Finished language school and have being offered a salary of ¥275,000/m for a job in video production.
I basically have no concept of what a fair and acceptable wage is here in Japan, so I’m asking Reddit.
This job involves multiple disciplines (for those familiar with video production, everything from pre, to principle, to post), but is mainly geared around camera work and editing.
40h/week, no extra pay during overtime or work on off days, no other benefits like everyday the commuting expenses.
For what it’s worth, I do get days worked on off days back as holidays though to be used at another time, and about 2 weeks off during Christmas as a company policy since the company is half owner by a European who wants to celebrate Christmas. The 10 vacation days, if unused don’t roll over into the next year though.
I worked freelance in Europe for a long time, so exact years of experience is hard to count, but let’s say it’s 4. In reality though, I’ve been doing professional video work for nearly a decade.
I’m not new at this, and I’m not a recent graduate either.
Lastly, I know the guy before me who’s since gone on to do freelance was payed ¥300,000 by the time he left.
Personally, I find this offer low, but like I said, that’s coming from my experience in Europe and I have no real concept of what wages are here.
(This is in Tokyo by the way)
What do you think Reddit?
20 comments
Are you missing a 0? Because 27k yen a month would be way below minimum wage. 💀
That’s 270.000 yen a month right? Not 27,000 yen? Because if so, you can work at a konbini one day a week and get more than that.
I should note, that 270,000 yen is perfectly in-line with entry-level work at most companies in Japan, in fact it was more than I was getting in my first job here.
270k, right?
It’s less then we pay, but with video editing, I couldn’t give a rats fart how many years of experience you have. I want to see your portfolio of work and if it matches the style I want, or shows breadth of talent, then we’ll pay appropriately.
You can live off of 270,000/month, but it’s pretty light especially if you’re in major cities. If they are specifically telling you no overtime and no commute benefits, I’d be looking elsewhere.
Is a good entry level salary, except for the lack of benefits. I would inquiry further about the commute costs, because is really common to have them covered you are hired as a correct employee
It’s low but a lot of salaries in media are because it’s seen as a glamorous and connected industry so demand for these occupations is high and companies can get away with dogshit pay.
Use the gig to network for the contacts it gives you and avoid getting trapped into endless hours working in the office for free. Japanese companies have no concept of time management and often see their employees as possessions rather than people.
EDIT: People on this sub often write glowingly of the merits of low cost living in Japan compared to [insert OECD nation here] ignoring the fact that the objective in life is not to be squatting on the tatami nibbling on a piece of senbei but to be actually be out there living a life. Especially if you want to progress your career.
For a salaried job, you should at least negotiate a commuting allowance. Every bit helps if you’re on a basic income.
I’m in the industry, and I can guess which company you’re talking about.
It’s really a difficult questions whether this is fair. Since you know production and know how tough it sometimes can be, you know that you can be paid much more on a freelance basis — but it’s inconsistent work
Might be worth doing for a year, and then see from there.
I think they are offering full time position, so that means they are paying for half of your health insurance and pension. Also is the fact that they will be sponsoring your visa, which is an additional cost on the company.
Also if your Japanese is good, that can get you a big plus in negotiating the salary.
One thing to note is that as a full time kaishain, there could be bonus involved, which depending on the company can be pretty high sometimes( 2 months salary , 2 times a year, etc) that is why in japan normally they will tell you the yearly salary rather than the monthly, or tell you it is a 14 month year salary with the extra months as bonus… )
Commute also is normally paid by the company ( reimbursed at the end of the month). Should be also on the negotiated contract.
Working as a freelancer in Japan will get you more, but that is basically relying on your local networking which normally you acquire after working in the industry, going to lots of nomikais with clients and such… also it is implicitly understood by the clients that freelancers have to pay their taxes by themselves so a “higher fee” compared to a monthly salary of the same work is not frowned upon.
That’s my insight. In my case on the videogame industry but video should be pretty similar.
Also don’t forget the yen right now is not doing well, so any comparison of salary with the US or Europe should easily sound way less… but if you are planning to stay long term in Japan, then 270k is a pretty good starting point.
( btw after deductions you will be getting like 210k.. and possibly get an extra if you go over those 40 minashi zangyo hours, which in Japanese media industry will be the case so brace yourself)
Is this a contract role (eg yearly renewable) or a full time role (正社員 せいしゃいん)?
I think commutation allowance is mandatory for a full time role.
270 is okay if you have benefits. But since you don’t get anything you need to do some calculations. Commuting is expensive. Just there you got like 15-20K disappearing from your salary unless you live close to the office ofc but I’m assuming you won’t.
That would be a miserable wage to live on in Tokyo. And with experience it’s an insult considering the lack of benefits. I was on 28ish man per month in Osaka and even with cheap 6man rent I could barely afford to do anything.
27man a month is similar to 40k usd a year in non high CoL cities in the US. its low but livable
The salary is low, but pretty common for an entry-level position.
The lack of any benefits is a huge bummer though. Personally I would not take it because of that, unless it’s all you can find and you need income now.
It sounds low, try to negotiate for at least 300k per month.
Is “no extra pay during overtime or work on off days” even legal? Disregard of the law seems like a pretty big red flag to me.
At a minimum they should be paying commuting expenses as that is standard.
New grads no matter what industry generally make ¥198-225k/month. If the guy before you was making 300k and you have no professional experience with a team I’m sure it’s a fair wage. I would of tried to get the commuting allowance involved though (like 500-800¥ per day)
I’d suggest grind for a year and move on.
Been working for about a year on 270,000 in a different industry. With taxes cut down, you get about 230-240k in hand. It’s JUST enough. I barely have any savings or investments and whatever I do save up gets blown on small trips to get away from the city.
It’s not enough, unless you are planning to live paycheck to paycheck kind of lifestyle.
We pay 350,000 yen plus some pretty excellent benefits. I feel it’s a bit low but it’s a new position at our company and our video team isn’t making the company any money yet.
The problem is that these jobs are few and far between and most video editors are actually working teaching jobs while they try to scrounge up enough freelance. Having a paycheck that’s consistent and doing what you love is a nice thing. Employers will take advantage of that and offer low salaries. That said- when they “take advantage of you” you could be polishing up your skills in that time and eventually be skilled enough to break off and do freelance full time. That’s what the guy before you did.