How can an IT engineer in Kyoto earn more than ¥10 million?

There are four main routes to earning more than ¥10 million in Kyoto: (1) a senior or management role at an established major company such as Nintendo, Kyocera, or OMRON; (2) a role at a foreign-affiliated company's Kyoto office or a remote role; (3) specialization in a field such as AI, machine learning, Web3, or security; and (4) living in Kyoto while taking a fully remote role at a Tokyo company. The fourth option in particular has spread in recent years as a way to keep a Tokyo-level salary while benefiting from Kyoto's living costs.

How different are IT engineer salaries in Kyoto and Tokyo?

Gross salaries tend to be 10%–20%, or roughly ¥500,000–¥1 million, lower. However, rent in Kyoto is roughly 60%–70% of Tokyo levels and prices are also clearly lower, so disposable income is nearly equivalent; depending on lifestyle, a person may even be better off in Kyoto. Someone who lives in Kyoto while working fully remotely for a Tokyo company can also maintain a Tokyo-level gross salary.

Are side jobs and multiple jobs permitted for IT engineers in Kyoto?

It depends on the company, but more Kyoto IT companies have begun permitting side jobs. They are nearly standard at startups and emerging technology companies, conditionally permitted at established major companies, and dependent on the individual company in contract development and systems integration. Because Kyoto has lower living costs, maintaining your primary salary while increasing total income through additional work is a strong option. Side-job introductions also arise through communities such as Miyako de IT.

How can IT engineers use communities to increase their salaries in Kyoto?

A community does not directly raise your salary, but four effects accumulate: (1) a move to better terms through referral hiring, (2) relationships and visibility that support an internal transfer or promotion, (3) introductions to side work or independent projects, and (4) advanced information from foreign-affiliated companies and startups. The study groups and networking events listed in Miyako de IT's [events](/en/events) and [archive](/en/archive) give Kyoto IT engineers a place to build peer relationships.

The Complete Guide to IT Engineer Salaries in Kyoto: Pay Levels by Experience, Role, and Company (2026 Edition)

Q: What is the average salary for an IT engineer in Kyoto?

Although figures vary by role, years of experience, and company size, the median salary for IT engineers in Kyoto is generally in the ¥5 million–¥6.5 million range. New graduates through third-year engineers earn ¥3.5 million–¥5 million, senior engineers with seven or more years of experience earn ¥7.5 million–¥10 million, and senior-level roles, foreign-affiliated companies, and specialized fields such as AI and Web3 can exceed ¥10 million. Gross salaries tend to be 10%–20% lower than in Tokyo, but lower rent and prices almost eliminate the difference in disposable income.

Q: Which IT engineering roles offer higher salaries in Kyoto?

In Kyoto, roles that tend to pay more include (1) AI and machine-learning engineers, (2) security engineers, (3) Web3 and blockchain engineers, (4) technical leads and managers at foreign-affiliated companies, (5) technical management at established major companies, and (6) embedded-systems and control engineers at Kyoto's hardware manufacturers. Kyoto's proximity to universities and research institutions also makes it easier to work in advanced technical fields.

Key points

- Salary ranges for IT engineers in Kyoto: mid-range ¥4 million–¥7 million; senior ¥7.5 million–¥10 million; senior-level roles more than ¥10 million

- Gross pay is 10%–20% lower than in Tokyo. Lower rent and prices almost eliminate the difference in disposable income

- “Fully remote work for a Tokyo company while living in Kyoto” is becoming an option for optimizing salary

- Higher-paying roles: AI, machine learning, security, Web3, foreign-affiliated companies, and technical management at established major companies

- This article was organized by Miyako de IT, with seven years of operations, more than 615 members, and more than 165 events

Are salaries for IT engineers in Kyoto really lower than in Tokyo? What happens to your standard of living if you move to Kyoto? How can you continue working in Kyoto and increase your salary?

This article organizes the actual salaries of IT engineers in Kyoto along four dimensions: years of experience, role, company type, and comparison with Tokyo. It is a complete 2026 guide that brings together in one page the candid salary discussions heard in practice, from the perspective of operating the IT engineer community Miyako de IT in Kyoto since 2019.

This article focuses specifically on salary data for IT engineers in Kyoto. See 20 IT Companies with Headquarters or Offices in Kyoto for the company list, The Complete Guide to Changing Jobs as an IT Engineer in Kyoto for the career-change process, and The Complete Guide to IT Engineers in Kyoto for the broader picture.

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Salary ranges for IT engineers in Kyoto

Taken as a whole, salaries for IT engineers in Kyoto fall within the following ranges.

