Across all ages, the gap between large companies and small companies is ¥63,100 in Ibaraki and ¥60,500 in both Tochigi and Gunma. Although the size of the gap is almost the same, the industrial bases supporting the large-company side differ: Tsukuba and Hitachi in Ibaraki, Haga and Kaminokawa in Tochigi, and Ota and Oizumi in Gunma.
Scheduled monthly wages by company size in the three northern Kanto prefectures (2023, all ages, men and women combined)
| Prefecture | 1,000+ employees | 100–999 | 10–99 | 1,000+ minus 10–99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibaraki | ¥373.5k | ¥351.2k | ¥310.4k | ¥63.1k |
| Tochigi | ¥383.2k | ¥360.4k | ¥322.7k | ¥60.5k |
| Gunma | ¥361.8k | ¥339.7k | ¥301.3k | ¥60.5k |
The company-size gap is around ¥60,000 in all three prefectures
Large-company wages are ¥383,200 in Tochigi, ¥373,500 in Ibaraki, and ¥361,800 in Gunma. Small-company wages follow the same order: ¥322,700 in Tochigi, ¥310,400 in Ibaraki, and ¥301,300 in Gunma. Tochigi is highest at every company-size level.
The gap between large and small companies is nearly the same across the three prefectures. Northern Kanto's manufacturing clusters spread employment to SMEs, but they do not eliminate the pay difference between major prime contractors and smaller firms.
The benefits of manufacturing clusters coexist with wage gaps inside the supply chain
Ibaraki is centered on Tsukuba's research institutions, the Hitachi Group, and the Kashima coastal industrial area; Tochigi on Honda, Nissan, and Canon; and Gunma on SUBARU and related companies. Large factories and research centers create stable employment and generate work for smaller companies in parts, equipment, logistics, and maintenance.
However, suppliers and customers differ in profit margins, wage schedules, job grades, and benefits. A strong manufacturing prefecture does not automatically mean that small-company wages match those at large companies. The gap of around ¥60,000 per month shows differences in how value is distributed within the supply chain.
How to read these figures
The figures in this article are published values for the stated year, area, and aggregation. Averages and rankings are affected by age composition, household composition, industry and company-size mix, and sample size. They should be read as baseline data under comparable conditions, not as predictions for an individual or household.
Summary: Even in manufacturing prefectures, the large-company/SME wage gap remains
Major manufacturers support regional wages across northern Kanto, but the company-size gap remains around ¥60,000 per month. The benefits of manufacturing spread through local supply chains, but pay conditions are not the same at every level.
- Tochigi is highest across all company-size groups
- Ibaraki's large-versus-small gap is ¥63,100
- The gap is ¥60,500 in both Tochigi and Gunma
- Regional industrial strength and the conditions at a specific employer should be evaluated separately
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 (Table ID: 0003426933, view on e-Stat)
- Areas: Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma prefectures
- Year: 2023
- Data retrieved: June 6, 2026
- Notes: The article primarily organizes published statistical values. Interpreting the background also involves factors outside the table, including industrial and occupational composition, so directly observable figures should be distinguished from interpretation.
Figures in charts and tables were independently compiled and visualized from the statistical data above.