左官 左官
What 左官 do
An English description is being prepared. Japanese description:
作業は、まず材料を練りまぜ、それを施工場所まで運び、最後に壁面への塗付け施工を行う。塗付け施工では、下地になる土やセメントモルタルなどの素材を塗り、中塗りを行ってムラ直しをしてから、上塗りによって最終的な表面仕上げを施すのが一般的な施工方法である。下地の塗り方に欠陥があると、壁がはがれたり、ひび割れたりしてしまうため、下地を塗るときには十分に注意する。
現在、壁の種類が増え、しっくい壁や防火用土蔵造りに加えて、モルタル、プラスターや合成樹脂系の塗り壁、薄塗り工法などが普及し、素材も工法も多様化している。扱う道具についても、従来から使われているこてだけでなく、はけ、ローラー、吹付機械、ミキサー、モルタルポンプ、ウィンチ、ベルトコンベアーなど多種多様になっている。
素材や工法、扱う道具は多様化しているが、基本的に手作業で仕上げていくため、他の建材では得られない味わいや多彩さがあり、左官のつくる美しい壁が見直されている。
◇ よく使う道具、機材、情報技術等
こて、はけ、ローラー、吹付機械、ミキサー、モルタルポンプ、ウィンチ、ベルトコンベアー、作業中の保護具（ヘルメット、ゴーグル、グローブ、安全靴等）
Employment type of workers
左官 salary
The average annual pay for 左官 in Japan is ¥4.67M (≈ $29,690; Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), national). The estimated median is ¥4.34M, the typical range is ¥3.28M–¥7.79M and the top 10% earn about ¥6.75M.
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The distribution is estimated from Japan's national wage statistics, including pay differences by age.
Pay by ageest.
Estimated from the average pay and average age (41.6) using the age-wage curve of the Basic Survey on Wage Structure.
Pay by experienceest.
Pay by employment typeest.
The average hourly wage of ¥2,161 is 1.8× Japan's national average minimum wage of ¥1,177 (fiscal 2026). Minimum wage by prefecture →
Japanese pay is shown in yen (¥5.57M = 5.57 million yen ≈ 557万円). Dollar figures use the current rate of 157.25 yen per dollar and are for reference only; purchasing power differs.
Pay over time
| Year | Average pay | Employment | Openings ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ¥4.32M | — | — |
| 2022 | ¥4.61M | — | — |
| 2023 | ¥4.53M | — | 4.82x |
| 2024 | ¥4.53M | — | 4.59x |
| 2025 | ¥4.67M | — | 4.37x |
Projected pay for 左官 (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today ¥4.67M → in 3 years ¥5.18M → in 5 years ¥5.54M → in 10 years ¥6.58M (10-year range ¥5.66M–¥7.64M). The model assumes pay growth of +3.5% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (the job-openings-to-applicants ratio), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for 左官
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace 左官? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using the MHLW job tag survey on work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for 左官
A ratio above 1.0 means there are more job openings than applicants (a labor shortage). The 5- and 10-year figures are estimates from the openings ratio, wage momentum and AI replacement risk.
The same job in the United States
| 左官 Japan | Plasterers and Stucco Masons United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | ¥4.67M ≈ $29,690 | $57,660 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | ¥6.58M | $79,400 |
| Outlook score | 69 | 56 |
| AI replacement risk | 7% Very low | 8% Very low |
| Workers | — | 19K |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for 左官
Key skills
Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Licenses and certifications (Japan)
- １級建築施工管理技士
- ２級建築施工管理技士
- １級左官技能士 National license
- ２級左官技能士 National license
- １級建築施工管理技士補
- ２級建築施工管理技士補
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: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience, licenses)
How to become 左官
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)
入職後は、見習から左官技能者、現場作業の指揮監督を行う作業主任、作業・管理両面の実質的責任者である職長へと昇進していくのが一般的なコースである。職長などとして建設作業所で指揮をしていくには、左官の技術だけでなく安全面での指導管理ができる資格を持つ必要もある。厚生労働省の定める技能検定の「左官技能士」の資格を取得すると技術力の証明となる。また、技術次第で技能者から建設関係の技術者（2級建築施工管理技士（仕上げ））になったり、独立開業することもできる。
Career path and how to earn more as 左官
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.