Software Engineer: United States vs Japan
Side-by-side salary comparison · Estimated based on OECD & BLS data
🇺🇸 United States pays 93% more
United States
USD
Estimated Salary (USD)
$119,000
per year
Local Currency (USD)
$119,000
per year
PPP Adjusted
$106,449
purchasing power
Big Mac Power
20,914
burgers / year
Global Percentile
Top 0%
Japan
JPY
Estimated Salary (USD)
$61,655
per year
Local Currency (JPY)
¥9,186,595
per year
PPP Adjusted
$138,619
purchasing power
Big Mac Power
20,416
burgers / year
Global Percentile
Bottom 48%
Visual Comparison
Salary (USD)
PPP Adjusted (USD)
Big Mac Power (burgers/year)
Key Takeaways
- ●
Software Engineers in United States earn 93% more than in Japan (nominal USD).
- ●
After adjusting for purchasing power (PPP), Japan actually leads by 30%.
- ●
Using the Big Mac Index, a Software Engineer's salary buys 1.0x more Big Macs in United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays Software Engineers more: United States or Japan?▾
United States pays Software Engineers an estimated $119,000 USD per year, which is 93% more than Japan's estimated $61,655 USD.
What is the PPP-adjusted salary for a Software Engineer in United States vs Japan?▾
The PPP-adjusted salary is $106,449 USD in United States and $138,619 USD in Japan. PPP adjustment accounts for cost of living differences between the two countries.
How does the purchasing power compare for Software Engineers?▾
Using the Big Mac Index, a Software Engineer in United States can buy about 20,914 Big Macs per year, while in Japan it's about 20,416 Big Macs.
Estimated based on OECD & BLS data. Actual salaries vary by experience, company, and region. Data is for informational purposes only.
Sources: BLS OEWS · OECD · World Bank · Big Mac Index