Last time, I presented a table showing annual and monthly incomes and compared them to the national averages.<\/p>\n
In this post, I\u2019ll discuss \u201cWhy is there such a big difference between small and medium-sized companies and large corporations?,\u201d \u201cThe key differences between construction managers and skilled workers,\u201d and \u201cHow do certifications affect annual income?\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Large](\"https:\/\/norimen.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/35cd61d95c9749cd9ba98706083f0af5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
Local Small and Medium-Sized Businesses vs. Major General Contractors: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/h2>\n
The root cause of this difference is\"Scale and Unit Price of Construction Projects We Can Undertake\"<\/strong>That's it.<\/p>\n Major companies handle construction projects worth hundreds of millions or billions.<\/p>\n There is a significant difference in the absolute amount of \u201cmanagement fees and miscellaneous expenses\u201d included in the construction costs.<\/p>\n The resulting labor costs for administrators will also vary.<\/p>\n According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare\u2019s \u201cReiwa 5 Basic Survey on Wage Structure,\u201d in the construction industry,Managers and Professionals<\/strong>The average monthly income (including construction management) for companies with 1,000 or more employees isApproximately 545,000 yen<\/strong>For small and medium-sized businesses with \"10 to 99 employees,\"Approximately 400,000 yen<\/strong>It says...<\/p>\n (\u201cReiwa 5 Basic Survey on Wage Structure\u201d: By Industry, Job Category, and Company Size)<\/p>\n You can see that these figures are generally consistent with the ones I presented this time, right?<\/p>\n There's also the fact that \"major companies offer generous bonuses.\"<\/p>\n For the sake of consistency, we\u2019ve set the figure at 500,000 this time, but there are quite a few cases where, if your abilities are recognized at a major company, you can earn 1 to 2 million in bonuses alone.<\/p>\n So even the figure of 11 million for a veteran at a major company is a number that could be achievable, depending on the conditions.<\/p>\n Hey, you clueless person\u2014I hope you realize this! LOL (That's all I'm saying.)<\/p>\n Looking at the numbers, you might think, \u201cConstruction managers make better pay, don\u2019t they?\u201d but they\u2019re expected to do their fair share of work.<\/p>\n Being a craftsman is a job where you earn a living \u201cwith nothing but your own two hands.\u201d<\/p>\n A construction manager is responsible for everything\u2014people, materials, money, paperwork, the construction schedule, quality, and safety.<\/p>\n \u2190 You can scroll horizontally \u2192<\/p>\n Construction managers at small and medium-sized enterprises often oversee multiple job sites at the same time.<\/p>\n Some people might think that, if you're managing multiple job sites while making about 330,000 yen a month, being a skilled tradesman is actually better value for money, lol.<\/p>\n When discussing the salary of a construction manager, one thing that cannot be overlooked is\"Class 1 Civil Engineering Construction Management Technician\"<\/strong>This is a certification.<\/p>\n If you hold this certification, you are eligible to participate in public works projects with a contract value of 45 million yen or more (70 million yen or more for comprehensive construction projects)Full-time assignment as a supervising engineer<\/strong>Yes, you can. In other words,People directly involved in the company's process of winning contracts (as the prime contractor) through competitive bidding<\/strong>can become.<\/p>\n That's why companies give preferential treatment to people with certifications.<\/p>\n Here's a general idea of what qualification allowances typically look like.<\/p>\n \u2190 You can scroll horizontally \u2192<\/p>\n Some companies don't offer any certification allowances.<\/p>\n However, rather than being a \u201ctool to get an immediate raise,\u201dTools for Changing Jobs, Negotiating, and Positioning Yourself<\/strong>You'd better assume that's the case.<\/p>\n Here's the starting point!<\/p>\n Having a certification gives you an edge over those who don\u2019t, and it\u2019s also a way to assess your motivation and perseverance, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n If you enter the job market with a Level 1 certification, your options will expand significantly.<\/p>\n If you want to work for a major or mid-sized company, not having this often means you won\u2019t even make it to the starting line.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve written about construction managers\u2019 salaries\u2014the real numbers\u2014in two parts.<\/p>\n To be honest,Salaries for new hires and mid-level employees at small and medium-sized enterprises are by no means high.<\/strong>That's it.<\/p>\n Considering the amount of work involved and the weight of the responsibilities, I think some people might feel it\u2019s not worth it.<\/p>\n However, things are different for veterans.<\/p>\n I think that earning 7 to 9 million at a small or medium-sized company and 9 to 11 million at a major company are figures that can be achieved as a result of years of hard work.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not about having any special talent\u2014it\u2019s the result of years of hands-on experience on the job. I think that\u2019s the reality of the job of a slope construction supervisor.<\/p>\n However, this is a skill that only a select few are capable of (with a high level of technical expertise in construction management being the key).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you read this along with the article on slope maintenance workers' salaries (link below),<\/p>\n I think this will give you a better understanding of how money flows in this industry, so please use it as a reference.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n See you later.<\/p>\n This Is Probably the Typical Salary for Slope Workers! We're Revealing Everything! (Part 1)<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Construction](\"https:\/\/norimen.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4238f7fe36d0693f7c2accd005190bc7.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nThe Key Difference Between a Construction Manager and a Tradesperson<\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n \nItem<\/th>\n Artisan<\/th>\n Construction Manager<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Working Hours<\/td>\n On-site hours only<\/td>\n On-site + Office + Overtime<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Paperwork<\/td>\n Almost none<\/td>\n Mass Production (Product Specifications, Quality, Process, Safety)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Client Support<\/td>\n None<\/td>\n Yes (Inspection, Consultation, and Witnessing)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Working at Multiple Sites Simultaneously<\/td>\n Rare<\/td>\n Common among small and medium-sized businesses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Handling Phone Calls on Days Off<\/td>\n None (default)<\/td>\n Possible (emergency response, weather changes, etc.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n ![\"On-site](\"https:\/\/norimen.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0cdf9cb99954c0545c4f6081b79c0158.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nHow a Certification Affects Your Annual Income<\/h2>\n
\nThis is an obligation prescribed under Article 26 of the Construction Industry Act.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n \nQualifications<\/th>\n Estimated Monthly Allowance<\/th>\n Annualized Income (Estimated)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Level 2 Civil Engineering Construction Management Technician<\/td>\n +10,000 to 20,000 yen per month<\/td>\n +120,000 to 240,000 yen per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \nClass 1 Civil Engineering Construction Manager<\/td>\n +20,000 to 50,000 yen per month<\/td>\n +240,000 to 600,000 yen per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n \n *The amount of the allowance varies by company. Many companies do not have this program at all.
\n*These are approximate figures based on Entame's on-the-ground insights and industry job market data.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n![\"Salary](\"https:\/\/norimen.net\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gemini_Generated_Image_btdx6lbtdx6lbtdx.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n