Caregiver Monthly Salary in Japan (2026): Official Averages

Key Takeaways

• Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) found that a full-time caregiver on a monthly salary earned an average of JPY 338,200 a month in September 2024. This figure includes base pay, allowances and a monthly share of bonuses.
• Base pay alone was JPY 192,660. Allowances (including night-shift and holiday pay) were JPY 97,980, and the bonus share was JPY 47,560.
• Pay rises with years of service and with qualifications. Certified Care Workers averaged JPY 350,050; caregivers with no qualification averaged JPY 290,620.
• Pay also differs by type of service, from JPY 294,440 in day care to JPY 361,860 in special nursing homes for the elderly.
• For EPA, SSW and Nursing Care visa holders, Japanese rules require pay at least equal to what a Japanese worker receives for the same work.
• From June 2026, a revision of long-term care fees aims to raise care workers' pay by up to JPY 19,000 a month.
• Night work between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. must be paid at least 25% more per hour under Japanese labor law.
• Use the official average as your yardstick. An offer far above it, especially one that also says "no experience needed," should be treated as suspicious first.

This article covers gross monthly pay before deductions. For what remains after tax and social insurance, see SSW salary in Japan: take-home pay after deductions. For how the three caregiver routes work, see Caregiver in Japan for Filipinos: EPA, SSW or Nursing Care visa.

How much does a caregiver in Japan earn per month?

A full-time caregiver in Japan earned an average of JPY 338,200 a month in September 2024, according to the MHLW "FY2024 Survey on the Treatment of Care Workers." In September 2023 the same figure was JPY 324,240, so the average rose by JPY 13,960 in one year.

The survey was carried out in October 2024, and 8,180 facilities answered. It counts full-time care workers paid monthly (staff on a monthly salary who work full-time hours) at facilities that receive the treatment improvement allowance, explained below. It compares people who were on staff in both September 2023 and September 2024.

A newer MHLW survey (FY2025, preliminary results) shows the average continuing to rise: JPY 341,340 in July 2025, up 2.0% from September 2024.

All amounts in this article are in Japanese yen. For peso amounts, use the remittance rates on the /money page instead of converting by hand.

What is inside the JPY 338,200 average?

The average is not base pay alone. MHLW defines "average pay" as base pay + allowances + one-time payments, where one-time payments are bonuses paid from April to September divided by 6.

The allowances in this survey include:

• duty allowance (extra pay for a role or responsibility)
• the treatment improvement allowance when it is paid as a separate allowance
• commuting allowance
• family allowance
• overtime pay, including early-morning, late-night and holiday allowances

MHLW also reports a narrower figure called "base pay etc.": base pay plus allowances paid every month, but without commuting allowance, family allowance or overtime pay. For care workers this was JPY 253,810 in September 2024 (JPY 242,680 a year earlier).

This difference matters. A job offer may show only base pay, or base pay plus fixed allowances, or a total that includes night shifts and bonuses. These are different numbers, and they should be compared with the matching official figure.

How does pay change by type of facility?

Care workers in special nursing homes and residential homes with care earned the most on average, and those in day care earned the least. The MHLW survey reports these averages for September 2024:

When you judge an offer, compare it with the row for the same type of service, not only with the overall average.

How does pay change with years of service?

Pay rises steadily with experience. The average care worker in the survey had 9.5 years of service and was 45.7 years old, so the overall average of JPY 338,200 reflects an experienced workforce.

A newcomer in the first year should compare an offer with the 1-year row, not with the overall average.

How does pay change with qualifications?

The national qualification makes the largest difference. Certified Care Worker (介護福祉士) is Japan's national caregiving qualification. Initial Training for Care Workers (介護職員初任者研修) and Practical Training for Care Workers (実務者研修) are training courses below that level.

This links directly to the visa routes. The Nursing Care visa (在留資格「介護」) is for people who hold the Certified Care Worker qualification. An EPA candidate who passes the national exam becomes an EPA Certified Care Worker; the period of stay can then be renewed with no limit on the number of renewals, and a spouse and children can join.

Are EPA, SSW and Nursing Care visa holders paid the same as Japanese caregivers?

Yes. On all three routes, Japanese rules require pay at least equal to what a Japanese worker receives for the same work. Foreign caregivers may not legally be placed on a lower pay scale because they are foreign.

EPA candidates (介護福祉士候補者). JICWELS, the Japanese organization that places EPA candidates, states that pay during work and training must be at least equal to that of Japanese care workers. For care worker candidates, the comparison point is a Japanese care worker with no qualification doing the same duties. JICWELS checks this when the facility registers the job, and again at its yearly visit and in regular reports. To prove it, the facility submits its work rules, wage rules, pay scale and a copy of the wage ledger for Japanese staff doing the same work. The national average for care workers with no qualification, JPY 290,620, gives a sense of that level, but the legal comparison is with the staff at that facility.

