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How to become a Cram School Teacher

Teaches primary, lower secondary and upper secondary students at cram schools (juku), private tutoring schools outside the school system.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start. Many people come to this work from other jobs. Cram schools with many branches recruit regularly, including new graduates. Some large cram schools have well-developed training systems, but in most cases teachers build experience on the job and gradually gain more advanced teaching skills and subject knowledge. Some teachers set up and run their own cram school. You obviously need a sound knowledge of the subjects you teach, but winning the trust of students and parents matters a great deal, so personality and enthusiasm are also valued. You also need to understand what parents and students want and respond to them with care and attention to detail.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Cram School Teacher?

No particular education or qualification is required to start. Many people come to this work from other jobs. Cram schools with many branches recruit regularly, including new graduates. Some large cram schools have well-developed training systems, but in most cases teachers build experience on the job and gradually gain more advanced teaching skills and subject knowledge. Some teachers set up and run their own cram school. You obviously need a sound knowledge of the subjects you teach, but winning the trust of students and parents matters a great deal, so personality and enthusiasm are also valued. You also need to understand what parents and students want and respond to them with care and attention to detail.

How much does a Cram School Teacher earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,420,400 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Private teachers and instructors, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Cram School Teacher?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 76% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Cram School Teacher?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026