Japan, which is known as the land of the rising sun, has so many job opportunities for both foreigners and nationals. So, they will incorporate the highest paying jobs in Japaninto this article.
Meanwhile, all that is required is a degree, experience, knowledge of the Japanese language, and the determination to succeed because you are up against the citizens of Japan.
Although for some time, the land of the rising sun has faced some economic issues, they are still looking for some skilled workers to help them fix things in their economy. Hence, let’s quickly look at the highest paying jobs in Japan.
List of the 15 Highest Paying Jobs in Japan
So, this list will also cover the highest paying jobs in Japan for foreigners too. Let’s get started.
1. Chief Executive Officer
Kicking off our list of the highest paying jobs in Japan, we have the Chief Executive Officer. Everyone knows how influential a chief executive officer is in any company. So, they handle the growth and downfall of a company.
Because of the responsibilities attached to this job, you need to be very fluent in Japanese. You will also need an in-depth knowledge of that industry and be familiar with business etiquette.
People who are lucky to find a job in this role enjoy the employee benefit. This is because of how competitive it is to find such jobs.
The annual earnings of a chief executive officer are about $198,000. However, this can also be considered one of the highest paying jobs in Japan for foreigners.
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2. Neurosurgeon
The next on our list of highest paying jobs in Japan is the Neurosurgeon. A Neurosurgeon is a physician whose expertise is in diagnosing and surgical treatment of issues concerning the central and peripheral nervous system.
It also includes congenital anomalies, trauma, tumors, vascular disorders, infections of the brain or spine, stroke, or degenerative illnesses of the spine.
If as a foreign student, you want to study this medical course in Japan, you can enroll in any of their universities and your curriculum will involve intensive Japanese language training.
Meanwhile, a neurosurgeon needs to have good hand-eye coordination and physical stamina. Neurosurgeons earn about $186,000 annually.
If you’re in the medical field, we advise you to also read: “Highest Paying Jobs In The Medical Field
3. Executive Director
This is a very important role in any company. Just like the chief executive officer, the executive director also helps in the growth of a company and they make up the company’s board of directors. To be able to get to this position, you must put in a lot of effort and dedication to your job.
Executive directors must also have excellent leadership skills to help in moving the company to a higher level.
Becoming an executive director in Japan requires that you gain the right certifications, education, and skills. Executive directors in Japan earn an annual salary of $148,000 making it part of the highest paying jobs in Japan.
If you want to earn weekly, then you should read;Best Highest Paying Jobs That Pays Weekly
4. HR Vice President
Another highest-paying job in Japan is the HR Vice President. This official is solely in charge of the company’s operations within the human resources department.
HR vice-presidents handle contracts, strategic plans for the staff, developing policies, making sure they adhere to the policies, and creating training for the staff.
So, for you to be able to get this opportunity in Japan, you need to be knowledgeable in the law, equality, health and safety, taxes, retirement plans, pension plans, wages, and compensation.
Some companies require the HR Vice President to have a master’s degree coupled with skills like creative skills, leadership skills, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, and problem-solving skills.
These executives earn about $172,000 annually, which keeps them among the highest paying jobs in Japan.
If choosing a career is hard for you, then read;20 Best Highest Paying Careers In The World
5. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The CFO is another top officer of an organization. This job is lucrative only if you are good with numbers and also possess excellent leadership skills.
If you happen to get a job as a chief financial officer, you will be in charge of the company’s funds because they plan and manage budgets and are in charge of the expenses made by the company and their revenue.
The chief financial officer takes any finance-based decision to save costs for the company. Then their annual salary is about $137,000.
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6. Senior Marketing Manager
There is a recent increase in demand for officers in marketing roles and this is so because of the change in consumer behavior and the evolution of technology.
Senior marketing managers are in charge of the marketing plan, the development phases of a product, and making sure the marketing plan is getting to the right audience and are engaging.
We know how marketers are, how they can sweet talk you to buying whatever from them.
Hence, to be a good marketer, you must have excellent communication skills, creative skills, and organizational skills. You should be able to pay attention to even the smallest detail, commercial awareness, etc.
Aside from the normal annual salary of $137,000, they also enjoy free healthcare, overtime pay, commuting expenses, etc. So undoubtedly, it is one of the highest paying jobs in Japan.
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7. Sales Director
Among the highest paying jobs in Japan, we have the Sales Director. Every company wants to enter into the local and international market and, for this to be possible, they employ the services of a salesperson.
Sales directors create partnerships and networks that will boost sales for the company. They also manage the sales and work with the marketing team to come up with strategies that can work at a particular time and region.
These professionals require skills like communication skills, knowledge of the product you are selling, persistence, and the ability to use technology.
Therefore, as a sales director, you can earn about $137,000 annually, which makes it part of the highest paying jobs in Japan for foreigners.
8. Operations Director
As much as every department is important in business development and growth, some are at the first level. One of them is the operations department, which is headed by the operations director.
Hence, it is another highest paying job in Japan. The job description depends on the size of the company. And they report every operation strategy and phase to the board.
Besides this, the operations director should also know how a company operates and, most importantly, should be certified in that field. As one of the top paying jobs in Japan, an operations manager earns about $137,000 every year.
9. Country Manager
This is a very enticing and fun level of anyone’s career. So, this job entails representing your country in a foreign country and people in Japan respect them.
You will need to possess interpersonal skills because to represent your country, you need to interact well with people.
And you must fully understand the Japanese culture and its business ethics, which will help you lead the company to growth and they earn $136,000 annually. No doubt, this is one of the top paying jobs in Japan.
