71. Average Salaries of Public School Teachers in Japan　

Shoji Sugita

Introduction

　　　　Average salaries of public school teachers in the U. S.are reported by the National Education
　　　　Association　and I have described the outline of it as 52 Average Salaries of Public School Teachers.
　　　　In Japan, however, the Japan Teachers Union and the Ministry of Education, Science and
　　　　Technolodgy don't　report the teacher's salaries to the public.　I will, at first, assume an average
　　　　public school teacher in Japan using some official datas and then will esteem the salary and
　　　　some other issues.

Ⅰ Average Year of Teaching Experience of Japanese Public School Teachers
　　　○　Elementary school teachers .............. 19.7 years
　　　○　Junior high school teachers ................17.7 years
　　　( Source: The Ministry of Education, 2001Report)

Ⅱ　Average Age of Public School Teachers　42 years old
　　　　Most public school teachers are employed at the age of 22 or 23. They are given a one-year
　　　　probationary period and have to receive training, but at the end of their probationary period,
　　　　most of them (more than 99.9 %) will become certificated teachers and will get tenures.

Ⅲ Table of Salaries of Japanese Public School Teachers
　　　　In Japan, there is a Prefectural Civil Service Commission in any prefecture that is independent
　　　　of the　Gervonment and is impartial to the salaries of public employees, including public school
　　　　teachers. It acts as the third impartial organization and researches the salaries of private businesses
　　　　and schools, comparing　that of public employees for a given year. If necessary, it will reccomend to
　　　　the the Governor and the　Prefectural Assembly to improve or reduce the salaries. Later, the
　　　　Governor amends the new bill and the　Assembly incorporate it into their regulation.

　　　　Before the recommendation, the Commission has to consider the Table of the Salaries made by
　　　　the　National Personnel Authority, so, the teachers of the same age and years of teaching experience
　　　　and　their salaries are almost the same in any prefecture in Japan.

　Table of the Salaries of Public School Teachers for Elementary & Junior High School
　 (2001-02)

	Teachers Yen (a month)	Head-teachers 　Yen (a month)	Principal Yen(a　month)
Grade
1	－－	278,500	413,300
2	156,500	292,500	422,400
3	175,000	306,700	431,100
4	184,200	320,900	439,800
5	195,300	335,000	448,200
6	202,500	348,600	456,200
7	210,100	359,500	464,410
8	217,900	369,500	471,500
9	226,100	379,900	478,700
10	237,600	389,000	485,600
11	249,800	397,700	492,280
12	262,000	406,100	500,100
13	275,000	414,400	506,800
14	288,200	422,200	512,100
15	301,700	429,900	516,200
16	315,700	437,300
17	329,700	444,300
18	342,700	451,000
19	352,900	457,700
20	362,900	463,800
21	372,900	469,300
22	381,400	474,100
23	389,800	478,400
24	397,600	482,200
25	404,700	485,400
26	411,200	488,400
27	417,000
28	422,400	Note: $1= \120 　　　　　　　\:Yen
29	427,400	Grade= Years of teaching experience
30	432,300
31	437,100
32	441,300
33	445,500
34	449,700
35	453,300
36	455,900

(Note) 1. From 2003, the salaries will be just a little reduced.
　　　　2. The Salary of Public Senior High School Teachers is a little higher than that of
　　　　　　this Table.

Ⅳ　Monthlty Salary and Bonus of an Average Teacher

　　　1. According to the Table above, an average teacher will have at least 20 years teaching
　　　　experience and the Monthly salary is \362,900
　　　2. At present in Japan a public school teacher will get "Adjustment Allowance" that is like
　　　　extra salary and is equivalent to Monthly Salary X 4 %, an average teacher will get \14,516
　　　　a month.
　　　　Therefore, the combined total is \ 377,416 a month. and \ 4528,992 per year.

　　　3. Bonus
　　　　In Japan, a public school teacher will get a Bonus two times each year, in June and December,
　　　　and the bonus amount is equivalent to Monthly salary X 4.7. Therefore, the total for this teacher
　　　　\1773855..
　　　　(Note: From 2003, Bonus will be reduced to 4.65 monthly salary)

　　　4. Therefore, altogether, the average teacher will get \6302847 per year. except "Adjustment
　　　　Allowance", .
　　　　This is as same as the average salaries of public school　teachers in Michigan and the State of
　　　　New York which are ranked 3rd or 4th rank in the U. S.

Ⅴ　Financial System on Salaries of Public School Teachers
　　　　In Japan, the Salaries of Public School Teachers are not paid by the local school board or the
　　　　local　government, but paid by the Prefectural Government. This system is ruled on the National
　　　　Treasury Load Law, so,a local community, if poor, doesn't need to be anxious about the payment

　　　　And the half of the payment are expended to the Prefectural Governmen by the National 　
　　　Gervernment. The system also is ruled by the National Load Law, so a Prefectural Govenment, if
　　　not so rich, doesn't need to be anxious about the payment so much, as well.

　　　　The Laws make it possible for the local communities, the school boards and the Prefectures to
　　　　keep good teachers and maintain a good standard of public education all over Japan. It's a good
　　　　system for educaton, but sometimes makes the teachers reluctant to work hard. Unfortunately in
　　　　reality, the circumstances may be a little worse in the Japanese public school education.

Ⅵ　Others : Allowances
　　　○　Regional Allowance ......... At presen None, except in remote areas
　　　○　Supporting Family Allowance.....For unemployed-wife or husband, and children
　　　○　Commuting Allowance
　　　○　Head-teacher Allowance & Head-teacher of Instruction Allowance
　　　○　some others　　　　

　December 20, 2002 described