Indian techies working in Japan reveal their salary, say they pay Rs 3 lakh in taxes. Watch

Income tax rates in Japan range from 5 per cent to 45 per cent depending on earnings, with additional local inhabitant taxes generally set at around 10 per cent.

A video shared by content creator Dolesh has drawn widespread attention after documenting a conversation with two Indian software engineers working in Japan. The clip focuses on starting salaries, projected earnings after a few years of experience and the tax burden faced by foreign professionals employed in the country.

In the post, Dolesh wrote: “Kaun kaun Japan aana chahta hai batao [Tell me who wants to relocate to Japan].” He explained that he encountered the two engineers, originally from Bengaluru, at an Indian restaurant in Japan and asked them about pay levels in the country’s technology sector.

During the interaction, Dolesh asks: “What is the starting package for software engineers in Japan?”

The two men respond that entry-level compensation begins at approximately 3 million yen per year. Based on current exchange rates, that equates to roughly Rs 17 lakh annually.

Dolesh then asks: “And after two or three years of experience, what is the annual income?”

One of the engineers replies: “It will be around 4.5 to 5 million yen.”

Reacting to the figure, Dolesh says: “So almost double.”

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A post shared by Dolesh Agrawal (@200journeys)

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The engineers clarify that this range would translate to around Rs 30 lakh per year when converted into Indian currency. They further state that their annual tax payments amount to nearly Rs 3 lakh.

According to data published by Japan’s National Tax Agency, the average annual salary across industries in Japan is approximately 4.5 million yen, although this varies significantly depending on age, sector and experience. Entry-level pay for new graduates in many fields typically ranges between 2.5 and 3.5 million yen per year.

Technology professionals, particularly software developers, may earn more depending on company size, skill set and language proficiency. International firms and larger domestic corporations often offer higher compensation packages than smaller enterprises. However, Japan’s progressive income tax system, combined with mandatory residence tax and social insurance contributions, can substantially reduce take-home pay.

Income tax rates in Japan range from 5 per cent to 45 per cent depending on earnings, with additional local inhabitant taxes generally set at around 10 per cent. Employees are also required to contribute to pension and health insurance schemes, which further affect net income.

The video prompted a range of responses online.

One user commented: “Everyone might like to see and hear this, but in reality, things are different. They know what their condition is there.”

Another wrote: “15 lakhs salary aur 3 lakhs taxes means waaat.”

A third asked: “Are they doing something for passive income? I think that package is still too low with the tax charged.”

A fourth user challenged the practice of converting salaries into Indian rupees for comparison, stating: “No point talking about Indian man rupee conversion. You earn in Japan and spend in Japan. How does it matter what the value is in India? Japan is a far more expensive country than India.”

Beyond salary figures, Japan’s corporate environment is often discussed internationally for its demanding work patterns. Although reforms in recent years have aimed to address excessive overtime — known locally as “karoshi” when linked to overwork-related health issues — long working hours remain a subject of debate in certain industries.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has previously reported that Japanese employees work fewer hours on average than in past decades, yet work-life balance concerns persist in parts of the corporate sector.