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How to become a Programmer

Also called: Coder, Computer game programmer, Software programmer, Web application programmer, Web programmer

Writes programs for system development based on the detailed design prepared by a systems engineer.

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. No particular subject of study is needed either, and many programmers today come from humanities backgrounds. However, having studied programming at a senmon gakko (vocational college) or similar, or holding a qualification such as Fundamental Information Technology Engineer (not required), is an advantage when applying. If you join as a new graduate or from another job with no experience, you receive a period of in-house training and are then placed as a programmer. For about six months to a year after that, you build experience as a programmer, for example handling parts of programs with guidance from senior programmers and systems engineers. It is said to take 3 to 4 years to be recognised as a fully skilled programmer who can read detailed design documents on your own and sometimes point out mistakes in them. After that, one career path is to go from programmer to team leader and then manager. Others switch to systems engineering and work on system design, or use their knowledge and experience to move into sales. Programmers with high skills and expertise are also in demand, and quite a few people sharpen their programming skills and become programming experts. Qualities needed include IT literacy and strong awareness of information security. Unlike systems engineers, programmers rarely deal directly with clients, but you may handle clients' internal information, so care with personal information and compliance is needed. Many programming languages are used. Java, PHP, Ruby and other languages are used for websites. C is widely used for PC and smartphone games. Python and similar languages are common in AI (artificial intelligence) development. Today there is a lot of programming work for websites, and for this programmers may need knowledge of Linux (a server operating system), Apache (which runs websites) and databases such as MySQL, Oracle and MongoDB.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Programmer?

No particular education or qualification is required to start. No particular subject of study is needed either, and many programmers today come from humanities backgrounds. However, having studied programming at a senmon gakko (vocational college) or similar, or holding a qualification such as Fundamental Information Technology Engineer (not required), is an advantage when applying. If you join as a new graduate or from another job with no experience, you receive a period of in-house training and are then placed as a programmer. For about six months to a year after that, you build experience as a programmer, for example handling parts of programs with guidance from senior programmers and systems engineers. It is said to take 3 to 4 years to be recognised as a fully skilled programmer who can read detailed design documents on your own and sometimes point out mistakes in them. After that, one career path is to go from programmer to team leader and then manager. Others switch to systems engineering and work on system design, or use their knowledge and experience to move into sales. Programmers with high skills and expertise are also in demand, and quite a few people sharpen their programming skills and become programming experts. Qualities needed include IT literacy and strong awareness of information security. Unlike systems engineers, programmers rarely deal directly with clients, but you may handle clients' internal information, so care with personal information and compliance is needed. Many programming languages are used. Java, PHP, Ruby and other languages are used for websites. C is widely used for PC and smartphone games. Python and similar languages are common in AI (artificial intelligence) development. Today there is a lot of programming work for websites, and for this programmers may need knowledge of Linux (a server operating system), Apache (which runs websites) and databases such as MySQL, Oracle and MongoDB.

How much does a Programmer earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,784,700 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Software creators, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Programmer?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 67% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Programmer?

Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, 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