A new residency status for foreign workers called "Automobile Transport Industry" will be added to the specified skill fields in Japan starting April 2024. As a result, there is now a trend within the truck industry to actively recruit foreigners.

For those aiming to become truck drivers, annual income is likely one of the major concerns. Some people might prefer to work where the salary is higher or aim to become a driver in a prefecture where wages are high.
Therefore, this time, we will introduce the prefectures with the highest salaries for truck drivers in a ranking format. We hope this article will help you consider working under better conditions.

1. Average Ranking of Prefectures for Truck Drivers

First, let's introduce the average annual income for truck drivers by prefecture in a ranking format.

Source: Average Annual Income.JP "Detailed Explanation of Truck Driver Income"

The prefecture with the highest average income was Tokyo, with an average income of 5.5 million yen. On the other hand, the prefectures with the lowest average income were Aomori, Akita, Saga, Miyagi, and Okinawa, all with an average income of 3.14 million yen. The difference in average annual income was 2.36 million yen.

2. Why is the salary different among prefectures?

Salaries for truck drivers vary significantly by prefecture.

As mentioned earlier, there is a significant salary difference of 2.36 million yen between taxi drivers working as full-time employees in Tokyo, where the average salary is the highest, and in the prefecture with the lowest average salary. This is not unique to truck drivers, but salaries are determined considering factors such as the cost of living and the payment ability of workers.

Therefore, salaries are higher in regions with high food, rent, and living costs, while they are relatively lower in regions with lower living costs. This way, the relationship between living expenses and salaries maintains a good balance in each region.

In other words, even if you move to a region with high salaries, for some it won't necessarily mean that your lifestyle becomes easier than it is now.

3. Why are truck driver salaries in Tokyo higher compared to other prefectures?

When living alone in Tokyo, the average living cost is said to be around 200,000 yen. On the other hand, when living alone in Okinawa, it is said to be about 100,000 yen.
Prices in Tokyo are high, and rent and food costs are often incomparable to those in rural areas.
Living in Tokyo requires a significant amount of money, which tends to result in higher salaries.

4. Characteristics of those earning more than the average salary

As previously mentioned, moving to a region with high salaries doesn’t necessarily mean your lifestyle will become easier.
However, there are many truck drivers who earn more than the average salary introduced in this article.
Here, we introduce the attributes of truck drivers earning more than the average salary.
For those aiming for a salary increase, please use this as a reference.

Holding Qualifications

The amount of industry-specific and qualification allowances varies by business and prefecture, but the average rates for qualification allowances are as follows:

Salary Structure by Industry and License

2022 Actual Situation of Wages and Working Hours in the Truck Transport Business (Unit: yen)

When looking at driver's wages by license, monthly average wages are higher for towing, followed by large, semi-medium, standard, and medium licenses. By acquiring higher-ranking licenses, it is possible to aim for higher salaries.

Working for a long time

Many employees who earn more than the average salary tend to have worked for a single employer for a long time.

Working for a long time in one place allows opportunities for promotions and raises, gradually increasing wages.
Truck drivers who have been employed for over 10 years can see a wage increase of about 80,000 yen.

Long tenure certainly aims for a guaranteed salary increase.

Working Night Shifts

Working night shifts increases wages due to receiving a night shift allowance.

Under the current Labor Standards Act, for those working between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., it is stipulated that wages should be increased by 25%. This applies to the truck industry as well, and drivers who choose night shifts receive a night shift allowance. A benefit of working at night is that the roads are often less crowded, allowing for smooth driving in a quiet environment. Since you can operate efficiently, the range you can cover expands, leading to increased income and reduced working hours. Night shifts are attractive to car enthusiasts who want to focus on driving, and are perfect for those who wish to enjoy driving at their own pace. For those wanting to increase wages, it is recommended to work night shifts within a range that does not strain health.

5. Aim for a Raise!

This time, we introduced the average salary and annual income by prefecture for truck drivers.
It became clear that the annual income for driver jobs varies greatly depending on the region in which they work.

Given that the cost of living varies by region, moving to an area with a high annual income does not necessarily mean life will become easier.
Moreover, there are many individuals who earn more than the average annual income published in this article.

If you are aiming for a guaranteed salary increase, be sure to use the characteristics of those who earn more than the average salary, as introduced in this article, as a reference.