Wages in Saitama and Chiba differ by only a few thousand yen in many age groups from the 20s through the 50s. At ages 60–64, however, Saitama is ¥22,000 higher. Although both are often seen as Tokyo commuter prefectures, this article compares Saitama's dispersed commuting and inland manufacturing base with Chiba's bayfront industries, airport economy, and northwestern commuter belt.
Scheduled monthly wages by age in Saitama and Chiba (2023, men and women combined)
| Age group | Saitama | Chiba | Difference (Saitama − Chiba) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20–24 | ¥255,900 | ¥250,900 | +¥5,000 |
| 25–29 | ¥288,400 | ¥288,600 | -¥200 |
| 30–34 | ¥321,500 | ¥317,400 | +¥4,100 |
| 35–39 | ¥339,200 | ¥331,300 | +¥7,900 |
| 40–44 | ¥370,700 | ¥357,000 | +¥13,700 |
| 45–49 | ¥377,400 | ¥372,700 | +¥4,700 |
| 50–54 | ¥392,000 | ¥387,900 | +¥4,100 |
| 55–59 | ¥389,300 | ¥384,800 | +¥4,500 |
| 60–64 | ¥342,000 | ¥320,000 | +¥22,000 |
A close race through mid-career, with the gap widening mainly in the early 60s
At ages 25–29, Chiba is only ¥200 higher. The gap is ¥4,100 at ages 30–34, ¥4,700 at ages 45–49, and ¥4,100 at ages 50–54. For much of the main working-age range, scheduled monthly wages in the two prefectures are almost at the same level.
The differences become more noticeable at ages 40–44, when Saitama is ¥13,700 higher, and especially at ages 60–64, when the gap reaches ¥22,000. The early 60s are a period when differences in post-retirement reemployment and industry composition can become more visible in the average.
Saitama's inland axis and Chiba's bayfront-airport axis generate income in different ways
Saitama's commuters are spread across the Keihin-Tohoku, Takasaki, Utsunomiya, Tobu Tojo, and Seibu Ikebukuro lines. That commuter economy overlaps with government and commerce in Saitama City, Honda operations in Wako, and manufacturing and logistics in the central and northern parts of the prefecture. Rather than one overwhelmingly dominant zone, a broad middle-income base shapes the prefectural average.
Chiba combines the Tokyo commuter areas of Ichikawa, Funabashi, Matsudo, and Kashiwa with aviation-related jobs around Narita Airport, offices in Makuhari New City, and manufacturing along the Keiyo coastal industrial zone. Southern and eastern Boso, by contrast, have larger shares of agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, producing significant internal variation. Even when the average wage levels are close, Saitama's more dispersed structure differs from Chiba's stronger northwest-versus-east divide.
How to read these figures
These figures are scheduled monthly wages and do not include bonuses or overtime pay. They are averages across both sexes and all industries, so the table alone cannot separate differences in industry mix, company-size composition, or occupation.
Conclusion: Saitama and Chiba have similar average wages, but very different economic maps
For working-age residents, there is no decisive difference between the prefectural wage averages of Saitama and Chiba. When deciding where to live, the commuting route, the industry of your employer, housing costs, and whether a car is necessary are more informative than a difference of a few thousand yen in the prefectural average.
- Chiba is ¥200 higher at ages 25–29
- In many age groups from the 30s through the 50s, the gap is roughly ¥4,000–¥8,000
- Saitama is ¥22,000 higher at ages 60–64
- Saitama is characterized by dispersed commuting and inland industry; Chiba by northwestern commuting, bayfront industry, and the airport economy
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)
- Areas covered: Saitama Prefecture and Chiba Prefecture
- 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 mix, company-size composition, and occupational mix, so the published figures should be distinguished from contextual interpretation.
Figures in the table were organized from the statistical data above.