There are many occupations where you can achieve an annual income of 10 million yen. Consultants, licensed professionals, doctors, and IT engineers are typical examples.
In this article, we explain the percentage of people earning 10 million yen annually, their take-home pay and standard of living, occupations where 10 million yen is achievable, and career paths to get there.
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Percentage of People Earning 10 Million Yen or More
According to the National Tax Agency’s “FY2024 Survey on Private Sector Wage Statistics” released in September 2025, 6.2% of the 51.37 million salary earners had an annual income exceeding 10 million yen.
In other words, approximately 1 in 16 people earns more than 10 million yen annually.
The breakdown by income bracket is shown in the table below.
| Annual Income | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1 million yen or less | 7.7% |
| Over 1M to 2M yen | 11.1% |
| Over 2M to 3M yen | 13.2% |
| Over 3M to 4M yen | 16.1% |
| Over 4M to 5M yen | 15.3% |
| Over 5M to 6M yen | 11.8% |
| Over 6M to 7M yen | 7.6% |
| Over 7M to 8M yen | 5.3% |
| Over 8M to 9M yen | 3.4% |
| Over 9M to 10M yen | 2.4% |
| Over 10M to 15M yen | 4.5% |
| Over 15M to 20M yen | 1.1% |
| Over 20M to 25M yen | 0.3% |
| Over 25M yen | 0.3% |
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Estimated Take-Home Pay on a 10 Million Yen Annual Income
Even with an annual income of 10 million yen, social insurance premiums and taxes are deducted, so your actual take-home pay will be less.
After these deductions, take-home pay is approximately 7 to 7.8 million yen. The estimated monthly take-home is around 510,000 to 660,000 yen — approximately 510,000 yen with a bonus, and approximately 660,000 yen without.
Please note that these figures are estimates. Actual take-home pay varies depending on your situation, such as whether you are single or have dependents, and the applicable deductions.
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What Is the Standard of Living on 10 Million Yen a Year?
With a monthly take-home of approximately 510,000 to 660,000 yen, the following is a rough breakdown of living expenses.
| Housing | 150,000–200,000 yen |
| Food | 70,000–120,000 yen |
| Utilities | 10,000–15,000 yen |
| Communications | 5,000–15,000 yen |
| Transportation | 10,000–30,000 yen |
| Daily necessities | 5,000–10,000 yen |
| Beauty & clothing | 30,000–50,000 yen |
| Medical | 10,000 yen |
| Insurance | 5,000–10,000 yen |
| Entertainment | 50,000–100,000 yen |
| Education | 0–100,000 yen |
| Total | 345,000–660,000 yen |
Keep in mind that these figures are only estimates and can vary greatly depending on your lifestyle and where you live.
In particular, education costs differ significantly depending on whether or not you have children. As children grow, food costs also increase, so total expenditures will gradually rise over time.
Occupations Where a 10 Million Yen Annual Income Is Achievable
An annual income of 10 million yen is achievable across a wide range of industries and job types, not just in specific fields. That said, some occupations are more conducive to reaching this goal than others. Below are representative examples of occupations where a 10 million yen annual income is more easily attainable.
Consultant
One of the first occupations to mention when it comes to achieving a 10 million yen annual income is consulting.
Foreign-affiliated firms in particular tend to offer high salaries, and at strategy consulting firms, it is possible to reach this level relatively early in your career. Even at Japanese firms, achieving the goal within 10 years is not out of reach if you steadily build your career.
Promotions and going independent can lead to income exceeding 10 million yen. To aim for this target, it is important to stay consistent in your work and build skills and knowledge that set you apart from other consultants.
Licensed Professionals (Lawyers, CPAs, Tax Accountants)
Among licensed professionals, lawyers, certified public accountants (CPAs), and tax accountants are among the easiest roles to earn 10 million yen or more. These professions require advanced specialized knowledge and nationally recognized qualifications that are difficult to obtain, so they tend to command high compensation in return.
Deepening your specialization, joining a major firm, or setting up your own practice are all options that increase the likelihood of achieving a 10 million yen annual income.
However, it is not guaranteed for everyone. Especially for those who open their own practice, the risks involved in running a business and income instability should also be considered.
Physician
Physicians have a high average income, making it very feasible to achieve an annual income of 10 million yen.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s “FY2023 Basic Survey on Wage Structure,” the average annual income of physicians is 14,364,700 yen※.
In urban areas, even employed physicians may exceed this level. Physicians who open their own clinics may earn 15 million yen or more.
However, physicians also have significant expenses, including conference attendance fees and costs to maintain specialist qualifications. The tax and social insurance burden is also substantial, so take-home pay does not increase proportionally with gross income.
