Industry and Job Ranking for Salary Increase Through Job Change 2026 | Actual Data for People in Their 20s and 30s

Kenji, a 29-year-old marketing professional in Tokyo, has been staring at the same job listing for an hour. He knows his salary is below market rate—his friends in IT earn 30% more—but every time he opens a salary survey, he gets lost in a maze of averages and medians. He is not alone. With 2026 job-change data now complete, the answer is clear: switching industries or roles can boost annual income by 10% or more on average, but the range varies greatly depending on age, field, and negotiation skills. According to doda's 2026 salary trends report, the average decided salary for job changers has risen by about 140,000 yen over the past three years, and the share of people who received a raise is approximately 35–40% (per careercompass.jp). Yes, you can increase your income by changing jobs—but only if you target the right industry and negotiate well. This article breaks down the 2026 rankings by industry and role, reveals real median salaries for people in their 20s and 30s, and provides a step-by-step negotiation playbook—plus the pitfalls that quietly erode your raise.

Bottom line: For professionals in their 20s and 30s aiming for a salary increase, the high-paying industries in 2026 are finance, IT, and consulting, with average annual salaries ranging from 6.8 million to 7.5 million yen (per career.serenity-nova.com). The lowest-risk first step is to benchmark your current salary against official data, target roles that pay at least 10% more—and always negotiate. 85% of people succeed through negotiation (per careercompass.jp).

2026年 Industry-Specific Average Annual Salary Ranking: Where Are the High Earners?

If you're aiming for a salary increase in the 2026 job market, choosing the right industry is the first priority. According to data from Job Change Agent Lab (published April 2026), the industries with the highest average annual salaries are as follows:

(Source: Job Change Agent Lab, published April 2026)

Key Points: Finance, IT, and consulting have average annual salaries around 7 million yen, nearly 1.5 times higher than retail and education. In particular, IT salaries tend to rise with years of experience, and it's not uncommon to exceed 8 million yen in your 30s. On the other hand, retail has a low average, so if you're aiming for a salary increase through a job change, switching industries altogether is the smarter move.

Why Are Finance and IT High?

Finance is driven by specialized expertise and the weight of responsibility, while IT is driven by the supply-demand balance. In 2026, DX investment remains active, and the shortage of IT talent is severe. According to a Career Bank AI survey (March 2026), the median annual salary for IT engineers in their early 30s is 6.5 million yen, more than 1.5 million yen higher than the all-industry average (by their late 30s, the median reaches 8 million yen).

The reason finance and insurance are high lies in the scarcity of specialized knowledge—such as M&A advisory and portfolio management—amid increasingly complex regulatory environments. Additionally, in the fintech space, professionals who combine financial expertise with engineering skills are in demand, with offers of 7 million yen or more concentrated on hybrid talent. On the IT side, the increase in cloud migration projects, the shortage of AI and machine learning talent, and stricter security compliance requirements have driven up rates, especially for engineers with infrastructure, security, and data analysis skills. It's not simply a "talent shortage"—demand for specific technology stacks is rising locally, which is the structural factor pushing up salaries across the IT industry as a whole.

Typical Salary Increase Amounts by Industry

How much your salary rises with a job change varies by industry. According to the same Job Change Agent Lab data, switching to IT & Communications yields an average increase of +850,000 yen, finance +700,000 yen, and consulting +900,000 yen. Conversely, moving from retail to retail results in only about +100,000 yen.

Ranking by Occupation: Engineers, Sales, Administrative... Which Jobs Pay the Most?

Looking at it by occupation, the highest-paying jobs tend to be those requiring specialized skills or those directly tied to profit generation.

(Source: Career Bank AI, March 2026)

Key Points: Consulting and finance offer high incomes, but they also come with long working hours and significant pressure. IT engineers can relatively easily maintain a work-life balance while earning a high salary, making this role popular among people in their 20s and 30s. Sales income varies greatly depending on performance, but the average of 6.5 million yen is respectable.

What Is the Median Income for People in Their 20s and 30s?

