PayMetric Labs
Cybersecurity & GRC2026 dataSalary by location

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Salary in Japan 2026: ¥13.8M Median & Range

+7.5% YoYMarket research summary
  • Board scrutiny and cyber-risk exposure keep executive security leadership in demand.
  • Tightening financial and personal-data regulation is pushing boards to hire dedicated security executives, a role still filled mostly by a small expatriate and returnee pool, keeping Tokyo the clear national pay leader for this role.
  • In Yokohama, Greater Tokyo manufacturing, logistics, and pharma firms keep this role close to capital-level pay (city-adjusted estimate).
  • In Fukuoka, a smaller but fast-growing Kyushu tech scene, anchored by startup incentives and a lower cost base, keeps rates leaner (city-adjusted estimate).
  • In Osaka, Kansai's manufacturing, retail, and Expo-driven IT investment sustain steady but slightly lower-paying local demand (city-adjusted estimate).
  • In Nagoya, Chubu's automotive and manufacturing base adopts this skill set at a more conservative pace and price (city-adjusted estimate).

What does a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) earn in Japan?

The median Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary in Japan is ¥13.8M in 2026, with a typical range from ¥13.1M to ¥14.4M. Pay has moved +7.5% year-on-year. Tokyo currently leads city pay at ¥15.1M. This is base salary for permanent employees.

What does A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) do?

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for owning the organisation's overall security strategy, regulatory posture, and incident response accountability at board level.

Day-to-day responsibilities

  • Chairing security steering committees
  • Reporting risk posture to the board
  • Overseeing SAMA and National Cybersecurity Authority compliance
  • Directing incident response for major events
Very High demand+20% Security governance+24% SAMA Cyber Security Framework+15% Incident response leadership

Permanent Salary Benchmark for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Permanent salary benchmarks for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in Japan, from the low end to the top of the range, based on published market compensation data.

¥13.8M

national median per year

+7.5% year on year

¥13.8M
¥12.2M¥15.4M
Low
¥12.2M
P25
¥13.1M
Median
¥13.8M
P75
¥14.4M
High
¥15.4M

High evidence · Japan annual benchmark · 2026 data · How we check our numbers

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Salary by Seniority Level

Seniority is the biggest single driver of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) pay in Japan. Entry-level roles start at ¥9.1M, rising 170% to ¥24.6M at lead or principal level.

Junior

¥9.1M

¥9.1M-¥9.1M middle band

Mid-level

¥13.7M

¥13.7M-¥13.7M middle band

Senior

¥18.7M

¥18.7M-¥18.7M middle band

Principal/Lead

¥24.6M

¥24.6M-¥24.6M middle band

Skills That Command a Premium for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)s

Certain technical skills push Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salaries in Japan significantly above the ¥13.8M median. These are the most impactful skills to develop or highlight when negotiating.

Security governance

+20%

salary premium vs median

SAMA Cyber Security Framework

+24%

salary premium vs median

Incident response leadership

+15%

salary premium vs median

Board reporting

+12%

salary premium vs median

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Salary in Yokohama, Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Osaka

How much does a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) earn by city in Japan?

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary varies meaningfully by location. Tokyo pays the most at ¥15.1M (9% above the national benchmark), while Fukuoka sits at ¥12.4M (10% below the national benchmark). Location is worth factoring into any offer negotiation.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Take-Home Pay in Japan (2026)

After National + Resident Tax & Shakai Hoken · single, standard payroll deductions

Entry

Take-home/year

¥9,242,292

Effective rate

29.5%

Median

Take-home/year

¥9,626,306

Effective rate

30.4%

Senior

Take-home/year

¥9,939,049

Effective rate

31.1%

See the full band-by-band breakdown for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Adjust for your actual salary, see each national income tax, reconstruction surtax, resident tax, and shakai hoken band, and get monthly and weekly figures.

Contract day rates available for this role

Median ¥7524/hour, see full breakdown, city rates, and take-home calculator

View Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) day rates →
  • Board scrutiny and cyber-risk exposure keep executive security leadership in demand.
  • Tightening financial and personal-data regulation is pushing boards to hire dedicated security executives, a role still filled mostly by a small expatriate and returnee pool, keeping Tokyo the clear national pay leader for this role.
  • In Yokohama, Greater Tokyo manufacturing, logistics, and pharma firms keep this role close to capital-level pay (city-adjusted estimate).
  • In Fukuoka, a smaller but fast-growing Kyushu tech scene, anchored by startup incentives and a lower cost base, keeps rates leaner (city-adjusted estimate).
  • In Osaka, Kansai's manufacturing, retail, and Expo-driven IT investment sustain steady but slightly lower-paying local demand (city-adjusted estimate).
  • In Nagoya, Chubu's automotive and manufacturing base adopts this skill set at a more conservative pace and price (city-adjusted estimate).