※ Calculated for companies with 10 or more employees using “monthly scheduled cash wages × 12 months + annual special cash wages”
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “FY2023 Basic Survey on Wage Structure”
Source: Central Social Insurance Medical Council, “Report of the 24th Survey on the Actual State of Medical Economics (Medical Institution Survey)“
IT Engineer
IT engineers with advanced knowledge and skills can also aim for a 10 million yen annual income.
In particular, roles such as project managers and IT consultants require not only technical expertise but also communication and management skills, which tend to result in higher compensation.
Leveraging these abilities at a foreign-affiliated or global company can open the door to significant earnings. Additionally, going freelance and taking on high-paying projects has become an increasingly common path to high income in recent years.
General Trading Company
General trading companies (sogo shosha) operate international businesses across multiple sectors and offer strong prospects for achieving an annual income of 10 million yen or more. At the so-called “Big Five” trading firms in particular, even new graduates can expect high salaries.
At these companies, there are many opportunities to be involved in global business operations and large-scale projects, and reward structures are in place to compensate for strong performance. While broad industry knowledge, language skills, and communication abilities are required, developing these capabilities can lead to both career advancement and high income.
However, frequent transfers and overseas assignments are common, so work-life balance must be carefully considered. Be clear about the type of working style you want, and assess whether a career at a trading company aligns with your own career plan.
Financial Specialist
Specialist roles in the financial industry are among the most representative careers for earning 10 million yen or more annually. In particular, investment banking divisions and fund managers are recognized for their high specialization and ability to respond to market fluctuations, which commands high compensation.
In investment banking, professionals handle complex financial transactions such as M&A (mergers and acquisitions) and fundraising, moving large sums of money. Performance-based incentives have a significant impact on total annual income.
Fund managers are responsible for investing assets entrusted by clients to maximize returns. Since investment performance is directly tied to evaluation, success can lead to substantial compensation.
To aim for a 10 million yen annual income in these roles, deep knowledge of finance is essential, as is advanced analytical ability, risk management capability, and the insight to accurately predict market trends.
Given the high compensation, the work pressure is intense and long working hours are common. The financial specialist world is highly meritocratic and requires a constant drive to keep up with the latest financial knowledge.
Pilot
Pilots are another profession where an annual income of 10 million yen or more is well within reach. In particular, captains at major airlines not infrequently earn over 20 million yen per year.
To become a pilot, one must graduate from an aviation college or a university aviation program and obtain a commercial pilot license, as well as pass rigorous training and examinations.
The job demands constant composure, high concentration, and strict self-management in terms of health. Depending on flight hours and work schedules, life can become irregular, and the physical demands are significant.
However, the sense of mission that comes with flying around the world and being entrusted with the lives of many passengers provides a sense of purpose that few other professions can match. In recent years, the number of LCC (low-cost carrier) pilots has been growing, broadening career path options.
Business Owner / Entrepreneur
Business owners and entrepreneurs have the potential to achieve an annual income of 10 million yen or more depending on their business model. Becoming an officer at a listed company and gaining capital gains is also one approach.
However, success depends heavily on industry selection, market analysis, and the quality of the business strategy. Business owners and entrepreneurs must also bear in mind that income and working hours can be unstable.
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Career Paths to Achieving a 10 Million Yen Annual Income
How can you achieve a 10 million yen annual income? Here are some concrete career paths to consider.
Pursue Promotion and Pay Raises in Your Current Job
Pursuing promotions and pay raises at your current company is one realistic option for achieving a 10 million yen annual income. Building your career at your current company and increasing your market value is key.
Concretely, this means consistently delivering high performance in your role and demonstrating your contribution to company goals. It also means proactively acquiring new knowledge and skills, and developing expertise that aligns with your company’s business strategy.
Examples include improving language skills, obtaining certifications, or studying the latest technologies. These efforts can increase the likelihood of being promoted to a more responsible position or receiving a base salary increase.
Furthermore, building internal networks is essential for promotion and pay raises. Maintaining good communication with your supervisors and colleagues, and appropriately highlighting your contributions, is also important. Conveying your career ambitions and motivation in regular performance reviews is also effective.
Some companies have clearly defined performance evaluation systems and promotion criteria, so understanding these and acting with a plan is another key to success.
Change Jobs to a Higher-Paying Industry or Company
When aiming for a 10 million yen annual income, transitioning to a higher-paying industry or company is an effective strategy.
For example, in the consulting industry, demand is high in strategy firms and IT/technology consulting, and salaries tend to be elevated. Foreign-affiliated companies with a performance-based culture are also options where you can aim for high income from an early stage in your career.
