What is the minimum wage in Tokyo? Explanation of Changes and Comparison with Other Prefectures
In Japan, minimum wages are set by law, so it is important to make sure that your wages are above the minimum wage. This article explains the latest minimum wage in Tokyo, recent trends, and comparisons with other prefectures.
If you are also interested in the average annual income of people working in Tokyo, we recommend the following article.
Minimum Wage in Tokyo
In Japan, each prefecture has its own minimum wage for hourly workers,Minimum hourly wage in Tokyo in 2021 is 1,041 yenThis is of course applicable to foreign nationals as well. Of course, this applies to foreigners as well, so you should check if the hourly wage you are receiving is more than 1,041 yen, and if it is less than that, you can ask your employer to improve it.
The minimum wage in Tokyo and other parts of Japan has been increasing all the time in recent years. This is because the minimum wage used to be too low, and it used to be a problem that people could not make a living on the minimum wage.
Minimum Wage (Hourly Wage) in Tokyo
| counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system) | Minimum wage (hourly) |
| Year 2021 | 1,041 yen |
| Year 2020 | 1,013 yen |
| 2019 | 1,013 yen |
| 2018 | 985 yen |
| 2017 | 958 yen |
| 2016 | 932 yen |
| 2015 | 907 yen |
| 2014 | 888 yen |
Comparison of wages between Tokyo and other prefectures
The minimum wage in Japan is determined by each prefecture, and the amount differs from prefecture to prefecture. The minimum wages in other major prefectures are shown in the table below, including 992 yen in Osaka Prefecture and 955 yen in Aichi Prefecture.
The more populated prefectures have higher minimum wages, with Tokyo having the highest among all prefectures. This is because prices tend to be higher in more populated areas.
Areas with lower minimum wages are the Tohoku region (except Miyagi), Tottori and other San-in regions, Kyushu (except Fukuoka), Shikoku, and Okinawa, where the minimum wage is usually around 820 yen. If you plan to live outside of Tokyo, check the minimum wage for that prefecture.
Minimum wage in Tokyo and other major prefectures
| administrative divisions of Japan: Tokyo-to, Hokkai-do, Osaka-fu and Kyoto-fu | minimum wage |
| Tokyo Metropolitan area | 1,041 yen |
| Osaka (metropolitan area) | 992 yen |
| Aichi prefecture (Chuubu area) | 955 yen |
| Hokkaido | 889 yen |
| Miyagi prefecture (Tohoku area) | 853 yen |
| Niigata prefecture (Hokuriku area) | 859 yen |
| Hiroshima prefecture (Chuugoku area) | 899 yen |
| Kagawa prefecture (Shikoku) | 848 yen |
| Fukuoka prefecture (Kyushu) | 870 yen |
What is the average income in Tokyo?
The average annual income of people living in Tokyo isApproximately 5.95 million yen in 2020The The average annual salary has remained roughly flat in recent years, but in 2020 it is $250,000 lower than the 2019 figure of $6.2 million.
The average annual salary tends to be higher in prefectures with larger populations: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi, and Osaka prefectures have annual salaries in excess of 5 million yen, and all have large populations. The average annual income is lower in Tohoku, Shikoku, San-in, and Okinawa, and in several prefectures the average income is below 4 million yen.
However, areas with lower annual incomes also tend to have lower prices, so a lower average annual income does not necessarily mean that life is poorer than in other prefectures.
[Average annual income in Tokyo, Japan.
| counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system) | Average annual income in Tokyo |
| Year 2020 | 5.95 million yen |
| 2019 | 6.2 million yen |
| 2018 | 6.22 million yen |
| 2017 | 6.16 million yen |
| 2016 | 6.06 million yen |
| 2015 | 6.24 million yen |
| 2014 | 6.13 million yen |
What is the average income of foreigners?
According to national data,Average monthly salary for foreigners in 2020 is approximately 218,000 yenThat is to say. Of course, this is an average of people from different professions put together, so there are probably many people who earn more, and many who earn less.
By status of residence, the average monthly wage for specified technical skills and technical intern training is slightly lower at approximately 170,000 yen. However, the law stipulates that foreigners must not be paid less than Japanese nationals just because they are foreigners, so there is no such thing as being forced to work for an unfairly low wage, and if there is, the employer is responsible.
Source: 2020 Basic Survey on Wage Structure Wages by Status of Residencehttps://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/itiran/roudou/chingin/kouzou/z2020/dl/08.pdf
How do I make sure my current wage meets the minimum wage?
Foreign residents working in Tokyo may be concerned about whether their wages are properly above the Tokyo minimum wage. Here we explain how to check your own minimum wage.
Hourly rate
The minimum wage is determined by the hourly wage, so if you are working part-time, you can compare your hourly wage with the minimum wage in Tokyo.
Daily wage
If you are paid on a daily basis,Divide by the hours worked and convert to hourly rate before comparing.The wage per hour is 10,000 yen. For example, if you are paid 10,000 yen for 8 hours of work, the wage per hour is 10,000 yen / 8 = 1,250 yen. This is OK because it exceeds Tokyo's minimum wage of 1,041 yen.
Monthly salary
As well as daily wages,Monthly wages are also converted to hourly wagesFor example, suppose you work 8 hours a day for 22 days and receive 200,000 yen. Then the wage per hour would be 200,000 yen / 8 / 22 = 1,136 yen. This is OK because it is higher than the Tokyo minimum wage of 1,041 yen.
summary
As of 2021, the minimum wage in Tokyo is 1,041 yen, and the same amount applies to foreigners. The amount changes every year, so check the new minimum wage in 2022. Revisions are made around October each year, so the next revision is expected around October 2022.