SSW (Specified Skilled Worker). The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) states that an SSW worker's pay and working hours must be equal to or better than those of Japanese workers. Employers may not collect deposits or make penalty contracts. Support costs must be paid by the employer and must not be charged to the worker. Foreign workers may not be treated differently in things such as the use of welfare facilities. In the nursing care field, SSW workers are employed directly by the care provider.

Nursing Care visa. The landing criteria ordinance requires that the applicant receive pay equal to or more than what a Japanese person doing the work receives.

Is there an official average salary for SSW or EPA caregivers?

No separate official average exists for SSW caregivers, EPA candidates or Nursing Care visa holders. The closest figure is the MHLW "2024 Survey on Employment of Foreign Nationals," which covers SSW workers in all fields together, not only caregiving:

• SSW workers, September 2024: JPY 250.3 thousand a month (pay given every month, including overtime, before tax, without bonuses)
• Of that, scheduled-hours pay without overtime: JPY 213.0 thousand
• Overtime: 21.3 hours a month
• Bonuses and other special pay for the previous year: JPY 107.7 thousand

Do not compare this figure directly with the caregiver average of JPY 338,200. The caregiver figure includes a monthly share of bonuses; the SSW figure does not, and it mixes many industries. The two surveys measure different things.

How much do night shifts add?

Japan's Labor Standards Act sets minimum premiums for night and holiday work. A late-night premium is extra pay for work between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

In the MHLW caregiver survey, late-night and holiday allowances are counted inside "allowances" (JPY 97,980 in September 2024). The survey does not publish a separate amount per night shift, and no government figure for night-shift allowance per shift is used in this article. When an offer lists a night-shift allowance, it is part of the allowance portion, not part of base pay.

Will caregiver pay rise in 2026?

Yes. From June 2026, the government raised the treatment improvement allowance as part of a mid-term revision of long-term care fees, without waiting for the regular FY2027 revision.

The treatment improvement allowance (介護職員等処遇改善加算) is extra money added to a care provider's fees under long-term care insurance. Long-term care insurance fees (介護報酬) are the fees a provider receives for each service, and the government revises them. A provider that takes the allowance must use an amount equal to it to raise staff pay, through base pay, allowances or bonuses. Since June 2024, several earlier allowances have been merged into this one.

The FY2026 revision includes:

• an overall fee increase of 2.03% (1.95% for pay improvement)
• a pay rise of JPY 10,000 a month (3.3%) for care staff broadly
• an extra JPY 7,000 a month (2.4%) for care workers at providers that work on productivity or cooperation
• in total, up to JPY 19,000 a month (6.3%) for care workers, including JPY 2,000 of regular annual raises
• coverage of all care staff, not only care workers, and new allowance levels (I-ro and II-ro)

The new rates apply from June 2026; April and May 2026 used the earlier rates. The allowance is a share added to the provider's monthly fees, and it differs by service. Examples from June 2026: home-visit care 27.0% (level I-i) or 28.7% (I-ro), down to 17.0% (IV); special nursing homes 16.3% or 17.6%, down to 11.3%; geriatric health service facilities 9.0% or 9.7%, down to 5.9%.

Take-up is high: in the FY2025 preliminary survey, 96.8% of facilities took the allowance as of July 2025. The official averages in this article come from facilities that take it.

Official survey results showing average pay after June 2026 were not yet available when this article was written. The JPY 19,000 figure is the government's target for the measure, not a measured result.

Does the prefecture change caregiver pay?

Pay floors differ by prefecture. The regional minimum wage (地域別最低賃金) is the lowest hourly wage allowed in each prefecture, and it is set separately for each one. The FY2026 rates take effect in stages between October 1 and December 2, 2026. The national weighted average is JPY 1,177 an hour, up JPY 56 from JPY 1,121.

The caregiver averages above are nationwide figures that mix all prefectures. Treat them as a national yardstick, and keep in mind that the wage level of the prefecture where the job is located is part of the picture.

How to use the official average to judge a salary offer

I have lived in the Philippines for more than 13 years, and over that time I have seen and heard job offers and recruitment pitches, for posts such as Japanese restaurant manager, real estate brokerage and website production. From that experience, my rule is simple. Pay feels "too high" when it is much higher than the average for the same type of work, and the official average is the yardstick I use.

Before I rely on any figure, I compare it with more than one source and check the source page itself. Caregiver pay needs the same care, because the surveys in this article count different things.

