Airline pilots, not doctors, earn the most in Japan — average pay tops W145m

Airline pilots, not doctors, hold the top spot for average annual salary in Japan. Their average pay comes to 16.32 million yen (about 145 million won) — roughly 1.2 million yen more than what physicians earn.

Japan's Toyo Keizai reported Wednesday on an analysis of estimated annual salaries across 143 occupations, based on the "2025 Basic Survey on Wage Structure" released by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in March.

According to the survey, airline pilots posted the highest average annual salary among all occupations at 16.32 million yen. Their average monthly wage was 1.226 million yen, with annual bonuses and special allowances adding another 1.604 million yen.

Doctors ranked second, with an average annual salary of 15.12 million yen. Only two occupations — airline pilots and doctors — exceeded the 15 million yen threshold.

Pilots' edge over doctors reflects the profession's demanding requirements: a high level of specialized expertise, extensive training and the particular nature of operating international routes.

Third place went to other management, finance and insurance professionals, with an average annual salary of 11.35 million yen. University professors ranked fourth at 10.83 million yen ($66,300), followed by dentists at 10.63 million yen and legal professionals at 9.81 million yen.

Rounding out the top 10 were systems consultants and designers at 8.89 million yen, associate professors at 8.76 million yen, certified public accountants and tax accountants at 8.11 million yen, and researchers at 8.02 million yen.

The ministry's survey also found that the average monthly wage for general workers hit a record high of 340,600 yen. The upper end of the salary rankings was dominated by fields requiring high levels of specialization — medicine, law, finance, accounting, university education and IT.

At the other end of the scale, building cleaners had the lowest average annual salary among the 143 occupations surveyed, at 2.97 million yen — roughly one-fifth of what airline pilots earn.

The survey covered general workers at establishments with 10 or more employees who received wages in June 2025, excluding part-time workers. Estimated annual salaries were calculated by annualizing monthly wages — including overtime pay — and adding bonuses and special allowances. Occupations difficult to classify, such as managerial roles, were excluded.

Toyo Keizai noted that because the figures are estimates based on occupational averages, individual salaries may vary depending on age, years of service, company size, employment type and job responsibilities.