Complete coverage] Researchers' annual income｜All information from universities, companies, public research institutes, and post-doctoral researchers is disclosed.4 min read

There are many different ways to work as a "researcher," and the annual salaries vary widely.

This article summarizes the annual income of people called "researchers.

Environment in which researchers work

The circumstances of those working as "researchers" vary as follows

Below is a detailed summary of the annual income of each!

Annual salary of researchers working at universities

Researchers working at universities are called "university faculty".

University faculty members are at universities and research institutions.Both teaching and researchWe are experts in working with

In addition to working on academic knowledge and research in your field of expertise,Educational guidance and university administration for studentsIt is also involved in the

Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and CommunicationsAccording to the "Japan Research Institute," researchers working at universities and other institutions as of March 31, 2021 are336,800 people。

In descending order of rank, these positions are: assistant professor < lecturer < associate professor < professor.

The average annual income is as follows

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
assistant teacher	42.8
lecturer
associate professor	48.8
professor	58.1

Incidentally, according to a 2021 survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the highest annual salary for a university professor was earned by a professor at Tohoku University.Approx. 22.6 million円It was.

To learn more about the annual salary of university faculty, please contact us.Click here>>

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Annual income of researchers working in public institutions

There are many public research institutes in Japan.

These public research institutions are home to outstanding researchers in their respective fields of expertise.

As of March 31, 2021, researchers at non-profit and public institutions are38,200 people。

The following public research institutions had their researchers' annual salaries published by the Ministry of Education, which we present here for your reference.

Annual salary of researchers working for the National Institute for Research and Development

Researchers at these institutions also have

• non-tenured researcher
• Fixed Term Researchers

exists.

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
The term of office.not (verb-negating suffix; may indicate question or invitation with rising intonation)
Riken	54.1
JAXA	44.5
NIMS	50.7
QST	48.7
NIED	49.5
JAMSTEC	52.8
The term of office.not (verb-negating suffix; may indicate question or invitation with rising intonation)(annual salary)
Riken	47.8
NIMS	39.3
JAMSTEC	47
term of officeがbe (usu. of inanimate objects)
RIKEN*	41.0
JAXA* (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)	32.5
NIMS	43.4
NIED	49.1
JAMSTEC (1)*	39
JAMSTEC (2)*	32.7

Annual income of researchers working for independent administrative agencies

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
The term of office.not (verb-negating suffix; may indicate question or invitation with rising intonation)
National Museum of Nature and Science	50.2
National Art Museum	49.0
National Institute of Special Education	51.0
National Institutes for Cultural Heritage	46.4
The term of office.be (usu. of inanimate objects)
National Museum of Nature and Science	45.3
National Art Museum	42.6
term of officeがbe (usu. of inanimate objects)(annual salary)
National Museum of Nature and Science	44.5

Annual income of researchers working in companies

Researchers working in companies are professionals who use their expertise to conduct research activities in R&D departments or laboratories within a company.

Develop, improve, and innovate new products and technologies based on the company's business goals and market needs.

As of March 31, 2021, the company's researchers were515,500。

Basic Survey on Wage StructureI will present the data published in the following section, but the data is a mixture of all fields and all educational backgrounds, so I apologize for the low resolution.

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
whole	41.1
By Business Size
More than 1,000 employees	40.8
100 to 999 employees	41.2
10 to 99 employees	43.8

Corporate researchers have higher average annual incomes compared to their peers.

In many companies, salaries are determined by position.

You're a researcher at the department head level of a major manufacturer.Annual income of more than 10 million yenIt is not uncommon for this to be the case.

Annual income of postdoctoral fellows

Postdoctoral Fellows are "post-doctoral fellows who have completed their Ph.Fixed-term positionsA "researcher who is not a university faculty member or PI, but is employed by a university.

Postdoctoral fellows are hired for fixed-term (usually 2-5 years) positions at universities, research institutions, or companies to gain experience in specialized research after receiving their Ph.

As of 2018, researchers working as postdoctoral fellows are15,400 people

The average annual salary shown below is the result of a survey of 1035 postdocs conducted in 2008.

I could only find older data, but I think it may be helpful.(Sorry, no new studies have been issued by the government since then.)

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
whole	33.0
By Field
slave labour camp	33.3
physics	33.0
engineering	32.3
agriculture	32.7
hygiene	34.0
Other	34.5

As for salary, there is a big difference between full-time/part-time and other types of employment.

For example, in the humanities, the percentage of part-time positions is high, so the salary as a postdoctoral fellow is also calculated to be low.

In addition, 65.9% of postdocs in the 2018 survey said they were covered by social insurance.

This means that less than 40% are employed without social insurance.

Click here to learn more about Postdoctoral Fellowships.> >

Annual income as a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow

The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship is a system under which the government provides living and research expenses to outstanding young researchers.

The number of recruits is the total of humanities and sciences.Approximately 700 DC1, 1,100 DC2, and 350 PD/year

If selected, DC1 and PD will be supported for three years and DC2 for two years.

Note: Shown below is the "annual amount paid as a special researcher".

The annual income will be even higher if there is a second income or other income.

	Eligibility for Application	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
DC1	DC 1 year upon hire
DC2	At least 2 years DC at time of hire
PD	Within 5 years after obtaining a doctorate

In addition, a separate research grant is provided through the host university.

In addition, an additional 30,000 yen per month will be paid to those with outstanding DC performance.

For other support for young researchers as a national policy, please click here.

summary

Annual salary of researchers working at universities

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
assistant teacher	42.8
lecturer
associate professor	48.8
professor	58.1

Annual salary of researchers working for the National Institute for Research and Development(Examples of representative organizations)

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
No term of office
Riken	54.1
JAXA	44.5
NIMS	50.7
QST	48.7
NIED	49.5
JAMSTEC	52.8
No term of office (annual salary)
Riken	47.8
NIMS	39.3
JAMSTEC	47
term of officehave
RIKEN*	41.0
JAXA* (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)	32.5
NIMS	43.4
NIED	49.1
JAMSTEC (1)*	39
JAMSTEC (2)*	32.7

Annual income of researchers working for independent administrative agencies(Examples of representative organizations)

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
The term of office.not (verb-negating suffix; may indicate question or invitation with rising intonation)
National Museum of Nature and Science	50.2
National Art Museum	49.0
National Institute of Special Education	51.0
National Institutes for Cultural Heritage	46.4
The term of office.be (usu. of inanimate objects)
National Museum of Nature and Science	45.3
National Art Museum	42.6
term of officeがbe (usu. of inanimate objects)(annual salary)
National Museum of Nature and Science	44.5

Annual income of researchers working in companies

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
whole	41.1
By Business Size
More than 1,000 employees	40.8
100 to 999 employees	41.2
10 to 99 employees	43.8

Annual income of postdoctoral fellows

	average age	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
whole	33.0
By Field
slave labour camp	33.3
physics	33.0
engineering	32.3
agriculture	32.7
insurance	34.0
Other	34.5

Annual income as a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow

Note: The amount shown below is the "annual amount paid as a special researcher".

The annual income will be even higher if there is a second income or other income.

	Eligibility for Application	Annual income (ten thousand yen)
DC1	DC 1 year upon hire
DC2	At least 2 years DC at time of hire
PD	Within 5 years after obtaining a doctorate