Japan is a great place to live — but can you actually build wealth here as a software engineer?
If you've heard that dev salaries in Japan are low, outdated, or capped… that's only half the story.
In 2025, foreign engineers are earning ¥10M+, even from overseas — if they know where (and how) to look.
In this guide, we'll break down:
- Real salary data by experience level
- What skills and factors matter most
- How to find jobs that actually offer these numbers
Let's get into it.
🌿 The Reality of Developer Salaries in Japan
Most public data sources say average dev salaries in Japan hover between ¥4.5M–¥5.5M. But these stats are outdated and misleading. They:
- Include contractors, legacy firms, and entry-level hires
- Reflect Japanese-language-only positions
- Ignore the rise of global, tech-forward companies in Japan
If you're a foreign engineer with real experience and skills, the actual range is significantly higher.
📈 2025 Salary Ranges (Foreign Engineers in Japan)
| Experience Level | Typical Range (¥) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry / Bootcamp | ¥4.5M–¥7.0M | In Japan = easier; remote = rare |
| Junior Dev (1–2 yrs) | ¥5.5M–¥8.0M | Bilingual or strong portfolio = better |
| Mid-Level (3–5 yrs) | ¥7.0M–¥12.0M | Go, AI, infra, TypeScript in demand |
| Senior (5–10 yrs) | ¥10.0M–¥15.0M+ | Some hit ¥20M+ with equity/bonus |
| Tech Leads / Staff | ¥13.0M–¥25.0M+ | FAANG-style firms, top startups |
💳 Real-World Examples
Salary data based on publicly available job listings and verified market reports as of 2025.
🧑💻 Entry-Level
- Rakuten: around ¥4.5M–¥5.5M
- CyberAgent: around ¥5M–¥6.5M
- Mercari: around ¥7M–¥8.5M
- SmartNews: around ¥7M–¥9M
👨💼 Senior-Level
- SmartNews: ¥15M–¥30M
- Indeed: ¥30M–¥40M
- Google: ¥20M–¥30M
- Woven by Toyota: around ¥20M
- Mercari: around ¥15M
🔍 What Influences Your Salary in Japan?
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| 🗣 Japanese Skills | JLPT N2+ = +¥0.5M–¥2M |
| 🌏 Already in Japan | Visa-free = easier to hire |
| 🛠 Tech Stack | Go, AI, TypeScript = high demand |
| 🎓 Background | CS degree or global co. experience = more trust |
| 💬 Negotiation | Even small counter offers can lift base salary |
🌏 Where to Find High-Paying Jobs in Japan
If you're browsing mainstream job boards like Indeed Japan, Rikunabi, or Wantedly — you'll mostly see ¥3M–¥6M listings with vague titles and outdated tech stacks.
Those aren't the jobs you want.
Instead, look here:
🌟 JapanTechCareers
- Visa-sponsored roles are listed
- Transparent salary filters: ¥7M+ and ¥10M+ options
- Remote / hybrid jobs in Tokyo and beyond
- English OK / bilingual teams
- Curated for global tech talent
We focus on companies that respect your time, skills, and language background.
📝 Final Advice: Don't Settle for Average
If you have experience and marketable skills, there's no reason to accept a ¥4M job with overtime and waterfall development.
Japan has changed.
There are hundreds of companies willing to pay foreign engineers ¥7M–¥10M+ to build modern, global-facing products.
But you have to know where to look — and how to position yourself.
If you're ready to take the next step in your Japan tech career, check out the latest jobs on JapanTechCareers or subscribe below.