Tokyo ranks first in every age group across the 40s and 50s among Kanto's seven prefectures, but the order below Tokyo is just as informative. At ages 55–59, Tokyo stands at ¥490,400, Kanagawa at ¥455,100, and Tochigi at ¥431,700, compared with ¥378,000 in Gunma. This article examines why prefectural wage gaps widen later in a career, focusing on management positions and industrial concentration.
Scheduled monthly wages for ages 40–59 across Kanto's seven prefectures (2023, men and women combined)
| Prefecture | 40–44 | 45–49 | 50–54 | 55–59 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | ¥425,700 | ¥452,900 | ¥465,400 | ¥490,400 |
| Kanagawa | ¥417,700 | ¥425,500 | ¥440,700 | ¥455,100 |
| Tochigi | ¥385,900 | ¥388,600 | ¥419,100 | ¥431,700 |
| Saitama | ¥370,700 | ¥377,400 | ¥392,000 | ¥389,300 |
| Ibaraki | ¥367,900 | ¥366,400 | ¥385,000 | ¥380,200 |
| Chiba | ¥357,000 | ¥372,700 | ¥387,900 | ¥384,800 |
| Gunma | ¥352,600 | ¥360,700 | ¥366,700 | ¥378,000 |
The largest gap at ages 55–59 is ¥112,400
At ages 40–44, the difference between Tokyo and Gunma is ¥73,100. By ages 55–59, it has widened to ¥112,400. The larger gap among middle-aged and older workers is less about tenure itself than about the salary ranges available after promotion, which differ by regional employer and industry structure.
Tochigi reaches ¥419,100 at ages 50–54 and ¥431,700 at ages 55–59, exceeding Saitama, Chiba, and Ibaraki. This is a clear example of large manufacturing employers and experienced managerial and skilled workers lifting the average without relying on proximity to Tokyo.
Age group in which wages peak
| Prefecture | Highest age group among those shown |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 55–59 (¥490,400) |
| Kanagawa | 55–59 (¥455,100) |
| Tochigi | 55–59 (¥431,700) |
| Saitama | 50–54 (¥392,000) |
| Chiba | 50–54 (¥387,900) |
| Ibaraki | 50–54 (¥385,000) |
| Gunma | 55–59 (¥378,000) |
Within the age groups shown, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Tochigi, and Gunma peak at ages 55–59, while Saitama, Chiba, and Ibaraki peak at ages 50–54.
The depth of headquarters managers and manufacturing managers creates the gap in the 50s
Tokyo concentrates headquarters, finance, trading companies, and foreign firms in Chiyoda, Minato, and Chuo wards. Kanagawa has major manufacturing and R&D hubs in Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Atsugi. By the 50s, the number and pay of department managers, section managers, and advanced specialists have a much larger effect on average wages.
Northern Kanto also has sources of high-paying mid- and late-career employment: Honda, Nissan, and Canon in Tochigi; research institutions in Tsukuba and Hitachi-group businesses in Ibaraki; and SUBARU in Gunma. But the number of major-company sites, available management posts, and diversity of industries differ by prefecture. As a result, gaps that are relatively small in the 20s become much wider in the 40s and 50s. The mid-career prefectural average can therefore be read as a rough map of how far careers can develop within each regional labor market.
How to read these figures
These figures are scheduled monthly wages and do not include bonuses or overtime pay. They combine all industries and both sexes, so the table alone cannot separate differences in industry composition, company-size composition, or occupation across prefectures.
Conclusion: Regional wage gaps in the 40s and 50s reflect the depth of jobs available after promotion
Kanto's mid-career wage gap is not simply the starting-pay gap from younger years growing larger; it reflects differences in the availability of management, specialist, and skilled positions. Tochigi's strong ranking alongside Tokyo and Kanagawa is evidence of the role played by manufacturing employment.
- Tokyo ranks first at ages 55–59 with ¥490,400
- The Tokyo–Gunma gap in that age group is ¥112,400
- Tochigi exceeds Saitama, Chiba, and Ibaraki in the 50s
- When considering a job change, look not only at current pay but at the roles and salary ranges available in that region and employer in your 50s
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2023)
📊 Analysis notes
- Statistics used: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Basic Survey on Wage Structure (e-Stat table ID: 0003426933, view on e-Stat)
- Area covered: Seven prefectures of the Kanto region
- Reference year: 2023
- Data retrieved: June 6, 2026
- Note: The article centers on values published in the official statistics. Interpretation of the background may also involve factors not directly shown in the table, such as industry composition, company-size composition, and occupational mix, so the published figures should be distinguished from contextual interpretation.
Figures in the charts and tables were independently compiled and visualized from the statistical data above.