Scheduled monthly wages in Saitama rise from ¥255,900 at ages 20–24 to ¥392,000 at ages 50–54. The apparent puzzle of why Saitama's wages are lower than Tokyo's despite so many residents commuting to Tokyo becomes easier to understand once we separate workplace-based wage statistics from the prefecture's own industry and employer mix.
Scheduled monthly wages in Saitama by age (2023, men and women combined)
| Age group | Scheduled monthly wages |
|---|---|
| 20–24 | ¥255,900 |
| 25–29 | ¥288,400 |
| 30–34 | ¥321,500 |
| 35–39 | ¥339,200 |
| 40–44 | ¥370,700 |
| 45–49 | ¥377,400 |
| 50–54 | ¥392,000 |
| 55–59 | ¥389,300 |
| 60–64 | ¥342,000 |
| All ages | ¥347,300 |
Wages peak in the early 50s, then fall by nearly ¥50,000 in the early 60s
The increase from ages 20–24 to 50–54 is ¥136,100 per month. Ages 50–54 have the highest figure shown at ¥392,000, while ages 55–59 remain almost as high at ¥389,300.
At ages 60–64, wages fall to ¥342,000, down ¥47,300 from ages 55–59. Across all ages, men average ¥380,700 and women ¥283,300, so the prefectural average also reflects differences in how men and women are distributed across company sizes, occupations, and working arrangements.
Reference figures by gender
| Group | Men | Women | Women ÷ men |
|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | ¥380,700 | ¥283,300 | 74.4% |
| 20–24 | ¥267,800 | ¥242,200 | 90.4% |
| 25–29 | ¥300,800 | ¥271,700 | 90.3% |
| 40–44 | ¥404,900 | ¥294,600 | 72.8% |
| 50–54 | ¥437,800 | ¥300,900 | 68.7% |
Among the reference figures shown here, women's wages are around 90% of men's in their 20s, falling to 72.8% at ages 40–44 and 68.7% at ages 50–54.
Even in a commuter prefecture, Saitama's wage average is determined by jobs located inside Saitama
Southern Saitama—including Kawaguchi, Toda, Wako, and Asaka—has many commuters to Tokyo. Urawa and Minami wards are well-known residential areas with strong educational demand, while Omiya is a major commercial, administrative, and Shinkansen hub. The Basic Survey on Wage Structure, however, is aggregated by workplace location. If a Saitama resident works for a company in Tokyo, that person's wage is counted in Tokyo's figures.
Saitama's own average is therefore shaped by workplaces inside the prefecture, including manufacturing, logistics, retail, and health care. There are also high-value jobs in Honda R&D in Wako, manufacturing around Sayama and Kawagoe, and logistics hubs along the Ken-O Expressway, but Saitama also has a large small- and medium-sized business base. The issue is not that wages are “low despite being a Tokyo commuter prefecture”; it is that resident income and wages paid by workplaces in Saitama are different statistical concepts.
How to read these figures
These figures are scheduled monthly wages and do not include bonuses or overtime pay. They are averages across all industries and both sexes, so the table alone cannot separate differences in industry composition, company-size composition, or tenure.
Conclusion: Saitama's workplace wages rise steadily through the early 50s
Saitama's wage curve rises steadily through the early 50s and falls in the early 60s. If you want to understand the income of residents who commute to Tokyo, household-income statistics are more appropriate; if you want to understand pay at workplaces inside Saitama, this wage survey is the relevant measure.
- Wages rise by ¥136,100 from ages 20–24 to 50–54
- Ages 50–54: ¥392,000
- Ages 60–64: ¥342,000
- Resident income and wages at workplaces located in Saitama should be treated as separate statistics
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: Saitama 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 composition, 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.