According to a Career Bank AI survey (March 2026), the median annual income for people in their late 20s (ages 25-29) is 4.3 million yen across all industries, 5 million yen for those in their early 30s (ages 30-34), and 5.7 million yen for those in their late 30s (ages 35-39). However, in IT and finance, it is not uncommon to exceed 5 million yen by the late 20s.

Percentage of People Who Get a Raise by Changing Jobs, and the Standard Increase

According to data from careercompass.jp (2026), about 35-40% of people who change jobs see their income increase, with the average raise being around +10% compared to their previous salary. In other words, for someone earning 5 million yen, a +500,000 yen increase is the standard. However, depending on negotiation, an increase of +15% or more is also possible. According to the same site, 85% of people who negotiated their salary were successful.

年齢別の転職年収変動：20代は上がりやすい？30代は？

According to doda's FY2025 report (published in 2026), the average salary change upon job change by age group is as follows.

(Source: doda, FY2025 edition)

Key point: People in their 20s are more likely to see a salary increase when changing jobs, but it becomes harder to achieve once you reach your late 30s. The reason is that while experience as an immediate contributor is valued in your 40s, employers also have concerns related to age. Therefore, if you are aiming for a salary increase, the early 30s is the time to make your move.

Why are people in their 20s more likely to see increases?

In your 20s, hiring is often based on potential, and previous salaries are usually low in most cases. Since the new employer evaluates your skills and offers a higher package, the rate of increase tends to be higher. Additionally, demand for workers in their 20s is strong in the job market, and companies are willing to offer higher salaries based on future potential.

How can people in their 30s increase their salary?

To increase your salary in your 30s, you need to deepen your expertise or acquire management skills. According to data from 転職エージェントLab, many people who successfully increased their salary in their 30s clearly highlighted the skills they developed at their previous jobs and were valued as immediate contributors at their new companies.

Steps to Achieve a Salary Increase Through a Job Change: Negotiation Tactics and Cautions

To reliably increase your salary, strategic preparation is essential. Proceed with the following steps.

1. Know your current market value: Use job site salary assessments or the data above to check how your salary compares to the market.
2. Take stock of your skills and achievements: List the concrete results that will be valued by your next employer.
3. Set your target salary: Use the market rate +10% as a guide, and decide on your upper and lower negotiation limits.
4. Negotiate: Once you receive an offer, always negotiate your salary. 85% of negotiations succeed, so don't hesitate.
5. Compare offers: If you receive multiple offers, compare the conditions and choose the best one.

Cautions: Don't decide based on salary alone—also consider working hours, benefits, and career path. Also, if your new employer's business performance is unstable, there is a risk that your salary could decrease.

Tips for Salary Negotiation

According to careercompass.jp, the key to successful negotiation is showing specific numbers. For example, stating an achievement like "I increased sales by 20% at my previous job" adds persuasiveness. Also, the best time to negotiate is after receiving the offer.

Cases Where Salary Decreases After a Job Change

About 60% of people see their salary decrease when changing jobs. The reason is that when changing industries or job types, offers tend to be lower due to lack of experience. Also, if the new employer's business performance is poor, bonuses may be reduced. It is important to research the financial health of your prospective employer in advance.

Recommended job changes for people in their 20s and 30s: concrete examples and key points for success

Here, we introduce examples of people who actually succeeded in increasing their annual income.

• Mr. A (28 years old, IT sales → IT consultant): Annual income 4.5 million yen → 6.5 million yen (+44%). His sales experience and IT knowledge from his previous job were recognized, and he was hired as a consultant.
• Mr. B (32 years old, manufacturer office work → IT engineer): Annual income 4 million yen → 5.5 million yen (+37.5%). He attended a programming school and changed careers to become an engineer with no prior experience.
• Mr. C (35 years old, financial office work → accounting specialist): Annual income 5 million yen → 6 million yen (+20%). He obtained qualifications and enhanced his expertise.

(*These are general success examples and do not guarantee individual results.)

Key points for success: In all cases, they acquired highly demanded skills and effectively promoted them. They also shared the common approach of using a job change agent to apply for non-public job openings.

Summary: The Key to a Higher Salary Is "Industry Choice" and "Negotiation"

Based on 2026 data, the following three points are key to achieving a salary increase through a job change.

