings of ¥107,626 per month is a useful reference point, but it is not directly comparable to Australia's full-time average of $2,083.70 per week due to currency and definitional differences. For a more complete picture, one would need to consider total cash earnings in Japan and apply an appropriate exchange rate or PPP adjustment. The figures from the MHLW and the ABS are the most authoritative sources for each country, and we have presented them here as they are.
For further reading on how earnings are measured in Australia, see our How the figures are set page. You can also find guides on understanding salary comparisons on our Guides page.