Level	Salary range	Median
New graduate through third year (junior)	¥3.5 million–¥5 million	About ¥4.2 million
Mid-level (3–7 years)	¥5 million–¥7.5 million	About ¥6 million
Senior (7 years and above)	¥7.5 million–¥10 million	About ¥8.5 million
Senior-level	¥10 million and above	Varies substantially by field and individual

These are rough indicative ranges based on job-site and recruitment-agent data and on community observations from salary discussions in Miyako de IT. Except for foreign-affiliated companies and senior positions at established major companies, most IT engineers in Kyoto fall somewhere within these ranges.

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Salary levels by years of experience

New graduate through third year (junior): ¥3.5 million–¥5 million

Starting monthly pay for new graduates at IT companies in Kyoto is generally ¥220,000–¥280,000, and many begin at an annual salary of ¥3 million–¥4 million. Growth to ¥4 million–¥5 million by the third year is common. Established major companies and popular internet companies may offer more than ¥4 million from the first year.

Mid-level (3–7 years): ¥5 million–¥7.5 million

Engineers pass the ¥5 million threshold when they become able to work independently on technical tasks. Expanding into roles such as prospective technical lead or Scrum Master can bring pay to ¥6 million–¥7 million. Foreign-affiliated companies and startups may offer salaries in the ¥8 million range in the fifth through seventh years.

Senior (7 years and above): ¥7.5 million–¥10 million

This is the point where careers diverge into management or specialization. Management roles pay ¥8 million–¥10 million, while specialists in fields such as AI, security, and Web3 may earn ¥9 million–¥12 million depending on the field. Multiple openings for deputy general manager and general manager positions at established major companies offer more than ¥10 million.

Senior-level: ¥10 million and above

This level includes roles at Kyoto offices of foreign-affiliated companies and remote positions, senior management at established major companies, specialized skills such as expertise in AI, machine learning, security, or Web3, and CTO or VPoE positions. It also includes founders and co-founders of Kyoto startups.

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Salaries by role

Salaries by role in Kyoto generally show the following tendencies.

AI and machine-learning engineers: ¥6 million–¥12 million. Proximity to universities and research institutions benefits this field
Security engineers: ¥7 million–¥12 million. Scarcity of specialists can push salaries higher
Web3 and blockchain engineers: ¥7 million–¥15 million. There are many startups, and total compensation varies substantially when stock options are included
Backend engineers (web): ¥5 million–¥9 million
Frontend engineers (web): ¥5 million–¥9 million
Full-stack engineers: ¥5.5 million–¥9.5 million
Mobile engineers: ¥5 million–¥9 million
Site reliability and infrastructure engineers: ¥6 million–¥11 million
Embedded-systems and control engineers: ¥5 million–¥9 million. Demand is stable because Kyoto has many hardware companies
Systems integrators and contract development: ¥4 million–¥8 million. Varies by project scale and role
Quality assurance and testing: ¥4 million–¥7.5 million
Data engineers: ¥6 million–¥10 million
Project and product managers: ¥7 million–¥12 million

Keep in mind that all of these figures vary substantially with experience, company size, and employment arrangement.

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Salary levels by company type

Kyoto's IT companies can be divided broadly into four categories. See IT Companies in Kyoto for details.

Established technology companies (Nintendo, Kyocera, SCREEN, OMRON, Murata Manufacturing, and Nidec): new graduates ¥4.2 million–¥5 million; senior ¥8 million–¥12 million; senior positions ¥10 million–¥18 million
Internet companies such as Hatena: new graduates ¥4 million–¥5 million; senior ¥7 million–¥10 million
Systems integrators and contract development: new graduates ¥3.2 million–¥4.2 million; senior ¥5.5 million–¥8 million
Startups and ventures: new graduates ¥3.8 million–¥5.5 million; senior ¥6 million–¥12 million, including stock options

Established technology companies offer strong year-on-year stability, while startups have wider variation but greater upside potential.

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Salary comparison with Tokyo

Is the claim that “salaries are lower in Kyoto” true? The data suggests that gross pay is 10%–20%, or ¥500,000–¥1 million, lower.

Measure	Tokyo	Kyoto
Median salary for mid-level engineers	About ¥7 million	About ¥6 million
Rent for a centrally located one-bedroom apartment	¥180,000–¥280,000	¥100,000–¥150,000
Prices, including food	Baseline of 100	About 85–90
Disposable income, approximate	About ¥4.3 million	About ¥4.2 million

Even when gross pay is lower, the difference in rent and prices makes disposable income nearly equivalent. When reduced commuting stress, a rich natural and cultural environment, and satisfaction with food are considered, many people feel their quality of life is higher in Kyoto.