10. Business Development Director
Here’s another important person in any company and one of the highest paying jobs in Japan for foreigners. Business development directors are there to drive up the company’s revenue and boost the company’s image etc. The business development director helps develop strategies to improve the company, work with other departments and then understand legal matters.
Since you have worked for a Japanese company, you should be fluent in English and Japanese and also have experience working in sales, technology, etc. Their yearly earnings are about $123,000.
11. Software Engineers
Most Japanese companies have been employing experienced IT professionals for some time, and it doesn’t matter if they are foreigners or locals. There are many job vacancies for people in this field in Japan. So, if you’re looking for the highest-paying jobs in Japan for foreigners, you should consider a software engineer job.
Before you can land a job as a software engineer in the land of the rising sun, you should have some skills and also be fluent in the Japanese language. And to work as a software engineer, you will be involved in designing, developing, maintaining, testing, and assessing software.
The basic salary per annum for a software engineer is $41,000. In addition, a software engineer must possess certain skills, including computer programming and coding skills, creative thinking skills, problem-solving skills, communication skills, teamwork, and multi-tasking skills.
12. English Teacher
Being an English teacher in Japan is very lucrative as Japan is not an English-speaking country. Although the job is open for anyone, it is common for foreigners in the land of the rising sun. You can work either as an interpreter for businesses or the government or as a teacher for schools.
Meanwhile, the basic salary of an English teacher is about $35,000 and they are required to possess skills like leadership skills, teamwork, interpersonal skills, creative skills, grammar skills, time management skills, etc. Thus, if you’re looking for the highest paying jobs in Japan for foreigners, then consider taking up a job as an English teacher.
13. Hostess in the service sector
The tourism and hospitality sector in the land of the rising sun has been growing and becoming more profitable as time goes by. This sector includes hotels, resorts, restaurants, cafes, etc. And they most times make their revenue from foreigners who come to visit Japan and locals who want to take a break from job or whatever.
However, to get this kind of job, you need to be fluent in Japanese, English, and any other language. These hostesses are in charge of the client’s needs and problems and monitor the activities of the customers to make sure they are safe and sound.
They are required to possess communication skills, patience, teamwork, multi-tasking skills, flexibility skills, attention to detail, and, most importantly, customer service skills. Their annual earnings are $27,000.
14. Japanese Translators
Among the top paying jobs in Japan, we have Japanese translators. Some countries in the world do not speak English or are not fluent in English. Such countries include Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, etc.
In these countries, there are so many businesses worth millions and billions and will need translators at some point. These translators work with some businessmen who came in for business and also local businessmen who do not have translators. Their job is to translate from English to Japanese and from Japanese back to English.
So, if you need a job in Japan and you are fluent in Japanese and English then you’ve got yourself a job.
Japanese translators should possess research skills, communication skills, writing skills, attention to detail, interpersonal skills, etc. They earn an annual salary of $28,000 based on their job description.
15. Wholesale Retail Buyers
It is not new that traders travel around the world depending on the size of their business. This set of people are given visas quickly by embassies because their business helps the economy of both countries. As they travel from one country to another, they source goods from different manufacturers to find the right match for their clients.
Most trading companies in Japan are seeking to hire business-minded individuals who also can speak and understand Japanese and English at least. Some of the skills these traders possess are analytical skills, IT skills, business knowledge, basic math skills, communication skills, teamwork, etc. Their annual earnings is $76,000
What to Do Before Searching For Jobs in Japan
You must do certain things before considering working in Japan. Since these things cannot be overlooked, we will discuss them below:
The type of job
Before searching for a job, knowing the type of job you want is very important. Nobody wants to do a job they don’t love or have a passion for. Also, ensure that your skills apply to the type of job you’re seeking.
Japanese work culture
There is a saying that goes thus, “if you want to walk fast, walk alone but if you want to walk far, walk in a group”. And another says, “no man is an island”. Japan is a developed country and it developed with everyone working together, not alone. In a country like Japan, after work, they go out as a team to drink, eat and even play together. So, if you enjoy such a work culture, you can consider working in Japan.
Japanese language proficiency
No matter the kind of job you are looking for in Japan, you should at least be proficient in Japanese to a certain level. As you increase in ranks in the company, they will expect your language proficiency to increase too because you will be interacting with so many people.
Which Job is in Demand in Japan?
There are many jobs currently in demand in the land of the rising sun for both foreigners and locals. Some of these jobs are:
- Military personnel
- Bankers
- Service staff
- Engineers
- Sales staff
- IT professional
- English teacher
- Translator
What Jobs is Japan Known For?
Every country has these occupations which they are known for all over the world and it helps them attract foreign investors. Hence, the land of the rising sun is known for the following occupations:
- Agriculture
- Manufacturing
- Pharmaceuticals
- Consumer products
- Transport
- Tourism
- Information technology
Conclusion
To work in Japan, you need to be fluent in Japanese and experienced in any business niche you choose to work in. Japan embraces foreigners who have something to offer to the country and pays them well. So, you can start by learning Japanese and then make the necessary applications and see the outcome.
FAQs
The topmost stressful jobs are physician, IT manager, financial manager, lawyer, surgeon.
The top 5 jobs that are very easy include taxi drivers, landscaping representatives, opticians, skincare specialists, and personal trainers.
There are so many part-time jobs you can earn in Japan. These jobs include pet sitters, tutors, retail, etc.
There are few ways to earn money from home because of the presence of technology. Some of those ways are freelancing, blogging, selling digital products, content writing jobs, etc.
Some jobs pay well for teens and such jobs are babysitters, dog walkers, landscape laborers, etc
References
- theflatbkny.com – what are the most prestigious jobs in Japan
- careeraddict.com – top 10 highest paid jobs in Japan
- japan-academy.in – highest paying jobs in Japan
