Pay

Compare offers

Two or three offers, or an offer against your current package and the counter-offer. Each column runs through Japanese social insurance and tax to the amount you keep. Rates as of October 2026.

Rates as of October 2026
Label
Base salary (per year)
Bonus (per year)
RSUs or equity vesting (per year, at today’s value)
Housing allowance (per month)
Commuting allowance (per month)
Employer DC pension match (per month)

Each column uses the same prefecture and age. Housing allowance is taxed and insured as salary; commuting allowance is tax-free up to ¥150,000 a month and carried through unchanged; the employer’s DC match is neither taxed nor insured when paid. RSUs are taxed as salary when they vest, at the marginal rate above the cash income, with no social insurance; their value is whatever you enter. No dependants or other deductions. Rates from Kyokai Kenpo, the Japan Pension Service, MHLW, the National Tax Agency and MIC.

For a single salary, use the take-home pay calculator.

Tell me when the rates change
One email a week before health rates change (March), employment and accident insurance (April) and the income-tax tables (January). You confirm by email first and can stop at any time.

Is the offer at market? Compare it with average pay by occupation and what listed companies disclose. Senior bilingual roles in Japan: the Makana Partners job board.

Questions

Should I compare offers on gross or take-home pay?

Take-home. Two offers with the same headline can land differently once bonus share, housing allowance, equity and a pension match are run through Japanese social insurance and tax. This calculator applies the same prefecture and age to every column and shows what each one leaves you.

How are RSUs treated?

They are taxed as salary when they vest, but carry no social insurance. The calculator taxes them at the marginal rate above your cash income. For example, ¥10,000,000 base plus ¥1,000,000 bonus against ¥9,500,000 plus ¥1,500,000 bonus, ¥1,500,000 in RSUs and a ¥25,000 monthly DC match: cash take-home is ¥7,865,816 against ¥7,834,758, but total yearly value is ¥7,865,816 against ¥9,132,513.

What is the difference between housing and commuting allowances?

Housing allowance is taxed and insured like salary. Commuting allowance is tax-free up to ¥150,000 a month but counts for social insurance. The employer’s DC pension match is neither taxed nor insured when it is paid.

How do I compare a counter-offer?

Put your current package, as improved by the counter-offer, in the first column and the new offers beside it, then compare total yearly value and the monthly cash. Role, promotion prospects and the commute are not in the numbers.

When do the rates change?

Social-insurance rates change each March and April and the tax tables with each reform. This page uses the rates as of October 2026 and is rechecked every April and January.