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Five strategies for increasing your salary in Kyoto

1. Take a fully remote role at a Tokyo company

This has become the most effective strategy in recent years. Taking a fully remote role paying ¥8 million–¥12 million while living in Kyoto creates the combination of a Tokyo-level salary and Kyoto-level living costs. Openings are particularly plentiful for Go, TypeScript, Rust, AI engineering, site reliability engineering, and security.

2. Specialize in AI, security, or Web3

Becoming an expert in a specialized field makes a salary of more than ¥10 million realistic even from a Kyoto base. Universities and research institutions are nearby in Kyoto, making advanced work through academia–industry collaboration more accessible. See Why Kyoto Needs IT Engineer Communities for Academia–Industry Collaboration.

3. Move to an established technology company or major company

Senior roles at Nintendo, Kyocera, OMRON, SCREEN Holdings, Murata Manufacturing, and Nidec can put salaries above ¥10 million within reach. Competition is high, but they are an option for combining salary and stability.

4. Raise your base through multiple jobs or side work

Kyoto's lower living costs make it easier to add income from side work to your primary salary. Stabilizing side income at ¥100,000–¥300,000 per month raises effective annual income by ¥1 million–¥4 million.

5. Become independent or incorporate

Office and company-registration costs are lower in Kyoto than in Tokyo, reducing the barrier to independence. It is easier to create an environment in which community-referred projects sustain you while you focus on your own service.

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How to maintain your salary with fully remote roles

These are practical points for securing a high-paying Tokyo role on a fully remote basis.

Able to work in English: English raises salary prospects for Kyoto-based remote roles at foreign-affiliated companies and overseas startups
Current technology stack: Experience with modern stacks such as Go, Rust, TypeScript, Next.js, and AI implementation
Open-source contributions: A record on GitHub improves the likelihood of passing document screening
Community speaking experience: Presenting at lightning-talk events and study groups strengthens your self-promotion; opportunities are available at Miyako de IT events
Prepare an English résumé as well: This helps in document screening at foreign-affiliated companies

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Using communities to increase your salary

A community does not directly raise your salary, but the following four effects accumulate.

1. Moving to better terms through referral hiring — Offers tend to be ¥1 million–¥2 million higher than through recruitment agents

2. Relationships and visibility that support an internal transfer or promotion — Many companies value external activity

3. Introductions to side work and independent projects — Continuing projects arise through relationships of trust

4. Advanced information from foreign-affiliated companies and startups — Market salary levels and openings reach you naturally

The Kyoto IT engineer community Miyako de IT holds co-working study sessions, networking events, and hands-on workshops once or twice each month on its events page. If this is your first time, begin with the first-time participant guide.

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Frequently asked questions

Q. What is the average salary for an IT engineer in Kyoto?

Figures vary by role and experience, but the median is in the ¥5 million–¥6.5 million range. New graduates through third-year engineers earn ¥3.5 million–¥5 million, senior engineers earn ¥7.5 million–¥10 million, and senior-level positions exceed ¥10 million.

Q. How can I earn more than ¥10 million in Kyoto?

Four realistic routes are a senior role at an established major company, remote work for a foreign-affiliated company, specialization in a field such as AI or Web3, and fully remote work for a Tokyo company.

Q. How different are salaries in Kyoto and Tokyo?

Gross salaries are 10%–20%, or ¥500,000–¥1 million, lower. However, the difference in rent and prices makes disposable income nearly equivalent.

Q. Which IT engineering roles offer salary growth in Kyoto?

AI and machine learning, security, Web3, technical leads at foreign-affiliated companies, technical management at established major companies, and embedded-systems and control engineering offer higher pay.

Q. Is side work permitted in Kyoto?

It depends on the company, but more startups and emerging technology companies permit it. Combining a primary job with side work is effective for raising total income.

Q. Does community participation affect salary?

It does not raise salary directly, but referral hiring, introductions to side work, and information from foreign-affiliated companies can support long-term salary growth.

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Conclusion: evaluate Kyoto IT engineer salaries through disposable income and lifestyle

Comparing IT engineer salaries in Kyoto with Tokyo only by gross pay leaves important factors out. Evaluating the combination of disposable income and lifestyle, including rent, prices, commuting stress, and the cultural environment, is the key to understanding the value of working in Kyoto.

The spread of fully remote roles is also making “a Tokyo-level salary and Kyoto's living costs” a practical option. Miyako de IT holds events each month as a place where information about the salaries, careers, and career changes of Kyoto IT engineers arises naturally.

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