Fiscal Year 2026 Survey on Starting Salaries for New Graduates
The Institute for Labor Administration has released preliminary results from its survey on starting salaries for new graduates in fiscal year 2026. Among 205 Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed companies surveyed, 75.6% raised initial salaries, with an average of 265,708 yen for university graduates.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 11:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 12:35 (1h 3m after Collected)
The Institute for Labor Administration, a private research organization headed by Hiroshi Inomata, is currently surveying the starting salaries for new graduates joining companies in April this year. We are pleased to present the preliminary results compiled from 205 Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed companies from which data was obtained by April 9.
**[Key Survey Findings]**
1. **Status of Initial Salary Revisions in Fiscal Year 2026**
In recent years, with intensifying competition for new graduate recruitment due to the declining young labor force, and the establishment of significant wage increases driven by rising prices, there has been a notable succession of companies substantially raising initial salaries.
Across all industries for Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed companies (205 companies), the percentage of companies that “raised initial salaries across all academic backgrounds” from the previous fiscal year was 75.6%. While this is a 7.6 percentage point decrease from the 83.2% recorded in the preliminary survey of fiscal year 2025, it still accounts for approximately three-quarters of the companies. Companies that “maintained initial salaries across all academic backgrounds” constituted 21.5%, a 7.3 percentage point increase from the 14.2% in the preliminary survey of fiscal year 2025 [Figure 1].
[Figure 1] Status of Initial Salary Revisions
2. **Initial Salary Levels**
Looking at initial salary levels by academic background across all industries, the figures were 265,708 yen for university graduates (when initial salaries are set uniformly without differentiation; hereinafter, “uniform”), 282,645 yen for master's degree graduates, 231,975 yen for junior college graduates, and 217,981 yen for high school graduates (uniform) [Figure 3].
*See PDF for Figure 2.
[Figure 3] Fiscal Year 2026 Determined Initial Salary Levels, Increase Amounts, and Increase Rates for the Same Company
[Note] For high school and university graduates, the survey also covers differentiated settings such as “core staff/support staff” in addition to “uniform” (the same applies hereinafter).
3. **Revision Status and Distribution of Increase Amounts for University Graduates**
For university graduates (uniform), “increase” was 85.6%, and “unchanged” was 14.4% from the previous fiscal year. Among those that increased salaries, the most common increase amount was “10,000 to less than 12,000 yen” at 20.7%. The average increase amount for those that raised salaries was 16,754 yen [Figures 4, 5].
[Figure 4] Fiscal Year 2026 Determined Initial Salary Revision Status by Academic Background
[Figure 5] Fiscal Year 2026 Determined Initial Salary Increase Amount Distribution by Academic Background
[Note] Data compiled from companies that responded “increase” in [Figure 4].
○For full details of the release, please check the PDF from the URL below:
https://www.rosei.or.jp/attach/labo/research/pdf/000090842.pdf
○The details of this survey will be introduced in Issue No. 4119 (26. 5. 8/22) of “Rosei Jihou,” edited by our institute.
Click here for “WEB Rosei Jihou”
*This survey result is an article exclusive to paid members.
**[Survey and Compilation Outline]**
1. **Survey Items**
Determined initial salaries for new employees joining in April 2026, finalized by wage revisions in fiscal year 2026 (by academic background). Initial salaries are, in principle, scheduled wages including various allowances, excluding overtime pay and commuting allowances. Fixed overtime pay (fixed payment for a certain amount of overtime work, etc.) is excluded from the compilation.
2. **Survey Period and Method**
Survey questionnaires were sent out in late March, and telephone interviews were also conducted. Data received by April 9 was compiled.
3. **Survey and Compilation Target**
Survey questionnaires were sent to 1,543 Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed companies, and results were compiled from 205 responding companies.