In the financial industry, investment banks, securities firms, and asset management companies tend to offer high salary structures. Generous incentives and bonuses are also characteristic, making it possible to significantly grow your income based on results.
If you are targeting companies with high salary levels, it is important to accurately understand how your skills and experience are valued in the market and research salary benchmarks. Make use of recruitment agencies to find high-income positions that match your market value.
Take On a Performance-Based Role
Performance-based roles are an attractive option for targeting a 10 million yen annual income, as individual ability and effort are directly reflected in earnings.
For example, sales roles dealing in high-value products such as real estate, insurance, or financial products have the potential to achieve a 10 million yen annual income based on results. Sales in the IT industry and M&A advisory are also well-known for their high earning potential through incentives.
Performance-based roles make it easy to stay motivated because your efforts are visibly tied to your income. However, there is also the risk that income becomes unstable if results are not forthcoming.
Therefore, when considering a performance-based role, it is necessary to objectively evaluate your skills, experience, and market value, and carefully assess whether you can consistently deliver results.
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Start a Side Business
If it is difficult to aim for 10 million yen through your main job alone, starting a side business is also an effective approach. Many companies have now approved side work, and the number of crowdsourcing services has grown, lowering the barrier to starting a side business compared to before.
A side business is not just about increasing income — it also helps build skills, know-how, and connections with an eye toward future career changes or going independent.
Side businesses with high earning potential include running tutoring schools or salons, operating secondhand goods stores, programming, and FX (foreign exchange margin trading). These tend to command high unit prices and generate repeat business.
In programming and video editing, it is possible to earn from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yen per project. To aim for 10 million yen through a side business, it helps to consider outsourcing and actively seek out new information.
When combining a main job and a side business to target 10 million yen, a good mental image is earning 6 to 7 million yen from your main job and 3 to 4 million yen from your side business.
Go Independent
Going independent and running your own business outside of a company is also an effective path to a 10 million yen annual income.
For example, going independent as a freelance consultant may allow you to command higher fees than when you were employed. Depending on project rates and working hours, if you can contract with multiple clients by leveraging your skills and experience, exceeding a 10 million yen annual income is well within reach.
However, going independent also carries significant risks. Income can become unstable, and you will need to handle sales and accounting yourself — challenges that differ from those of being a company employee. When considering independence, it is important to develop a solid business plan and proceed carefully with a thorough understanding of the risks involved.
Objectively evaluate your skills and experience, and carefully consider in advance whether you can realistically expect to maintain stable income after going independent.
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Things to Keep in Mind When Aiming for a 10 Million Yen Annual Income
While the goal of a 10 million yen annual income is appealing to many, there are often overlooked aspects that come with high earnings. It is important to understand the specific caveats and think about how to address potential issues that may arise when pursuing a 10 million yen income.
Tax Burden Increases Significantly
At a 10 million yen annual income, despite the high earnings, the tax and social insurance burden becomes considerably heavier.
Taxes deducted from salary and bonuses include income tax and resident tax. Social insurance premiums include health insurance, employee pension insurance, and employment insurance, with long-term care insurance added for those aged 40 and over. The combined total can amount to approximately 20–30% of annual income.
Unlike taxes, social insurance premiums cannot be deducted, so the burden can feel increasingly heavy as income rises. Japan’s income tax also uses a progressive rate system where the rate increases as income grows, meaning the income tax rate reaches 23% once annual income exceeds 10 million yen, further increasing the tax burden.
Work-Life Balance Can Easily Be Disrupted
Occupations that target a 10 million yen annual income or more tend to involve heavy workloads and long working hours.
For example, in specialized fields such as consulting, medicine, and IT engineering, high performance and expertise are demanded, which means being pressed by project deadlines or dealing with urgent matters is not uncommon.
It is common to spend time on work during weekday evenings and on weekends, which can cut into personal time.
As a result, time with family and friends and time for hobbies diminishes, and physical and mental fatigue accumulates more easily — all factors that can disrupt work-life balance.
A 10 million yen annual income is attractive, but achieving it requires considerable determination and effort. For long-term sustainability, it is also important to find ways to manage your health and relieve stress.
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Summary
For those aiming for a 10 million yen annual income, it is important to understand the characteristics of high-paying occupations and the associated advantages and disadvantages.
Concrete methods for achieving a 10 million yen annual income include pursuing promotion and pay raises in your current role, changing jobs to a higher-paying industry, taking on performance-based roles, starting a side business, and going independent. Whichever approach you choose, increased tax burden and maintaining work-life balance may become challenges.
Choose the approach that best fits your career plan and lifestyle.
