In the Second World War, Japanese military wages were considered low in comparison to U.S. or European wages. A Japanese Army general received a basic pay of 550 yen per month (or roughly 126.5 U.S. dollars), whereas the lowest class of private received just six* yen per month (or 1.38 U.S. dollars). The source notes, however, that living costs were lower in Japan, and that additional pay was available for service personnel based on factors such as location, length of service, and specialized roles.
Basic monthly wage rates in the Japanese Army during the Second World War in 1944
(in Japanese yen)
*For display purposes, middle values have been given in cases where a range of wages was given. Ranks with multiple classes and their wage ranges are as follows:
Colonel: 310 - 370 yen (three pay classes)
Lieutenant colonel: 220 - 310 yen (four pay classes)
Major: 170 - 220 yen (four pay classes)
Captain: 122 - 155 yen (three pay classes)
First lieutenant: 85 - 94.16 yen (two pay classes)
Warrant officer: 80-110 yen (four pay classes)
Sergeant major: 32 - 75 yen (four pay classes)
Sergeant: 23 - 30 yen (three pay classes)
Second-class private: 6 - 9 yen (Grades B and A respectively)
The source notes that one yen was equal to approximately 0.23 U.S. dollars (or 14 pre-decimal British pence) before December 7, 1941.
Release data is date of most recent online access. Original date of publication: September 15, 1944.
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US Department of Defense, & Google books, & Internet Archive. (September 23, 2022). Basic monthly wage rates in the Japanese Army during the Second World War in 1944 (in Japanese yen) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334852/wwii-japan-military-wages-by-rank/
US Department of Defense, und Google books, und Internet Archive. "Basic monthly wage rates in the Japanese Army during the Second World War in 1944 (in Japanese yen)." Chart. September 23, 2022. Statista. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334852/wwii-japan-military-wages-by-rank/
US Department of Defense, Google books, Internet Archive. (2022). Basic monthly wage rates in the Japanese Army during the Second World War in 1944 (in Japanese yen). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334852/wwii-japan-military-wages-by-rank/
US Department of Defense, and Google books, and Internet Archive. "Basic Monthly Wage Rates in The Japanese Army during The Second World War in 1944 (in Japanese Yen)." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Sep 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334852/wwii-japan-military-wages-by-rank/
US Department of Defense & Google books & Internet Archive, Basic monthly wage rates in the Japanese Army during the Second World War in 1944 (in Japanese yen) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334852/wwii-japan-military-wages-by-rank/ (last visited November 22, 2024)
Basic monthly wage rates in the Japanese Army during the Second World War in 1944 (in Japanese yen) [Graph], US Department of Defense, & Google books, & Internet Archive, September 23, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334852/wwii-japan-military-wages-by-rank/