Applied to a caregiver offer, these standards lead to the following checks:

1. Find out what the number includes. Is it base pay only, base pay with monthly allowances, or a total with night shifts and bonuses? Compare base pay with JPY 192,660, "base pay plus regular allowances" with JPY 253,810, and a total with bonuses with JPY 338,200.
2. Use the matching row. Compare with the official average for the same type of service, the same years of service and the same qualification. A first-year worker with no qualification should not expect the overall average.
3. Treat a figure far above the matching average as suspicious first. This applies even more when the offer also says "no experience needed." Read how to spot fake Japan job offers, and check whether an agency is licensed using the DMW licensed agency search on /check.
4. Check the source and date of any salary claim. Look at the official survey page yourself, and compare it with at least one other source.
5. Remember the equal-pay rule. On the EPA, SSW and Nursing Care visa routes, the comparison point is what a Japanese worker receives for the same work.

Pay is only one part of the decision. Think about your own experience and what you are good at, and do not push yourself to apply just because the salary is high. Before you decide, talk it over with friends, with people who have already gone to Japan, or with professionals.

FAQ

Q: Is a Filipino caregiver in Japan paid less than a Japanese caregiver?

No, not legally. EPA, SSW and Nursing Care visa rules all require pay at least equal to what a Japanese worker receives for the same work. For EPA care worker candidates, the comparison is with a Japanese care worker with no qualification doing the same duties, and JICWELS checks the facility's wage rules and wage ledger.

Q: How much does an SSW caregiver in Japan earn per month?

There is no official average for SSW caregivers alone. For all SSW workers across all fields, MHLW reported JPY 250.3 thousand a month in September 2024, without bonuses. For caregiving specifically, use the MHLW caregiver averages by years of service and qualification, for example JPY 298,760 for 1 year of service and JPY 290,620 for no qualification. For pay after deductions, see the take-home pay article.

Q: Will caregiver salaries in Japan go up in 2026?

Yes. From June 2026, the treatment improvement allowance was raised to fund a pay rise of up to JPY 19,000 a month for care workers, including JPY 2,000 of regular annual raises. The actual effect on average pay will only be known from later surveys.

Summary

The MHLW survey puts the average monthly pay of a full-time caregiver in Japan at JPY 338,200 (September 2024). That figure is made of base pay (JPY 192,660), allowances including night and holiday pay (JPY 97,980) and a monthly share of bonuses (JPY 47,560). Pay is higher in special nursing homes and residential homes with care, for people with more years of service and for Certified Care Workers. EPA, SSW and Nursing Care visa holders must be paid at least as much as Japanese workers doing the same work. From June 2026 the treatment improvement allowance was raised to fund a pay rise of up to JPY 19,000 a month for care workers, and minimum wages differ by prefecture. To judge an offer, find out what the number includes, compare it with the matching official row, and treat a figure far above it, especially with "no experience needed," as suspicious first.

Sources

• MHLW, FY2024 Survey on the Treatment of Care Workers (令和6年度介護従事者処遇状況等調査): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12300000/001457087.pdf
• MHLW, FY2025 survey on the work environment and treatment of care workers, preliminary results (令和7年度介護職員等の職場環境や処遇に関する実態調査 速報版): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_65600.html
• MHLW, FY2025 survey preliminary results (PDF): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12300000/001594198.pdf
• MHLW, 2024 Survey on Employment of Foreign Nationals (令和6年外国人雇用実態調査): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11655000/001552246.pdf
• MHLW, Long-term care insurance information Vol.1474 (介護保険最新情報 Vol.1474): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001666256.pdf
• MHLW, Subcommittee on Long-term Care Benefit Costs, 253rd meeting, Document 1 (社保審介護給付費分科会 第253回 資料1): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12300000/001647819.pdf
• MHLW, Check working conditions: overtime, late-night and holiday premiums (確かめよう労働条件): https://www.check-roudou.mhlw.go.jp/study/roudousya_jikangai.html
• MHLW, FY2026 regional minimum wages (press release): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_75950.html
• MHLW, FY2026 regional minimum wages, national list (令和8年度 地域別最低賃金 全国一覧): https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11200000/001753406.pdf
• Immigration Services Agency, SSW: Points to Note in Employment (雇用における注意点): https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/policies/ssw/chuui.html
• Immigration Services Agency, SSW nursing care field: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/policies/ssw/nursingcare.html
• Immigration Services Agency, Status of residence "Nursing Care": https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/nursingcare.html
• e-Gov, Ministerial ordinance on landing criteria (出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の基準を定める省令): https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/402M50000010016
• JICWELS, FY2027 EPA acceptance briefing, Part 1 (2027年度受入れ説明会 第1部 JICWELS説明資料): https://jicwels.or.jp/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2027年度受入れ説明会_第1部_JICWELS説明資料.pdf