How much does the JET Programme pay?

Last checked: 2026-11-06

The JET Programme pays about 4,020,000 yen before tax in the first year. This figure is from the 2027 application guidelines, for people who arrive in 2027, and CLAIR's 2026-27 handbook gives the same amount. Pay rises each year if you are reappointed.

JET pay by year

Year of appointment	Pay per year, before tax
Year 1	About 4,020,000 yen
Year 2	About 4,140,000 yen
Year 3	About 4,260,000 yen
Year 4	About 4,320,000 yen
Year 5	About 4,320,000 yen

Figures apply to the 2027 application year. The 2026 guidelines we saw list the same amounts. Years 4 and 5 are only for participants the contracting organisation considers particularly outstanding.

Is pay the same for ALT, CIR and SEA?

Yes, before tax. The JET FAQ says the amount before tax does not depend on job type. See CIR vs ALT for how the jobs differ.

What comes out of your pay

Tax: you pay Japanese income tax and residence tax if they apply.
Insurance and pension: joining a mutual aid association, paying into the pension programme and paying employment insurance are all mandatory. Part of the cost is taken from your monthly pay.
Leaving Japan: you may have to pay part of your residence tax in one lump sum before you leave.

We found no official take-home figure, so we do not give one. See how much you can save on JET for a worked example, and resident tax in your first year for when that bill starts. It depends on your tax position and your contracting organisation. For home-country tax, CLAIR says this is each participant's own responsibility.

If you work less than a full year

Your pay is reduced in proportion to the time you work.

Why you may see lower numbers online

Older pages may show 3,360,000 yen for the first year. A 2011 government notice set about that amount from fiscal 2012. It is not the current figure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave about 4,020,000 yen in a June 2025 paper, which matches the 2027 guidelines.

What about private schools and dispatch companies?

This page covers JET only. There is no single official salary for private employers, so we do not give a figure. Check the written offer from the employer. For licensed teachers in Japanese schools, see official MEXT teacher pay.

Next, read the JET requirements, the application timeline and the start-up costs.

How we checked: on November 6, 2026 we read the 2027 guidelines from the embassies in New Zealand, India, Singapore and the Philippines, and CLAIR's 2026-27 handbook, from the original PDFs. All give these pay figures, and the UK embassy page and JET Program USA match. The JET Programme website showed a maintenance notice that day, so the line on job types comes from FAQ text read through a search tool.