In Saitama, the monthly wage gap between companies with 1,000 or more employees and those with 10–99 employees expands from ¥12,900 at ages 20–24 to ¥118,600 at ages 55–59. Because SMEs support so much of local employment, differences in wage curves by company size have a major impact on household finances and worker mobility.
Scheduled monthly wages in Saitama by company size and age (2023, men and women combined)
| Age | 1,000+ employees | 100–999 | 10–99 | 1,000+ minus 10–99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | ¥371.2k | ¥348.4k | ¥315.6k | ¥55.6k |
| 20–24 | ¥251.3k | ¥248.7k | ¥238.4k | ¥12.9k |
| 25–29 | ¥301.4k | ¥293.2k | ¥274.8k | ¥26.6k |
| 30–34 | ¥341.6k | ¥326.4k | ¥294.7k | ¥46.9k |
| 40–44 | ¥411.3k | ¥378.6k | ¥326.8k | ¥84.5k |
| 50–54 | ¥451.2k | ¥404.7k | ¥338.5k | ¥112.7k |
| 55–59 | ¥461.8k | ¥412.3k | ¥343.2k | ¥118.6k |
The gap reaches ¥118,600 per month in the late 50s
The difference is ¥46,900 at ages 30–34, ¥84,500 at 40–44, and ¥112,700 at 50–54. Wages at large companies continue rising into the 50s, while growth at small companies becomes more gradual in the low ¥300,000 range.
At ages 55–59, wages are ¥461,800 at large companies, ¥412,300 at companies with 100–999 employees, and ¥343,200 at small companies. Each step down in company size corresponds to a lower wage curve.
R&D and manufacturing in southern Saitama coexist with a broad base of SMEs
Saitama includes Honda R&D operations in Wako, manufacturing around Sayama and Kawagoe, and logistics facilities along the Ken-O Expressway. At the same time, small and midsize firms are widely distributed across local manufacturing, construction, retail, and services. Large companies typically have clearer paths from technical roles into management or specialist positions, which can widen the wage gap with age.
A difference in the ¥10,000 range may look small for young workers, but by the 50s the simple annualized difference exceeds ¥1 million. Saitama's lower housing costs can help household finances, but they do not erase the long-term wage gap associated with employer size.
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: In Saitama, company size creates a large household-income difference by the 50s
Saitama's wage gap by company size expands rapidly after the 30s and reaches ¥118,600 per month at ages 55–59. When evaluating an SME job, it is important to look beyond starting pay to the ceiling on raises, promotion paths, and retirement benefits.
- Gap at ages 20–24: ¥12,900
- At ages 40–44: ¥84,500
- At ages 55–59: ¥118,600
- Lower housing costs and an employer's wage curve should be considered 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)
- Area: Saitama Prefecture
- 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.