Sega raises starting salaries for new hires and base pay of existing full-time employees in Japan (again) 

Following base salary increases in 2023, Sega has announced an additional raise to existing staff's salaries as well as new hires.

Sega announced revisions to its employee compensation system on November 12. This will include both a raise for current full-time staff and an increase in starting salaries for new entry-level hires. 

Under the new system, Sega will introduce a more flexible pay structure based on employee roles, while also converting part of annual bonuses into base pay and implementing a general base pay increase. Starting April 1, 2026, base salaries for Sega’s existing full-time employees in Japan will rise by an average of about 10%. 

At the same time, Sega’s starting monthly salary for new university graduates (the standard pay offered to fresh hires straight out of college in Japan) will rise from 300,000 to 330,000 yen (around $2,140 USD), likewise a 10% increase. 

The company says the goal of these revisions is to create an environment where employees can work with peace of mind amidst rising living costs and broader social changes. It’s also intended to give Sega an advantage when it comes to recruiting and developing talent in the face of increasing global competition. 

This move follows Sega’s previous raise in July 2023, when the company boosted its entry-level salaries from 222,000 to 300,000 yen. With this latest increase, Sega joins the growing number of major Japanese game companies raising wages to attract and retain skilled development staff, like Konami and Capcom

Related articles: Sony and Bandai Namco abolish employee bonuses in favor of raising average salaries 

Even small-scale Japanese game companies like Gemdrops are raising entry-level dev salaries significantly. We ask them if they can keep it up 

Amber V
Amber V

Editor-in-Chief since October 2023.

She grew up playing Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein with her dad, and is now enamored with obscure Japanese video games and internet culture. Currently devoted to growing Automaton West to the size of its Japanese sister-site, while making sure to keep news concise and developer stories deep and stimulating.

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