Shigoto Zukan
日本語

How to become タクシー運転手education, training, experience, licenses and the steps to enter

Japan Transportation Confidence ★★★★★

Average annual pay
¥4.51M
≈ $28,669
Top pay (est.)
¥7.48M
Top 10% ¥6.49M
Pay in 5 years
¥5.30Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥6.23Mest.
¥5.36M–¥7.24M
Outlook score
61/100
★★★☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
34%
Low
Labor demand
High
Openings-to-applicants 2.58x

How to become タクシー運転手

The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.

Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
学歴、経験は問われないが、普通第二種運転免許証が必要となる。また、一部指定の地域で働くには、「タクシーセンター」の試験に合格する必要がある。第一種免許の保有者を採用し、第二種免許取得のため養成訓練を行う会社もある。
　募集は、ハローワークの他に、新聞、就職情報誌などの求人広告も多く利用される。初めて仕事に就く場合、研修を受けてから乗務する。最初の数日はベテランが同乗して接客技術などについて指導する。
　一定の年数を経験し、所定の条件を満たした者は、管轄する運輸局の免許を受けて、独立して個人タクシー事業を開業することもできる。
　交通法規を守り、よい接客態度を保つ必要がある。また、近年ではカーナビゲーションシステムを利用することも多いが、迅速に乗客を輸送するために地理や道路事情をよく知っておくことが重要となる。

Skills, education and requirements for タクシー運転手

Key skills

Active Listening
3.7
Speaking
2.8
Reading Comprehension
2.6
Social Perceptiveness
2.5
Writing
2.3
Service Orientation
2.2
Monitoring
2.1
Equipment Maintenance
2.0

Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.

Key knowledge areas

Transportation
2.6
Customer and Personal Service
1.9
Geography
1.2
Public Safety and Security
1.2
Foreign Language
1.2
English Language
1.2
Communications and Media
1.1
Psychology
0.9

What the work involves

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkGetting InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Important abilities

Reaction TimeDepth PerceptionVisual Color DiscriminationFar VisionProblem SensitivityHearing Sensitivity

Licenses and certifications (Japan)

Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.

Education of workers

Training before entry

Related work experience

Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience, licenses)

Career path and how to earn more as タクシー運転手

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.