Contract break-even

What day rate beats a ¥13835K Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary after tax?

Break-even day rate

¥60,000/day

to match ¥13835K permanent net

Permanent net take-home

¥9,626,306/yr

¥13835K gross, 2026 national + resident tax rates

Kojin jigyounushi (sole proprietor), 220 days, self-paid National Pension + NHI. Net figures are estimates; use the calculators for exact results.

Market Demand & Outlook

Hiring demand, top locations, and career outlook for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

High Confidence

Demand level

Very High

Based on hiring signals relative to similar roles in this market.

Top hiring locations

TokyoYokohamaOsakaNagoya

Career outlook

Positive market outlook

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) compensation is trending upward, supported by a +7.5% salary movement signal.

Compare this role

Put the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) benchmark in context

Compare adjacent roles, employer estimates, published agency guides, and an offer against the market before you make a decision.

Why Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Salaries Are at This Level

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)s in Japan earn a median salary of ¥13.8M in 2026, with a typical range from ¥13.1M at the 25th percentile to ¥14.4M at the 75th percentile. This benchmark reflects published market compensation data for annual pay across the Japan market.

Tokyo currently leads city pay at ¥15.1M, which is 9% above the national benchmark. City coverage for this role includes Yokohama, Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Osaka, helping you compare local pay differences without needing separate city-role pages.

At experience level, entry roles start around ¥9.1M, senior roles sit near ¥18.7M, and lead-level roles reach about ¥24.6M. Demand is currently moderate for this role based on recent coverage and salary momentum signals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Salary in Japan

1

What is the median Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary in Japan?

The median Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary in Japan is ¥13.8M in 2026. The typical range runs from ¥13.1M at the 25th percentile to ¥14.4M at the 75th percentile, based on published market compensation data.

2

Is Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary increasing in Japan?

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salaries have moved +7.5% year-on-year in Japan.

3

How does Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary vary by city in Japan?

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salaries vary across Japan. Tokyo leads at ¥15.1M (+9% vs the national benchmark), while Fukuoka sits at ¥12.4M. Use the city breakdown above to compare all locations.

4

What does a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) take home after tax in Japan?

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) earning the median ¥13.8M gross in Japan will take home a net amount after income tax and other deductions. Use the PayMetric Labs take-home calculator on this page for an exact breakdown by tax band.

5

What experience level earns the most as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in Japan?

Principal/Lead-level Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)s in Japan earn the most, with a median of ¥24.6M, compared to ¥9.1M at entry level. Seniority is the strongest single driver of pay in this role.

6

Is a ¥13835K Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) hybrid role worth the commute in Japan?

On a 3-day hybrid schedule with a typical Japanese commute (¥550/day travel, 60-minute round trip, daily meal premium, annual wardrobe costs), your true net income at ¥13835K is approximately ¥8,400,631 per year, compared to ¥9,626,306 net without any commute. The commute costs ¥1,225,675 per year in direct expenses and lost time. A fully remote role paying ¥11,756,800 would leave you equally well off.

7

What remote salary is equivalent to a ¥13835K hybrid Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary in Japan?

Assuming a 3-day hybrid schedule with typical commute costs, you would need a remote salary of at least ¥11,756,800 to match the true net value of a ¥13835K hybrid Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role in Japan. For a 5-day fully in-office role, the break-even remote salary rises to ¥10,513,500, as the higher office frequency increases travel, meal, and time costs significantly.

8

How many hours per year does a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in Japan spend commuting?

On a 3-day hybrid schedule with a 60-minute round trip, a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in Japan spends approximately 141 hours commuting per year, equivalent to 18 full working days. Valued at the implied hourly rate for a ¥13835K salary (¥7,359/hr), that time is worth ¥1,037,625 annually.

9

How does the 2026 Return to Office trend affect Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) compensation in Japan?

As more employers in Japan reintroduce hybrid or full in-office mandates in 2026, the true value of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary depends increasingly on the number of required office days. At ¥13835K, each additional day in the office costs roughly ¥395,225 per year in direct and time costs (moving from 3 to 5 days). Candidates evaluating offers should compare true net income rather than gross salary alone.

10

How reliable is this Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary benchmark?

This benchmark is derived from verified market compensation data and is rated High Confidence. High Confidence means the benchmark is corroborated across independent sources and is citation-ready. Moderate Confidence is directional context while coverage is still building. Limited Market Data means early signals only.

11

Is Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) pay increasing?

An indicative year-over-year signal of +7.5% is available from the latest market research for this role. This figure is directional market research rather than a matched prior-year observation in our own dataset.

12

What should employers and candidates take from this benchmark?

Candidates should compare offers against the ¥13.1M-¥14.4M middle-market band, while employers should treat ¥13.8M as the current market midpoint for this role.

Compare Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) pay in another market

The same role has published benchmarks in these markets. Open each local page for its salary range, tax context, and city detail.