The monthly wage gap between men and women in Tokyo is only ¥6,200 at ages 20–24, but grows to ¥171,600 at ages 55–59. Young workers enter the labor market at nearly the same level, while differences in advancement into managerial and professional roles and continued employment accumulate from the 30s onward. The figures reveal two sides of Tokyo's labor market.
Scheduled monthly wages in Tokyo by age and gender (2023, all industries and employer sizes)
| Age group | Men (¥1,000) | Women (¥1,000) | Women ÷ men |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20–24 | 267.6 | 261.4 | 97.7% |
| 25–29 | 322.7 | 299.9 | 92.9% |
| 30–34 | 377.4 | 320.6 | 84.9% |
| 35–39 | 432.3 | 344.0 | 79.6% |
| 40–44 | 464.8 | 355.8 | 76.6% |
| 45–49 | 500.5 | 362.7 | 72.5% |
| 50–54 | 519.0 | 373.4 | 71.9% |
| 55–59 | 544.1 | 372.5 | 68.5% |
From 97.7% in the early 20s to 68.5% in the late 50s
Women's wages are 97.7% of men's at ages 20–24, 92.9% at ages 25–29, and 84.9% at ages 30–34. The gap begins to widen in the late 20s and reaches ¥109,000 per month at ages 40–44.
At ages 55–59, men earn ¥544,100 and women ¥372,500, putting women at 68.5% of men's wages. The main issue is therefore not starting pay immediately after hiring, but the 30s and 40s, when promotion periods often overlap with childbearing and childcare.
A concentration of high-paying jobs also increases the absolute size of the gender gap
Chiyoda, Minato, and Chuo contain concentrations of finance, trading companies, major corporate headquarters, and foreign-affiliated firms, while Shibuya and Shinagawa have large clusters of IT and professional jobs. Tokyo has many managerial positions with high pay ranges, and if the gender composition of those senior positions is uneven, the absolute wage gap can also become especially large.
The 30s and 40s are also the period when childbirth and childcare overlap with promotion selection. Differences between workers who continue long hours and lengthy commutes and those who move to shorter working hours, change occupations, or leave employment can be reflected in age-group averages. The 97.7% ratio among younger workers alone does not mean that the gap has disappeared.
How to read these figures
These figures are scheduled monthly wages for all industries and all employer sizes. The table alone cannot separate differences in occupation, position, tenure, employment status, or working hours. Because bonuses and overtime pay are excluded, it also does not directly represent total annual income.
What can be confirmed here is that, in Tokyo's published 2023 figures, the gap in scheduled monthly wages between men and women becomes wider with age. Other statistics by occupation and employment status are needed to examine the underlying causes.
Summary: Tokyo's gender wage gap becomes deeper later in a career
Tokyo has only a small gender gap in early-career wages, but differences in promotion, occupation, and tenure widen with age. The focus for improvement is not starting salaries alone, but whether women can continue advancing at the same pace after their 30s.
- The gap is ¥6,200 at ages 20–24
- It reaches ¥109,000 at ages 40–44
- At ages 55–59, the gap is ¥171,600 and women's wages are 68.5% of men's
- Who advances into high-paying managerial jobs in headquarters, finance, and IT is important
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: Tokyo
- 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 occupational mix, management composition, and employment status, so directly observable figures should be distinguished from interpretation.
Figures in charts and tables were independently compiled and visualized from the statistical data above.