1. Choose your industry: Finance, IT, and consulting offer high average salaries and larger salary increases when changing jobs.
2. Don't miss the timing: Your 20s to early 30s are the prime window for salary increases. After your late 30s, raises become harder to secure.
3. Always negotiate: 85% of people succeed through negotiation. Be sure to communicate your desired salary.

After reading this article, Kenji decided to switch to the IT industry. His first step was to register with a job-change agency and have his market value assessed. The first step to a higher salary is the right information and action. You should start moving today as well. Specifically, register with doda or Mynavi Job Change to receive a free salary assessment, and compare the results with the industry-specific data above. Next, set your desired salary at "current salary +10%" and apply to at least three job openings in IT, finance, or consulting. Once you receive an offer, be sure to negotiate your salary, compare multiple offers, and make your final decision—these five steps are the fastest route to a higher salary.

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Methodology: This article aggregates publicly available data from career research firms and job-change surveys, including doda, Mynavi, and careercompass.jp, verified on 2026-08-15. The editorial team has not personally experienced job changes covered in this article. For our research methodology, see our methodology.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links are affiliate links — we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Compensation does not influence rankings; see our editorial policy.

FAQ

Will changing jobs increase my annual income?

About 35–40% of people who change jobs see an increase in annual income, with the average raise being around +10% compared to their previous job (careercompass.jp). In your 20s, the increase rate is higher, averaging +8.2%, but by your late 30s, it becomes harder to raise, at +2.3%. Since 85% of people who negotiate their salary succeed, not negotiating is a loss.

Which industries have high annual incomes?

In the 2026 average annual income ranking, consulting (7.5 million yen), finance and insurance (7.2 million yen), and IT and communications (6.8 million yen) top the list (Job Agent Lab). These industries are highly specialized, have strong demand, and tend to offer larger salary increases when changing jobs.

What is the median annual income for people in their 20s?

According to a survey by Career Bank AI (March 2026), the median annual income for people in their late 20s (ages 25–29) is 4.3 million yen across all industries. However, in IT and finance, it can exceed 5 million yen. It rises with age, reaching 5 million yen in the early 30s and 5.7 million yen in the late 30s.

How can I increase my annual income by changing jobs?

First, it is important to choose the right industry and occupation. Finance, IT, and consulting have high average salaries and offer larger increases when changing jobs. Next, be sure to negotiate your salary—85% of people succeed through negotiation. Also, using a job-change agent to apply for non-public job openings is effective.

Is it possible to increase my annual income in my 30s?

It is possible, but not as easy as in your 20s. By your late 30s, the rate of salary increase from changing jobs slows down (doda). You can aim for a higher income by deepening your expertise or acquiring management skills. Moving to a high-demand field is also effective.

Can my annual income decrease when changing jobs?

Yes, about 60% of people who change jobs see their annual income decrease. This happens when moving to an industry or occupation with no prior experience, or when the new company's performance is poor. It is important to research the financial health and future prospects of the new company in advance.

Sources & Verification

This article was fact-checked on 2026-08-15. Key claims:

• "The percentage of people who see their salary increase after changing jobs is approximately 35–40%, with the typical increase being +10% compared to their previous position" — verified via https://careercompass.jp/articles/salary/job-change-10.php on 2026-08-15
• "85% of people who negotiate their salary are successful" — verified via https://careercompass.jp/articles/salary/job-change-10.php on 2026-08-15
• "The average salary change rate when changing jobs is +8.2% for people in their 20s, +5.1% for those in their early 30s, and +2.3% for those in their late 30s" — verified via https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001063.000022215.html on 2026-08-15
• "The median annual salary for people in their late 20s is 4.3 million yen, 5 million yen for those in their early 30s, and 5.7 million yen for those in their late 30s" — verified via https://careerbankai.com/blog/salary-band-research-2026 on 2026-08-15
• "Average annual salary ranking by industry (finance/insurance 7.2 million yen, IT/communications 6.8 million yen, consulting 7.5 million yen)" — verified via https://career.serenity-nova.com/articles/tensyoku-nenshu-shijo/ on 2026-08-15