**[Overview of the Institute for Labor Administration]**
◆Established: July 1930 (Transitioned to a general incorporated foundation in April 2013)
◆President: Hiroshi Inomata
◆Business Activities:
①Editing of “Rosei Jihou,” a specialized information magazine for HR and labor, and WEB content
②Editing of practical books on HR, labor, and labor relations
③Research on HR and labor management
◆Location: Sumitomo Fudosan Nishi-Gotanda Bldg. 3F, 3-6-21 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0031
◆URL: https://www.rosei.or.jp/
Keywords:
**[Key Survey Findings]**
1. **Status of Initial Salary Revisions in Fiscal Year 2026**
In recent years, with intensifying competition for new graduate recruitment due to the declining young labor force, and the establishment of significant wage increases driven by rising prices, there has been a notable succession of companies substantially raising initial salaries.
Across all industries for Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed companies (205 companies), the percentage of companies that “raised initial salaries across all academic backgrounds” from the previous fiscal year was 75.6%. While this is a 7.6 percentage point decrease from the 83.2% recorded in the preliminary survey of fiscal year 2025, it still accounts for approximately three-quarters of the companies. Companies that “maintained initial salaries across all academic backgrounds” constituted 21.5%, a 7.3 percentage point increase from the 14.2% in the preliminary survey of fiscal year 2025 [Figure 1].
[Figure 1] Status of Initial Salary Revisions
2. **Initial Salary Levels**
Looking at initial salary levels by academic background across all industries, the figures were 265,708 yen for university graduates (when initial salaries are set uniformly without differentiation; hereinafter, “uniform”), 282,645 yen for master's degree graduates, 231,975 yen for junior college graduates, and 217,981 yen for high school graduates (uniform) [Figure 3].
*See PDF for Figure 2.
[Figure 3] Fiscal Year 2026 Determined Initial Salary Levels, Increase Amounts, and Increase Rates for the Same Company
[Note] For high school and university graduates, the survey also covers differentiated settings such as “core staff/support staff” in addition to “uniform” (the same applies hereinafter).
3. **Revision Status and Distribution of Increase Amounts for University Graduates**
For university graduates (uniform), “increase” was 85.6%, and “unchanged” was 14.4% from the previous fiscal year. Among those that increased salaries, the most common increase amount was “10,000 to less than 12,000 yen” at 20.7%. The average increase amount for those that raised salaries was 16,754 yen [Figures 4, 5].
[Figure 4] Fiscal Year 2026 Determined Initial Salary Revision Status by Academic Background
[Figure 5] Fiscal Year 2026 Determined Initial Salary Increase Amount Distribution by Academic Background
[Note] Data compiled from companies that responded “increase” in [Figure 4].
○For full details of the release, please check the PDF from the URL below:
https://www.rosei.or.jp/attach/labo/research/pdf/000090842.pdf
○The details of this survey will be introduced in Issue No. 4119 (26. 5. 8/22) of “Rosei Jihou,” edited by our institute.
Click here for “WEB Rosei Jihou”
*This survey result is an article exclusive to paid members.
**[Survey and Compilation Outline]**
1. **Survey Items**
Determined initial salaries for new employees joining in April 2026, finalized by wage revisions in fiscal year 2026 (by academic background). Initial salaries are, in principle, scheduled wages including various allowances, excluding overtime pay and commuting allowances. Fixed overtime pay (fixed payment for a certain amount of overtime work, etc.) is excluded from the compilation.
2. **Survey Period and Method**
Survey questionnaires were sent out in late March, and telephone interviews were also conducted. Data received by April 9 was compiled.
3. **Survey and Compilation Target**
Survey questionnaires were sent to 1,543 Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed companies, and results were compiled from 205 responding companies.
**[Overview of the Institute for Labor Administration]**
◆Established: July 1930 (Transitioned to a general incorporated foundation in April 2013)
◆President: Hiroshi Inomata
◆Business Activities:
①Editing of “Rosei Jihou,” a specialized information magazine for HR and labor, and WEB content
②Editing of practical books on HR, labor, and labor relations
③Research on HR and labor management
◆Location: Sumitomo Fudosan Nishi-Gotanda Bldg. 3F, 3-6-21 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0031
◆URL: https://www.rosei.or.jp/
Keywords: